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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Must Read Books |
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| Intellectual |
| 07/02/03 at 09:50:43 |
| As Salamu Alaikum, For a very long time, I have been working at my university's library. I like it very much. It is quiet. The work is not so pressing, and so I am left with a lot of time reading. What I cannot stand is when friends of mine come up to me and tell me that being a librarian is a woman's job. That is not true at all. If any of you are in agreement with that false statement, then know that it is not true. Here are a good number of books written by non - Muslims that I think that would be beneficial for Muslims to read: 1. Any book by John Taylor Gatto. These include: The Exhausted School: Bending the Bars of Traditional Education Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Compulsory of Compulsory Schooling The Underground History of American Education (There is a fourth one that I read, but the title is not coming to my mind.) Anyway, John Taylor Gatto is a man that I have a deep respect for. He is a school reformer whose ideas have been ridiculed by large numbers of prominent intellectuals and professors. He has been criticized for questioning the legitimacy of today's compulsory educational system. Give some time to his books. 2. People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn This is a very long book, but it is worth your time. Zinn goes over a brief history of the United States, but he does this by offering the perspectives of those people who have been oppressed and undermined throughout US history. 3. Beyond Beef by Jeremy Rifkin This is a book that goes over the politics of beef consumption in the world. (I am an American born Pakistani that has strong Punjabi roots in my blood, and if anyone knows anything about Punjabis, they would know that we eat a LOT of goshth, or meat. This book made me stop eating a lot of meat.) This book offers a scary, yet true, analysis of the beef industry. 4. Any book by Noam Chomsky. Noam Chomsky is one of the greatest intellectuals of our time. While I do not necessarily agree with all of his views, his books are just really amazing. 5. Any of the Western classics. What are the classics? Basically, to make a long answer short, a Western classic is any book that Cliffs Notes have been written for. I, myself, have been criticized many times for enjoying the classics. Friends of mine told me that I am simply wasting time by reading fiction. But these books are not read for entertainment purposes. Reading the classics gives you a good idea of Western intellectual tradition. If Muslims are going to be living in the West, then it would only be appropriate if we engage this society in every level of intellectual discourse. We can do this by reading the Western classics. I have many more recommendations, but my fingers are tired from typing. So, I will end here. Please feel free to add your own csuggestions on my list, or if you have any criticisms, swing them by my way, please. As Salamu Alaikum. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| theOriginal |
| 07/02/03 at 10:02:29 |
| [slm] JTG had this whole program with Sh. Hamza Yusuf on alternative forms to schooling a couple of years ago in Toronto. It was this concentrated 5 day thing, at UofT. It was very interesting, and I respect his point of view immensely, even though I don't agree with it entirely. (I think there is a very basic and SIMPLE economic flaw in all of his arguments.) Good list...lemme start mulling it over. Wasalaam. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| tawbah |
| 07/02/03 at 15:59:23 |
| Assalamu 'alaikum, Recently I've been checking out online material by Noam Chomsky just out of interest. I think he's brilliant. Do you think that the advice he gives on dealing with current issues parallels closely with what Islam teaches us? I sure do. Specifically when he urges people to be introspective and proactive about issues that effect them. I am specifically referring to the speech he gave at MIT in October 2001, the way he responded to objections and what he concludes at the end...that people of conscience are responsible for changing the situation by first looking in the mirror and trying everything to rectify what is within and then looking outwards. I am no expert in Psychology or Philosophy but it amazes me how an intellectual, a specialist on the conventions of the mind, understands intimately the nature of the human soul...well not from a theological perspective but just from a common moral perspective. I wonder if he is a devout Christian or just a very ethical human being. Anyway, I'd be interested to know, briefly, what views of his do you disagree with? |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| Nomi |
| 07/02/03 at 17:41:10 |
| [slm] I thought Noam Chomsky is a jew ?! Asim Zafar. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| muahmed |
| 07/02/03 at 19:14:14 |
| [slm] ;-) Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. (3:113) You should read his books before forming a racist judgement. If you are into journalism I HIGHLY recommend his book "Manufacturing Consent" It deals with how the US media operates and how it works to "manufacture consent" of the masses for the goals of the powerful corporations etc. You will never read a newspaper the same way again after reading that book. A must for anyone who likes to read news and keep upto date with the world. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| sofia |
| 07/03/03 at 15:09:48 |
| As-salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah, Another good Chomsky book is "The Fateful Triangle." Fills in a lot of historical holes on the US-Israel-Palestine issue. Good reference book (although nothing on this topic is a "happy reading"). I believe it was originally written before the first Intifidah and later additions updated events, but not sure if he did a later edition after the 2nd intifadah. |
| 07/03/03 at 15:12:55 |
| sofia |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| lucid9 |
| 07/03/03 at 15:20:29 |
| [slm] Noam Chomsky is a die-hard athiest. He is ethnically Jewish. Chomsly comes across as a genius because he is a genius. He is the Einstein of linguistics. He revolutioned linguistics and I think more or less proved the the ability to use language is a genetic trait, not the product of the environment. I think this may be called the "natural language" hypothesis. The reason why he can get away with being so controversial is simply because he has the status of the Einstein of linguistics. Why are there no Muslims as eloquent as him (apart from one or two muslim converts)? Answer: because the parents of the young brilliant muslims pressurize them to become either doctors or computer scientists, or engineers. These professions have status and provide a good living. And that's all that muslim moms and dads care about. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| Nomi |
| 07/03/03 at 16:52:18 |
| [slm] [quote author=Muhammad Ahmed link=board=kabob;num=1057160567;start=0#4 date=07/02/03 at 19:14:14] You should read his books before forming a racist judgement. [/quote] Thank God i had a look in here again, Brother you got me all wrong there, i was just mentioning what i know about beliefs of Mr. Chomsky because of this... [quote author=tawbah link=board=kabob;num=1057160567;start=0#2 date=07/02/03 at 15:59:23]I wonder if he is a devout Christian or just a very ethical human being. [/quote] That wasn't a judgment bro!!! and i like the guy too... Asim Zafar. |
| 07/03/03 at 16:54:23 |
| Nomi |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| muahmed |
| 07/03/03 at 17:09:43 |
| [slm] ;-) I apologize for accusing you Nomi. I misconstrued your post. I hope you can forgive me. |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| Nomi |
| 07/04/03 at 07:47:46 |
| [slm] No i wont, instead i'll ask Allah to award me your good deeds on the judgement day!!! ... heh dont worry j/k Asim Zafar. |
| 07/04/03 at 07:52:28 |
| Nomi |
| Re: Must Read Books |
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| AyeshaZ |
| 07/08/03 at 00:40:43 |
[wlm] John Taylor Gatto is the man!! he is awesome.. Sr. Just One yup that was the Zarnuji conference and alhamdullilah an amazing experience!! He recently gave a talk at the Zaytuna institute with Sh.HY !! **But i think the fourth book that you are talking about is " The teacher's education or something like that" :) Alhamdulliah, as an education major it is amazing to read JTG's books and very depressing to sit through hours and hours of hearing the exact opposite in many of my classes! We had a discussion about JTG a while ago, perhaps Se7en can post the link :-* |
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