A ground-breaking work on the process of radicalization among Western Muslims. Wiktorowicz not only undertook astonishing and difficult fieldwork but brings us a theoretically innovative approach to understanding the case of the Western Muslim 'born-again.'
- Olivier Roy, French National Center for Scientific Research,
An important new book by Quintan Wiktorowicz...makes clear that the Salafists operate like a cult....Wiktorowicz researched his book by embedding himself with al-Muhajiroun, an extremist Salafist group based in London. He found that the group preyed on disoriented young Muslims — not poor or oppressed themselves but confused and looking for meaning.
- David Igatieff, The Review of Higher Education
Wiktorowicz's study makes several important contributions. In addition to illuminating certain psychological aspects of the radicalization process and tactics used by extremist groups, it pinpoints missed opportunities by British moderates. This book is a must-read for anybody interested in radicalization in the West and how to counter it.
Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2009
Wiktorowicz demystifies radical Islam in the first study to lift the veil around a militant Islamist organization in the West. Through careful empirical evidence, he sheds light on how educated but alienated young Muslims adopt their hate-filled messages and cheer for Bin Laden. A must-read for anyone interested in the sources of terrorism.
- Marc Sageman, University of Pennsylvania and author of Understanding Terror Networks,