Heretic

By: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Narrated by: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

What happened to Islamic reform? Why have al Qaeda and Boko Haram become the faces of contemporary Islam? Why has the Arab Spring devolved into a battle over sharia law? Continuing her personal journey from a deeply religious Islamic upbringing to a post at Harvard and American citizenship, the New York Times best-selling author of Infidel and Nomad crafts a powerful call for an Islamic reformation as the only way to end the current wave of global violence and repression of women.

Today, millions of Muslims are wrapped in a rigid orthodoxy whereby women are denied education, girls as young as nine can be forced into legal marriages, and men are told that their futures lie not in building better, more just societies but in jihad against the infidel. Hopes for a wave of liberalization after the Arab Spring have been replaced by new authoritarianism and efforts to impose sharia law. Twitter, YouTube, and other social media have become aggressive platforms to promote a harsh brand of Islamic fundamentalism, making the clash between secular and Islamic society one of the most important challenges of our time.

And yet, contrary to conventional wisdom in the West, Ayaan Hirsi Ali believes that ordinary Muslims throughout the world want wholesale change. Courageously engaging fundamentalists on their own turf - religion itself - she boldly calls for a Muslim reformation, identifying five key amendments to Islamic doctrine that must be made in order to break from seventh-century traditions and fully engage with the 21st century. Interweaving her personal journey, historical parallels, and powerful examples from contemporary Islamic societies and cultures, Heretic will forever change the debate over Islam and its future.

©2015 Ayaan Hirsi Ali (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Bold

It saddens me deeply that to criticize Islam is considered bold, but coming from someone who grew up in it and has seen first hand the consequences of speaking out, that is the reality today.

This book aims to change that.

Excellent Insiders View

Ayaan Hirsi Ali does an excellent job summarizing the need for reform in Islam. I've read several of her books and this is one of the best.

A Needed Voice of Reason

Excellent work by Ms Ali in exposing the devastating crisis & carnage in Islam while presenting the path to reform. Any Muslim who opposes the evil perpetrated by ISIS, Al Queda, Boko etc. should support Ms Ali and reform. However, support seems very minimal & quite. This Medina Muslim "radical " movement seems parallel to the gathering storm of Adolf Hitler & Nazi Germany. Hopefully the voice of reason Ms Ali proposes in Muslim communities can stop this inevitable clash of civilizations if not.

A necessary Perspective,

Where does Heretic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a first hand perspective, that spells out in detail how religiosity effects cutler, and how it effected Ayaan Hirsi Ali personally. The mix is well thought out, and is vary compelling intellectually an emotion making it standout as one of the best books I have listen to in the past year.

A must read 4 evry1

You're a force of Nature girl. Keep it real! Adding some random words required for a "review"...

Overly optimistic

Reform needed - will still result in destruction of all that is not Islamic - I grieve the future generations

A Sobering Read

The message of this book is essential for all of our politicians and liberals. Anyone that wants to understand why the Muslim religion is growing and how they continue to attract so many angry willing and educated participants will walk away with those questions answered. Our "tolerance" is working against us.

Fantastic

Do yourself a favour and get this book. A fast track to understanding Islamic fundamentalism.

loved it!

frightening to say the least. I hope that reform is successful. Thank you for this enlightened work. great job!

Fantastic book

Every person should read this great book to better understand the doctrines of Islam, from the perspective of somebody who lived it.