Free Downloads

The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, And Doomsday Vision Of The Islamic State

The Islamic State is one of the most lethal and successful jihadist groups in modern history, surpassing even al-Qaeda. Thousands of its followers have marched across Syria and Iraq, subjugating millions, enslaving women, beheading captives, and daring anyone to stop them. Thousands more have spread terror beyond the Middle East under the Islamic State's black flag. How did the Islamic State attract so many followers and conquer so much land? By being more ruthless, more apocalyptic, and more devoted to state-building than its competitors. The shrewd leaders of the Islamic State combined two of the most powerful yet contradictory ideas in Islam-the return of the Islamic Empire and the end of the world-into a mission and a message that shapes its strategy and inspires its army of zealous fighters. They have defied conventional thinking about how to wage wars and win recruits. Even if the Islamic State is defeated, jihadist terrorism will never be the same. Based almost entirely on primary sources in Arabic-including ancient religious texts and secret al-Qaeda and Islamic State letters that few have seen - William McCants' The ISIS Apocalypse explores how religious fervor, strategic calculation, and doomsday prophecy shaped the Islamic State's past and foreshadow its dark future.

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Picador; Reprint edition (August 9, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1250112648

ISBN-13: 978-1250112644

Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #23,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in Books > History > Middle East > Iraq #21 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Radicalism #31 in Books > History > World > Religious > Religion, Politics & State

Will McCants writes with expertise and aplomb about the Islamic State, its history, and the foundations of its efforts at regional dominance. While, some of the zig-zagging back and forth in time requires a bit of gymnastics from the reader, the book is both educational and entertaining. Anyone interested in learning about this organization from a truly qualified scholar would benefit from a read of this book.Dr. McCants proclaims himself, rightly, as a guide, proficient in Islamic theology and history, modern jihadism, clandestine bureaucracies, and Arabic. The good doctor flexes his linguist muscles with translations of original Arabic texts, providing crucial context to the situations he describes.The book covers the history of the organization, beginning with distinctions between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State; such as, AQ wanted to build popular support for caliphate, but IS wanted to impose a caliphate, regardless of the acquiescence of the masses. The book details Zarqawi’s rise to prominence and obsession with Nur al-Din and Saladin. Zarqawi linked his organization in Iraq to AQ [forming Al-Qaeda in/of Iraq (AQI)] but his brutality drew censure from Al-Qaeda Central. Once Zarqawi was killed and al-Baghdadi became commander of the faithful, AQI dissolved and was absorbed into IS with Masri as minister of war.From there the book focuses attention on the Islamic State’s flag symbolism and parallels with historical references to the Abbasids. After Masri and Baghdadi killed in 2010, the focus shifted yet again. The group floundered until the Americans left and the Arab Spring happened. The next section details the beginning of the online presence through magazines and Twitter.

The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State Minecraft: Steve's Guide to Surviving: the Zombie Apocalypse: Book 7 (Unofficial Minecraft Book) (Minecraft Doomsday Prepper) The History of Islamic Political Thought, Second Edition: The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present Minecraft: Diary Of The Untold Legends! Creeper Apocalypse: Book 3 (Minecraft Apocalypse) Age of Apocalypse Unofficial Minecraft Books Adventure (Part 1) (Minecraft: Age of Apocalypse) ISIS: The State of Terror Islamic Art, Literature, and Culture (Islamic World (Hardcover)) Snow White: An Islamic Tale (Islamic Fairy Tales) F is for First State: A Delaware Alphabet (Discover America State by State) G is for Garden State: A New Jersey Alphabet (Discover America State by State) M is for Mountain State: A West Virginia Alphabet (Discover America State by State) The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine Lord of the World (Dover Doomsday Classics) Minecraft: Steve's Guide to Surviving: F5 Tornadoes: Book 4 (Unofficial Minecraft Book) (Minecraft Doomsday Prepper) Minecraft: Steve's Guide to Surviving: a Deadly Earthquake: Book 2 (Unofficial Minecraft Book) (Minecraft Doomsday Prepper) TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code ISIS: A History Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and the Global Jihadist Movement: What Everyone Needs to Know® The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency The Terror Years: From al-Qaeda to the Islamic State