THE WEST AND THE REST

What Else They're Saying...

"[I]ntensely intelligent and stimulating…. This subtle and challenging book is especially good on the links between liberal constitutional and legal principles on the one hand, and the rise of the territorial nation-state on the other."
—Daily Telegraph

"The West and the Rest is an essential book."
—The Report

"British philosopher Roger Scruton's The West and the Rest does a superb job of placing into context the horrendous events of September 11, 2001. His book is a marvel of clarity and concision, with an extraordinary amount of information packed into its 200 pages. … Scruton does not pretend to solve the problems he addresses, but he has framed those problems compellingly. His arguments are nuanced, and the evidence he marshals in support of them is formidable."
—Philadelphia Inquirer

"The new book by Roger Scruton, one of Britain's most prominent intellectuals, addresses the intellectual and political background to the September 11 attacks. Its eminently quotable pages, ranging from classical Islamic philosophy to architecture to current economics, offer a capsule history of the confluence of events and beliefs that led to September 11."
—New York Sun

"There is much more meat in Scruton's concentrated argument, which concludes not by suggesting how to fight terrorism successfully but by urging the West to reexamine its prejudices about immigration, multiculturalism, free trade, and religion."
—Booklist

"British philosopher Scruton offers a consideration of the philosophical and political differences between the West and 'the rest,' in particular Islam. Without taking a 'blame the West' approach, he suggests that some of our 'habits, beliefs, and prejudices' need to be reexamined, among them the unrestrained multinational corporation, and 'our devotion to prosperity' and consumption and the resulting dependence on oil and other raw materials. In order to take on religious fanaticism, he argues, we must offer a coherent alternative and a means of putting our beliefs into practice."
—Publishers Weekly

"Roger Scruton, in his book The West and the Rest, argues correctly that regardless of what someone believes about the historicity of Jesus or the veracity of Christian theology, Christianity holds forgiveness as one of its moral values."
—Christianity Today

"Roger Scruton's new book provides us with a comprehensive, coherent, and eloquent analysis of the differences between the Western and the Islamic worlds, the most profound account of the underlying conflict between them to be written since the terrorist attacks of September 11. Professional scholars, political leaders, and concerned citizens will all benefit from reading this outstanding book."
—James Kurth, Claude Smith Professor of Political Science, Swarthmore College

"As ever, Roger Scruton delivers a powerful and critical scrutiny of received wisdom. Not all will agree with his analysis, but its bold linking of crucial issues of political philosophy with modern world affairs commands attention and ensures that Scruton will play a major role in the debate."
—Jeremy Black, Professor in History, University of Exeter

"Roger Scruton has one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary philosophy."
—Brendan Walsh, The Tablet

"While America's political arena is still dominated by those two tiresome creatures, the 'liberal' and the 'conservative,' Roger Scruton gives you reason to envy the Brits. He's a plain-talking philosopher and writer who confounds attempts at categorization. A man of culture and sophistication…. He's a conservative who is at his best making clear-cut distinctions, yet his thinking and language are nuanced and open. He enters enthusiastically into discussions on such old-fashioned topics as beauty, goodness and religion, yet there's nothing tweedy about his work. He looks on the conditions that markets create as warily as the most jaundiced lefty."
—Ray Sawhill, Salon.com

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