On September 11, 2001, four hijacked airplanes changed the world. Or did they”
The 9/11 attacks shattered the modern illusion about Islam as a wholly peaceful faith. They raised the possibility that this seemingly new struggle between East and West—between secular democracy and Islamist theocracy—is just the latest variant of a much older contest between Islam and the non-Islamic world that has been now simmering, now flaring up, for the last 1,400 years. If we have failed to see the skirmishes along Islam's perimeters—in Kashmir and Kosovo, in India and Pakistan, in Chechnya and Xinjiang—it is simply because we have refused to look.
In Reflections on Islam, award-winning author and columnist George Jonas explores a range of issues that have come to occupy our daily attention. Is there a difference between Islam and Islamism (and does it matter if there is)” Are we in the midst of a clash of civilizations” How is the confrontation between theocracy and democracy manifesting itself outside of the Middle East” Was it a mistake to invade Iraq, or simply a mistake to stay” At what point do liberal impulses on matters such as multiculturalism and immigration becomes short-sighted and dangerous”
Witty, provocative, and eloquent, this collection of essays—written between early 2001 and late 2006'showcases Jonas at his best. Reflections on Islam should be required reading for anyone grappling with the defining issues of our age.
Praise for George Jonas:
“... one of the very best writers of English in the country...” “I.M. Owen in Books in Canada
“... a clever and witty European whose mastery of English is not only flawless but elegant and daring...” “Bronwyn Drainie in The Globe and Mail
“...the closest thing to Alexander Pope we have...” “John Moore in the Vancouver Sun—Saturday Books

GEORGE JONAS is the author of fourteen books, including the international bestsellers Vengeance and By Persons Unknown, with Barbara Amiel, and his novel Final Decree and a memoir, Beethoven's Mask. Currently, he writes two weekly columns, one for the National Post and another in syndication for CanWest News Service. His columns and articles have appeared in the National Review, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Wall Street Journal, and have been collected and published as books. He has written, produced, and directed over two hundred dramas and docudramas for the CBC, including the award-winning series The Scales Of Justice. His media awards in Canada and abroad include the Edgar Allan Poe Award for the Best Crime Non-Fiction Book, two Nelly Awards for the Best Radio Program, a National Magazine Award, and two Gemini Awards for the Best TV Movie and for the Best Short Dramatic Program. George Jonas and his wife live in Toronto, Ontario.

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