Last week I finished reading Beyond Belief by V. S. Naipaul. This was an amazing read that taught me about a part of the world and a culture I really have very little knowledge of.
It is a follow up to his book Among the Believers. The premise is simple. In 1979 he spent significant amounts of time in Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan and Malaysia exploring Islam and the relationship people of these countries have with this religion and, at times, its accompanying politics.
In Beyond Belief, he repeats the journey in 1998 and speaks to many of the same people. This juxtaposition of time really helps one to see the evolution of Islam in these cultures and gives a refreshing human perspective to this important force in our contemporary world.
If you are looking to learn more about Islam or any of these countries, this is a great place to start. Don't expect a page-turner, but do expect to find yourself deep in thought.
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Exploring the travels and readings of a US expat living in the UK.
