My book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) continues to do well: on the New York Times Bestseller List (Paperback Nonfiction) for October 2, it is number 15.
This is its sixth week on the list and first in the top 15. The Times provides capsule descriptions for books in the top 15, and describes mine thusly, in words quoted from some promotional material sent by the publisher: "An examination of certain highly tendentious assertions about both Islam and the Crusades that have entered the popular discourse." Using this sentence, which is in fact a neat encapsulation of what the book is designed to do, no doubt freed up Times staffers from the onerous duty of actually having to look at the book.
Why does this book continue to attract so much interest from readers, despite the dhimmi cringing and silence with which it has largely been received by both conservative and liberal media titans? An answer comes from someone else who is making his first appearance this week in the Times paperback top 15, Mr. Bob Dylan (author of the strange and beguiling book Chronicles). Long ago, Mr. Dylan wrote, in a satirical vein: "Well, I investigated all the books in the library / Ninety percent of 'em gotta be burned away." If this is true of any subject, it is true of Islam: ninety percent of the books in any given library are likely as not filled with taqiyya, apologetics, and pandering. And more and more Americans are becoming aware of it -- and turning to books like The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) for the real story.
Well I can certainly attest to the 90% of library books on Islam being taqiyya and deception like Esposito and Armstrong. It's a concern. Now I submitted a few request forms to buy other Islam books that are truthful but they kinda get sucked into a blackhole since there is no way to know if the acquisition board approves them. Where I live, I think they would. It's a relatively rich and relatively well run library system. I just haven't seen them on the shelves yet when I go there.
John Sobieski, PI
The Pedestrian Infidel Blog
Well, let's help get Spencer some additional name recognition.
The Prospect/Foreign Policy is taking votes for
"Who are the world's leading public intellectuals?"
FP and Britain’s Prospect magazine would like to know who you think makes the cut.
Among the contenders are Ayaan Hirsi Ali who competes against the likes of Tariq Ramadan and Noam Chomsky.
There are some very important names missing from the list offered! Well, fortunately that can be corrected since TP/FP offers a write in option.
We can add Robert Spencer (Hugh Fitzgerald, Oriana Fallaci, Ibn Warraq et al). Time to let these names get some well deserved recognition - so vote! Wouldn't it be delicious to discover that our write-in votes exceed those of Tariq or Noam. . . he he he.
RS_
I'm greatly heartened that your book is still so high in the NY Times listings. It must be via world of mouth and the internet that people find out. You doing a blitz on talk stations and appearances on FoxNews. The mass media is denying reviews of you and your book.
I was also intrigued by your interview with a Catholic publication that you are a Malekite Catholic with family roots in the Islamic world. That Malekite is Coptic rite but Catholic. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1489541/posts
Mr. Spencer is a Melkite Catholic who’s of Middle Eastern descent - from above interview
The link below has a vote box on page one, and on page two there is "Bonus ball nomination on the right side column where one may type in Spencer's name. I looked at the other names on the list, and of the half or so I know of I feel they hardly come any where near Spencer's importance. If nothing else, perhaps there will be a curiousity value in writing in Spencer's name.
The Prospect/Foreign Policy
Bonus ball nomination
Who did we pass over unjustly? Please enter ONE name [Robert Spencer] you believe should have been on the list.
Apt allusion to Bob Dylan, fortunately not in the protesting-the-Patriot-Act vein, suggests we seek for something anciently empsonite or up-to-datedly crisrixian in Spencer's mental makeup.
Hi all. New guy.
I don't think that the books in the library regarding Islam have any Apologetics in them. That would imply that classical apologetics could be or has ever been applied to Islam. Apologism? Rantings of Apologists? Sorry to nitpick on my first post. Seeing the word 'apologetics' in the same list as taqiyya and pandering was like seeing 'grape' in a list with quartz and hematite.
Apologetics is the attempt to find, through reason and science and provable fact, a logical answer or explanation of the Truth of something. What is in those books is quite the opposite. Obscuration of the truth is the goal. Making up of 'fact' and avoiding anything remotely resembling 'proof' are the key methods used in achieving this goal.
