ISIS

April 15, 2015

The so-called Islamic State, better known in the West as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), catapulted itself to Western attention in the summer of 2014 by posting gruesome videos of beheadings on social media and capturing cities in Iraq and Syria. As the authors of this highly informative and timely tome demonstrate, however, the story of ISIS did not begin in 2014. Stern (public policy, Harvard Univ.; Terror in the Name of God) and Berger (nonresident fellow, Brookings Institution; Jihad Joe) are among the foremost experts on violent extremism, and in this book they do an excellent job of examining the ideological and sociopolitical roots of a terrorist movement that is still shrouded in mystery to much of the Western world. Relying on a variety of references, including information derived from jihadist online sources and social media, they provide an in-depth account of the genesis and development of ISIS and analyze its rise and metamorphosis in the context of the post-Iraq War era in the region. VERDICT Essential reading for American policymakers, journalists, and the public at large. [See Prepub Alert, 9/22/14.]--Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014

Ecco has just announced the January release of this study by two terrorism experts who draw on enviable access to both intelligence and law enforcement officials to explain what ISIS is, how it grew so fast, and the consequences for us all. Notes Stern (Terror in the Name of God), "[ISIS's] brutality, its sophisticated use of social media, its acquisition of territory, and its ability to attract foreign fighters [are] unprecedented in the history of terrorism."

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A detailed study of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria from its rise out of al-Qaida to its intended fulfillment of apocalyptic prophecies. Stern (Terrorism Studies/Harvard Univ.; Denial: A Memoir of Terror, 2010, etc.) and Foreign Policy contributor Berger (Jihad Joe: Americans Who Go to War in the Name of Islam, 2011, etc.) begin their treatise on ISIS with the same iconic image most Westerners associate with the group: the beheading of a civilian, kneeling on the ground in an orange jumpsuit. From there, the authors track not only the origins of the terrorist organization, but their growth, media campaigns, mindset, and goals, as well as the far-reaching ramifications of the group's tactics. The authors separate these aspects of ISIS into different chapters, a structure that is helpful but also causes some repetition. Stern and Berger often reference specific anecdotes or historical points multiple times, with included notes to see another chapter for more information. Chapters on social media contain important analysis and insightful points about ISIS and terrorist organizations in general, but they include so much detail about the technology that they will likely exasperate tech-savvy readers. Still, Stern and Berger provide a wealth of useful information, from a clarification of how the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq helped to create the perfect ISIS breeding ground to a demonstration of the way government and corporate policies influence the fight against the organization. In an appendix, the authors deliver a brief, easy-to-digest history of Islam and its practices (and abuses), ensuring that readers are at least somewhat familiar with the basic tenets, splits, and specific groups most prone to jihad. They also include a glossary and timeline, beginning with the declaration of war against Iraq in March 2003. Despite being dense reading, this book offers much to learn about ISIS and an expanded understanding of current events.