Book Review: "Londonistan" by Melanie Phillips (2006)

In the wake of last summer's London bombings, journalist Melanie Phillips penned this simply devastating critique of the moral equivalency, permissiveness, inertia, and culture of self-blame within British society that has allowed radical Islam to not only develop but flourish. After looking at the terror plot that was thwarted earlier this month, her observations are even more pertinent. Phillips is unapologetically conservative: are we to sacrifice the values of freedom of speech and gender equality at the altar of Sharia law to appease potential terrorists? For Phillips, the answer is unequivocally negative, and she makes several flawless arguments throughout "Londonistan" which conclude with a patriotic yet logical defense of the West and the values that it is built on.

Along with "While Europe Slept", I'd say it's the most compelling book of the year. I'd also venture to say that if first-year political science professors were truly interested in teaching students how to think rather than what to think, they'd put "Londonistan" on the top of their reading lists this September right beside the obligatory Chomsky texts (but I suspect that most of them in the echo chamber of the ivory tower haven't even heard of it).

Absolutely essential.

Overall rating: 10/10