ISIS

February 1, 2017

U.S. Army Middle East foreign area officer Steed (military history, the United States Army Staff Command and General Staff Coll.; Piercing the Fog of War) offers an informative overview of what he terms the current "only post-state actor in conflict with the global community," i.e., ISIS, which is "seeking to be a state using a nontraditional, non-Western model." This work consists of short narrative chapters addressing basic questions about the group (its leaders, history, ideals, etc.), followed by entries that delve further into specific people and issues (Osama bin Laden, caliphate, etc.) Steed notes that he intends this book to be a "reference for thinking about this war," in which readers can "begin a journey toward empathy, which I believe is also the necessary path for the journey toward victory." VERDICT A multifaceted, contextual snapshot of this troubling world force.--Judy Quinn, formerly with Library Journal

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Many people puzzle over why educated people join an extreme organization like ISIS. The world is not black and white, and balanced responses to such questioning require a deeper understanding of the factors that drive ISIS and its activities. Essays in the first half of this book explore the origins and development of the organization, its ideological underpinnings, what entices and how it attracts recruits, and other such questions. The second part consists of encyclopedia-style entries. Each entry focuses on what is important, and why it matters to ISIS. These entries are not cross-referenced, and a selected bibliography at the end of each essay would be useful. However, this work provides a nuanced view on a complex subject, showing empathy for the organization, its objectives, and its members.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)