Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism
This rich and carefully researched biography sets Qutb for the first time in his Egyptian context, rescuing him from caricature without whitewashing his radicalism. It is no small achievement.(The Economist)[A] comprehensive overview of Qutb's life and writings.(Joshua SinaiWashington Times)Fascinating details emerge in this book.... Anyone interested in the evolution ofIslamism in the 20th century should read it.(Marc LynchThe Atlantic)The first truly comprehensive biography.(Samuel HelfrontJewish Review of Books)An exquisite intellectual biography.(Youssef Aboul-EneinSmall Wars Journal)[An] excellent intellectual biography.(Bruce Maddy-WeitzmanBustan: The Middle East Book Review1900-01-00)John Calvert greatly increases our knowledge about Qutb, situating him in intellectual context -- and does so without losing his balance. While the book is quite detailed, it should still be welcomed by a very broad audience indeed.(Nathan J. BrownReview of Middle East Studies1900-01-00)