But I know what you meant. :)
-Taq
Excellent news - I hope the book stays in the top list and in sight for a long time, books such as these don't age and will be just as useful for future generations.
Just a couple of potential issues, Mr. Spencer:
One. From the NYT "An examination of certain highly tendentious assertions about both Islam and the Crusades that have entered the popular discourse." Is this your description of your book, the NYT's or someone else's. I for one would not be happy with the use of the adjective 'tendentious' in the above description of the PIG.
A dictionary definition:
"Meaning of tendentious (adjective)
having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause
Example of tendentious
The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking."
Is this another example of dhimmitude in the NYT?
A more accurate description would be "An examination of honest and truthfull assertions about both Islam and the Crusades that have entered the popular discourse despite the best efforts of the government, Muslim and oil lobbies."
(But wait, hang on a minute - from the definition "having an aim,... designed to further a cause" - yes that's it designed to further a cause: the truth!)
The secound point why is there no hyperlink? Is this deliberate or are we expecting too much from the New Durranty Times?
When I'm not so busy I shall read your book, soon I hope. BTW a poster a few weeks ago asked if someone could lend him a copy. My thought might be to purchase the book on their behalf and when he/she has finished with it, it could then be forwarded on to me.
JV
Congratulations, Mr. Spencer!
I bought and read "PIG to Islam" a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I plan on giving copies to friends and family because I find it to be a great intro into the subject and history of Islam for those who know only what they hear in the MSM.
Mr. Spencer: Since returning to the USA and taking up a new job here, I made it a point to borrow your PIG from the local library. It seems to have gained quite a readership in my community, according to what I saw of the state-wide records on where it was. Congrats.
DennisW: Actually, I think Melkites are people who follow the Byzantine rite, not Coptic. The name comes from an Aramaic term meaning "King's Men", applied to those who followed the Constantinople-approved formulae rather than the local usages of Syria and Egypt.
Oh, Rob, you old hippie you!
Spencer was great before he went electric.
JUDAS!!!!!!
Moneypenney:
I don't believe you! You're a liar!
Cordially
Bob
Congratulations, to Mr Spencer and Hugh, this old Cid Campiandor, is hard at work pulling together all his resources so that he can contribute to their noble effort.
Three ways you can take action now to spread the word about PIG an JW
1) buy as many copies of the book and give them away.
2) donate a copy to your library
3) make a donation to this site and this movement.
4) do it as many times as you can.
It's amazing how liberating taking a stand against Jihad is,
"I don't believe you! You're a liar!"
This was the cry from the audience in Free Trade Hall that night. Bob Dylan yelled out Judas, then in an aside to his band said "Play fucking loud" as they launched into the (most) immortal version of "Like a Rolling Stone".
______________
From http://theband.hiof.no/albums/bootleg_series_vol_4.html
In May of 1966, Bob Dylan stands on an English stage, coming back for the second half of a concert. The first part, done solo and acoustic, was well received, even though the lyrics were not the socially-conscious politically-motivating messages that had gained Dylan popularity barely a year before. Now he appears in a check houndstooth "rabbit" suit and pointed boots in front of a 5 piece band with an electric guitar in hand, playing incandescent rock and roll. There are catcalls throughout the set, and finally, just before the last number, someone yells "Judas!". Dylan replies, "I don't believe you!", turns to the band and snarls "play fucking loud!"--drummer Mickey Jones cracks the snare like a rifle shot and the Hawks roar into "Like A Rolling Stone". Dylan's voice is a velvet sneer as he shouts out the line "how does it feeeeeeel" and the performance rolls on with power, defiance and a sheer majesty rarely captured on tape.
Robert -- a crisrixian has stepped in with an explication de texte, votre texte that, without his explanation, might have appeared to some readers as inexplicably impolite. I, at least, was enlightened.
Kepha
Melkites might well be Byzantine rite Catholics. Wikipedia said they were Coptic rite and could be wrong.
Robert,
Warmest congratulations on the success of the PIG. May you have many, many more bestsellers in the future.
All my very best,
Rebecca
Hugh: You're right. I did think that most would find the exchange with Moneypenney inexplicable, as well as impolite, but couldn't resist nevertheless. I like the "crisrixian" very much.
Dennis W: Your two explanations conflict. In fact, it was not Dylan, but a folk-music purist in the audience, who shouted Judas. Whereupon Dylan's full retort, according to most accounts, was "I don't believe you. You're a liar." Hence my reply to Moneypenney.
Rebecca: Thank you. It is good to see you resurface. Everyone has missed you.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
Right you are Robert (RS)
Audience member: Judas!
Bob Dylan: I don't believe you!
Bob Dylan: "Play fucking loud" which is the highlight of the exchange. Which Dylan snarled at his backing band, which was The Band minus Levon Helm.
They went onto play one of the best recordings of "Like a Rolling Stone"
>>> Your first quote way above about libraries is from "Talking John Birch Society Blues". Dylan's 1963 put down of the Birchers which was bootlegged for years. The organization which placed many billboards saying "Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US"
So it all comes 'round again, as the Fairport Convention lyrics say
Mr. Spencer,
I take it back. I love your electric stuff.
Write $*#*in' loud- maybe the New Duranty Times will hear you.
Moneypenny: thanks.
I assure you I am writing as $*#*in' loud as I can.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
Don't think twice, it's alright.
At last, something to praise the BBC for.
A season, no less.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/bobdylan/
More on "PLAY F'ING LOUD", you can hear the complete Free Trade Hall (Manchester UK) rendition of "Like a Rolling Stone" at
http://theband.hiof.no/sounds/dylan_m_band_2/bootleg_series/07.mp3
********** ----->>>>>>
http://www.expectingrain.com/dok/who/j/judas.html
Judas
Mitch Gart (mg@asp.camb.inmet.com) :
In the 1966 tour, at the concert recording labelled "Royal Albert Hall" (which many people argue was actually a tape of a concert in Manchester rather than London) between songs somebody from the audience yells "Judas" and Dylan responds "I don't believe you, you're a liar".
nmd@world.std.com (Noah M Davis):
Maybe I'm slower than the rest of you, but I still don't get what it means . . what does dylan's response mean . . and who is Judas? Sorry . . just satisfy a stupid person for a minute . .
jfryblair@aol.com (JfryBlair):
Obviously "Judas" is a reference to the Biblical figure. People really felt that Dylan was *killing* the folk movement by selling it out. It wasn't just a musical thing, but a self-righteous pseudo-religious political thing for people back then. Not to knock it at all, after having been through the McCarthy era etc. left-wing folkies had a reason to feel endangered I guess... But the guy who shouted "Judas" (IMHO) was just a closed-eared herd-follower. For one thing, the political ramifications of switching to personal/rock from political/folk just did not exist in England, not nearly to the same extent anyway. I take Bob's response of "I don't beLEIVE you... you're a LIAR" to be not a song referece *at all* but just a literal "I can't believe you would be so petty and misguided to equate my following my personal musical muse with a cosmic betrayal on the order of Judas!" Or maybe a pithier paraphrase would be "Get A Life!!" And how can one say that he was definitely responding to a front-row comment and not the shout that the whole audience heard?? Anyway the best part of Bob's response is after those two phrases, when he turns to the Hawks and says "Play F*CKIN' loud!!" THEN comes the godlike thunder of Like a Rolling Stone. In closing let me say how much it warms my heart to hear that one departing concertgoer in "Eat the Document" countering all the naysayers with conviction in his voice: "Bob Dylan is the best. Every time. EVERY TIME." Wherever you are today, I take my hat off to you sir!!
HFIN011@uabdpo.dpo.uab.edu (Ken Pennington)
EDLIS Dylan & Christianity Agent:
Judas is a reference to Judas Iscariot, the apostle of Jesus Christ who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, turning him over to the authorities. The identifying signal to the authorities was Judas' kiss of Jesus, thus the familiar "betrayed by a kiss".
