This book is absolutely a quick read and probably the closest to true narration of the events that actually happened at Benghazi in 2012. Christopher Stevens (U.S. Ambassador to Libya), Sean Smith (U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer), Glen Doherty (Ex-Navy SEAL & security personnel) and Tyrone S. Woods (Ex-Navy SEAL & security personnel) lost their lives in the attack to the American diplomatic compound. In this conflict not only four Americans died but also more than hundred Libyans died.

What saddens me about the whole incident is that this tragic event has been used for political plots in United States. As usual, the Democrats and the Republican stood by their party lines and the people who actually serve the country had to watch the politicians’ nasty political battle with their achy hearts.

This book is absolutely well written and very graphics in description. It keeps you very engaged.

November 21^st, 2014

Chicago

Very courageous and yet informative book by Reza Aslan on Jesus Christ who definitely is one of the very few iconic figures who shaped the modern life in today’s world. His perspective as he claims definitely from a historical perspective not from a religious perspective. If it is an absolutely portrayal of history or not that probably need to be a different topic of discussion. I can see that how this may not be welcomed by different religious group but it is remarkable to see a different point of view discussion that is not recurrent regarding Jesus.

As per Merriam-Webster dictionary, Zealot means, “a person who has very strong feelings about something (such as religion or politics) and who wants other people to have those feelings”.

If you were looking for religious answers, then is book is probably not the correct one but if you are a student of history, you will find this book very interesting. This is probably more of a book that raises new questions rather than responses to unanswered ones.

In any case, I think this a very courageous attempt from a Scholar who is Muslim. I have been reading his works or watching his TV interviews from his days in University of Iowa in early 2000s. I can see that he has evolved in last 10-12 years. He always was TV interview favorites by CNN or even some cases Fox. I can see that he definitely has refined his thought process and have become more organized in this book.

Anyway, if you agree with him or not, it is definitely an interesting read.

November 7^th, 2014

Chicago