Armstrong, Karen, Islam: A Short History, Modern Library, 2000.

This popular introduction traces the history of Islam from its origins through to modern times, explaining the various sects, the central points of the Qur’an, and the effects of Western civilization over the centuries. Published in 2000, the book does not reflect an attitude about or response to the events of 9/11.

Chomsky, Noam, Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy, Henry Holt, 2007.

In this carefully documented study, Chomsky explains how the Bush administration’s actions after 9/11 transformed the United States into an imperialist power, one eschewing both international and domestic law and endangering itself and the world in military escalation.

Hennessy, Christopher, Outside the Lines: Talking with Contemporary Gay Poets, University of Michigan Press, 2005.

Despite its title, this book does not concentrate on the sexual preferences of the poets, and Bidart...