Dylan's move from acoustic to rock angered many fans. The "Judas" shout is a reference to their feeling of betrayal by his new style.
eddie@edlis.org (Ed Ricardo):
In the 1960s the phrase "I don't believe you" could have the meaning "I don't believe someone like you could exist, to run across such a person is hard for me to believe possible". It was an idiomatic phrase familiar to people of a certain age and interests...
Judas was a cry which got a reaction because it implied Bob Dylan would abandon those who made him what he was, even those who had or would die for him, in order to have a few pieces of silver, a home in Malibu, a significant property portfolio, teams of lawyers chasing dollars around unlikely corners, things like that.
Mr Dillon simply wished to point out the absurdity that pieces of silver might tempt him in any way and show that such an accuser was lying.
Luckily the Judas cry was not some sort of dreadful foreshadowing, and Mr Dillon has continued his life in the style of a Woody Guthrie, a Medgar Evers, a...
Accountancy, who really cares, propaganda, all is phoney?
Wellll, something like that... These are not my views, I am simply trying to relate how some felt at the time. The pressure to be someone he was not was clearly intolerable. And he did not tolerate it. In any degree.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 16:08:05 GMT
From: eddie@edlis.org (Ed Ricardo)
Subject: Re: Dylan and the Hawks play loud
Oldham Evening Chronicle - 25 May 1966: "So the knockers are all stations go again. I am referring to the fantastic performance given by Bob Dylan at the Free Trade Hall last Tuesday night... I think Bob put his feelings over to the knockers just great. When someone shouted out to him 'Judas!', he just calmly went to the microphone and quietly drawled 'Ya liar'..."
Between Ballad Of A Thin Man (7) and Like A Rolling Stone (8) lies this famous incident where a member of the audience yells out "Judas!". Applause and other shouts ["...sing Dylan songs?" and the like] are heard. Dylan responds, "I don't believe you... You're a LIAR... [Robbie Robertson says, "Quit talking Bob." but not audibly on the tape] Dylan turns away from his mike to face the drummer Mickey Jones and says, "Play fucking loud!" followed by a wall-of-sound no-holds-barred crashing-cymbals rendition of Like A Rolling Stone.
After Like A Rolling Stone (8) we hear a very Dylanesque "Thank you." Hmmmm. Well some say he makes it sound more like "Fuck you" but I can assure you the word is "Thank" whatever the intention...
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Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 13:06:23 EWT
From: MCLENDIN@ESOC.ESA.DE
Subject: Contemporary answer to an old question?
Well, I finally got to listen to 'Guitars kissing and the contemporary fix'
Fully expecting to find out if Dylan was responding to the cry of 'Judas'
with 'I don't believe you' or if some other cry from the audience had
provoked him - but what do I hear? The tape has been cut compared to the RAH
version! So still no answer! - is this a Sony marketing ploy - buy bootleg
series 4 & 5 for the answer?
For info below are timings from the last drum chord of 'ballad of a thin man'
RAH GK&CT
Laughter 17
'Like You' 19 7
'Judas!' 20 8
cheers 21 9
(inaudible)
'..genius(?)...Dylan song' 29
(inaudible)
' I don't believe you!' 36 20
(inaudible)
' You're a Liar!' 47 31
' Play F-ing loud!' 53 36
so looks like 2 cuts of 12 secs and 4 secs? Mike C
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Jan 23, 1999:
The man who says he made the 'Judas' shout comes forward:
Butler, Keith
John Cordwell - The quieter contender for the Judas! shout.
From the BBC website I posted above. Click on "Your memories of Bob"
My name is Thomas Heywood, I was just 17 when I saw Bob at Manchester's Free Trade Hall Concert - This was the concert when the prat walked down the aisle and shouted "Judas" and had to be thrown out, he was complaining about Bob's Band accompanyment and going electric. Most people just wanted to get on and see Bob - so the very exaggerated view of the audience booing was not right, from what I can remember, and very clearly I must add, this lonely guy claimed great accolade in starting something, but really he was just another Arran pullovered d***head around at that time who listened to Pete Seger and Peter Paul and Mary. He had no Idea who we were all hear to see.....