Home
/
Non-Fiction
/
Al-Britannia, My Country
Al-Britannia, My Country
Oct 21, 2024 9:52 PM

Author:James Fergusson

Al-Britannia, My Country

Shortlisted for the British Academy Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding 2018.

'A SERIOUSLY NECESSARY BOOK.' ROWAN WILLIAMS, FORMER ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

'A MUST READ.' MIQDAAD VERSI, MUSLIM COUNCIL OF BRITAIN

'A COMPELLING AND COMPASSIONATE SURVEY OF BRITISH ISLAM.’ THE GUARDIAN

'A TIMELY BOOK.' BARONESS WARSI

'HUGELY IMPORTANT.' PETER OBORNE

'HEARTENING.' DAVID ANDERSON QC

In this groundbreaking book, James Fergusson travels the length of Britain to explore our often misunderstood Muslim communities, and to experience life on both sides of our increasingly segregated society.

The face of Britain is changing. The Muslim population has more than doubled over the last twenty years, and is projected to do so again over the next twenty. A societal shift of this size and speed has inevitably brought growing pains, with the impact on our communities becoming ever more profound – as well as painful, because in the eyes of many, Islam has a problem: the extremist views of a tiny minority, which, when translated into action, can result in catastrophic violence.

The danger of this extremist threat - or our response to it - is that we are collectively starting to lose faith in the cultural diversity that has glued our nation together for so long. Our tolerance of others, so often celebrated as a ‘fundamental British value,’ is at risk.

In this groundbreaking book, James Fergusson travels the length of Britain to evaluate the impact these seismic shifts have had on our communities. With the rise of nationalist movements, growing racial tensions and an increasingly out of touch political elite, what does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain? What is life like on both sides of this growing religious divide? And what can we do to heal the fractures appearing in our national fabric?

Al-Britannia, My Country is a timely and urgent account of life in Britain today, a call to action filled with real-life experience, hard truths and important suggestions for our future.

Reviews

Perhaps the best book ever written by a non-Muslim about Islam in Britain.

—— 5 Pillars

This is an impressively sustained attempt to listen to what British Muslims are actually saying, honest, fair-minded and not uncritical. For once we are allowed to see Islamic life in Britain in its human diversity, its three-dimensional reality. A seriously necessary book.

—— Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

A fascinating journey across the diversity of Al-Britannia. Fergusson's fresh approach yields powerful and honest insights. A must read.

—— Miqdaad Versi, Muslim Council of Britain

A compelling and compassionate survey of British Islam.

—— The Guardian

A highly readable and common sense dismantling of the conventional view of British Islam. His gentle, unassuming tone makes his analysis all the more powerful. His message is urgent… a hugely important book.

—— Peter Oborne

A timely book that deals with some complex and sensitive issues. Fergusson allows individuals on all sides of the argument to put their case.

—— Baroness Warsi

Fergusson is a delicate, warm, lucid writer with true curiosity and humility. With his porous sensibility [in Al-Britannia] he journeys through the UK to demystify and detoxify British Islam and Muslims. The book is a vital rejoinder to the growing pile of panic books about the "Muslim threat"... and is most moving when Fergusson writes as he fasts for the month of Ramadan. An absorbing book.

—— Yasmin Alibhai-Brown , The i

Fergusson sees through the curse of terrorism to reveal Muslims who – much like the rest of us – are kind, funny, confused, fearful, angry and proud to be British. His conclusion is heartening: that living better together is not only desirable, but well within our grasp.

—— David Anderson QC

Compelling and relevant... vivid, nuanced reporting.

—— Jenny McCartney , Mail on Sunday

Judicious and insightful...timely in a great many ways. Strong and brave. A fascinating book... it allows [Britain’s Muslims] to speak for themselves.

—— Stuart Kelly , Scotland on Sunday

Well researched and fluently written.

—— Daily Express

A triumph of detail... Al-Britannia doesn't fail in its mission to ask hard questions of all concerned parties.

—— Irish News

A triumph of detail and gracefully written.

—— The Herald

Fergusson is a delicate, warm, lucid writer with true curiosity and humility. A vital rejoinder to the growing pile of panic books about the 'Muslim threat'. Moving, humane... an absorbing book.

—— Yasmin Alibhai-Brown , i

[Fergusson] has marshalled his surveillance tools of wit, tenacity and decades of experience of the Muslim world to produce a fine, detailed portrait of Al-Britannia.

—— Barnaby Rogerson , Country Life

Don’t read Al-Britannia, My Country unless you’re prepared to let go of prejudices against Muslims, and seek a deeper understanding beyond headlines which have fanned the flames of fear and hatred. Fascinating, rich and complex.

—— Kevin Watson , Reform Magazine

An important book... ground-breaking.

—— Rev Geoff Reid , Methodist Recorder

A recommended read for anyone interested in the present condition and further development of Muslims in Britain.

—— Hasan Beg , Dawn

[A] highly sympathetic new survey of British Muslims. The end of multiculturalism and its replacement with heightened surveillance and the emphasis on national cultural values are dealt with in detail. Fergusson’s belief that British Muslims should be valued because of their faith, not in spite of it, is a major improvement on the self-interested toleration that has often passed for an enlightened position on the Muslim question.

—— The New York Review of Books

A deliciously funny behind-the-scenes take on broadcasting and her encounters with politicians and celebrities

—— i

Fascinating . . . [an] excellent book

—— Mail on Sunday

A behind-the-scenes look at how news gets made

—— Observer

A fascinating and brilliantly evocative ringside seat at some of the most notable interviews she's done

—— Radio Times

Behind-the-scenes accounts of her famous encounters, including those with Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama, among many others

—— Daily Mail Books of the Year

She lifts the veil on the inner workings of the BBC, as she reflects on her long career as a journalist

—— Radio Times

She offers insights into everyone from Donald Trump to Simon Cowell, showing them not just as what they represent, but as individuals with flaws and charm

—— The Press and Journal

One of the best we've read this year . . . This insightful, hilarious and engrossing memoir from one of our most well-liked TV broadcasters takes you behind the scenes of the biggest news stories in recent years

—— SheerLuxe, 15 Best Beach Reads of 2019

Recounts, one guest per chapter, a number of her interviews with the boldest of boldface figures . . . Entertaining

—— Strong Words

A quick, absorbing read . . . my overriding impression is of rather breathless thoughtfulness . . . her formidable intelligence and self-deprecating awareness shine brightly

—— Times Higher Education

We love the Maitlis

—— Stylist

We're obsessed with Emily Maitlis in this house

—— Nick Grimshaw

Emily Maitlis is a particular hero of mine . . . I know I'm in for a treat with Airhead

—— Gaby Huddart, Editor-in-chief, Good Housekeeping

Emily Maitlis is one of my favourite interviewers and I want to read her tales of interviewing people such as Donald Trump, Theresa May and Simon Cowell

—— Catriona Shearer, Sunday Mail

A fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into modern television news

—— Time & Leisure Magazine

It's a brilliant, often funny, behind-the-scenes account of her working life, written by one of Britain's best television broadcasters. It proves she's far from an airhead!

—— John Craven

She gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most engaging interviews she's conducted in recent years - with all the wrangling, arguing, pleading and last-minute script writing they involved. Insightful, funny and engrossing, we love it.

—— SheerLuxe
Comments
Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved