courtahneyyy's review against another edition
1.0
So boring and didn't really share a lot of new or even informative information about ISIS. The author spends most of the book talking about the Hamas/Israel problem, of which he also does not offer any good information about. Linking two problems together that are very separate. Would not recommend this book if you don't want to waste your time.
mayoroffailure's review against another edition
2.0
I think that Mr. Sekulow really wanted to write a book about Hamas, because most of the chapters in this book are about Hamas. The book says that it explores the relationship between Hamas and ISIS, but outside of a couple of nominal connections, I dont really see what he was referring to. I bought this book as part if my research for an ISIS documentary that I was working on and thought that it would be good for some information, and while the first chapter was, ISIS really isn't brought up beyond that.
The core of this book revolves around the on and off wars between Israel and Hamas controlled Gaza, and despite the misleading title, this information was interesting. Instead of just spouting facts for consumption like to many other war books do Mr. Sekulow takes a different look at the conflict, he analyzes it from the law of war. Now initially I thought that this was a pretty bad idea, simply because I thought that everyone supported and upheld the law of war up until a conflict actually happens (kind of like the do not run sign at pools).
But instead I learned that Israel, at least in the information Mr. Sekulow provides, actually follows the Law of War quite well. This book defines just what the major principles of the Law are, and how Hamas is violating it while making Israel look bad. I thought that all of this information was quite interesting to read because the idea that fighting a war actually has rules, is a concept that I think most people overlook. Never the less, if one of the most longstanding conflicts in the middle east is something that your interested in then give this book a try, just dont expect it to be about ISIS.
The only other real complaint I have is simply the fact that Mr. Sekulow really likes to interject his opinion on a couple of groups that I wont name. It's at least my opinion that if you are going to write a book about a conflict and present the facts of that conflict, then you have to abstain from including your own personal opinion. Other than the misleading title and the portions that include a personal opinion, I thought this book was a good analysis of why and how Hamas is a terrorist organization.
The core of this book revolves around the on and off wars between Israel and Hamas controlled Gaza, and despite the misleading title, this information was interesting. Instead of just spouting facts for consumption like to many other war books do Mr. Sekulow takes a different look at the conflict, he analyzes it from the law of war. Now initially I thought that this was a pretty bad idea, simply because I thought that everyone supported and upheld the law of war up until a conflict actually happens (kind of like the do not run sign at pools).
But instead I learned that Israel, at least in the information Mr. Sekulow provides, actually follows the Law of War quite well. This book defines just what the major principles of the Law are, and how Hamas is violating it while making Israel look bad. I thought that all of this information was quite interesting to read because the idea that fighting a war actually has rules, is a concept that I think most people overlook. Never the less, if one of the most longstanding conflicts in the middle east is something that your interested in then give this book a try, just dont expect it to be about ISIS.
The only other real complaint I have is simply the fact that Mr. Sekulow really likes to interject his opinion on a couple of groups that I wont name. It's at least my opinion that if you are going to write a book about a conflict and present the facts of that conflict, then you have to abstain from including your own personal opinion. Other than the misleading title and the portions that include a personal opinion, I thought this book was a good analysis of why and how Hamas is a terrorist organization.
dainarmb's review against another edition
2.0
As other reviewers have mentioned, the book begins with a rudimentary crash course of the origins of ISIS, and then delves deep into detail for multiple chapters on the Hamas/Israel conflict. The book is titled inappropriately in my opinion as I didn't really learn much about ISIS. In addition, this isn't an objective report on current events but is told from the opinion of the author.
todstrick's review
1.0
Crap. What could have been an impressive study is nothing more than overt propaganda and sensationalism masquerading as intellectual discourse.
pkakar's review
2.0
Some interesting facts, but most of the book reads like a very one-sided, simplistic harangue.
canada_matt's review against another edition
1.0
Sekulow touches on a poignant topic in this loosely stitched book based on a collection of his academic papers and speeches on the topic of ISIS, formerly AQI (Al-Qaeda in Iraq). What began slowly, but intriguingly soon became a soapbox diatribe against the group collectively called the international left. Sekulow begins with some interesting history and horrific discussions of what ISIS does, which made the basis for some eye-opening reading. However, much of the book was hijacked with talk of Hamas, the Palestinian-based terrorist group that works in and around Israel. The authors take the reader down this road, pounding the tenets of international law and historical flashbacks, but with no direct relation to the topic at hand (which I thought was clearly noted in the title, THE RISE OF ISIS)! Bemoaning the world, save for Israel and pre-Obama US military actions, the authors use this book as their own means to push a pro-Israeli stance onto the reader, sweetening everyone up with a few chapters on ISIS and then coming back to them at the end with a war drum booming towards the terrorist group's annihilation. Poorly plotted and not worth the time invested.
Seeking an outlet to better understand this group, I strove to take the time to read and see what the authors had to say about the topic, and to perhaps leave the reading experience with something to add to my intellectual quiver. I was sorely mistaken and hope that Sekulow and company make little on this piece of drivel. True, it was well researched and cited (kudos there), but I went in wanting knowledge and left feeling preached to and ill at ease.
For shame, Mr. Sekuow and friends. You slapped this together like a second-grade history report and tried to make i spiffy with footnotes and quotes. Stop dressing your wolfish research up in sheep's clothing.
Seeking an outlet to better understand this group, I strove to take the time to read and see what the authors had to say about the topic, and to perhaps leave the reading experience with something to add to my intellectual quiver. I was sorely mistaken and hope that Sekulow and company make little on this piece of drivel. True, it was well researched and cited (kudos there), but I went in wanting knowledge and left feeling preached to and ill at ease.
For shame, Mr. Sekuow and friends. You slapped this together like a second-grade history report and tried to make i spiffy with footnotes and quotes. Stop dressing your wolfish research up in sheep's clothing.
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