In this provocative collection of 18 previously published essays, the raised-in-England author of Why I am not a Muslim provides an introduction to What the Koran Really Says (the title of a book he edited) and the history of Koranic criticism. He also discusses his reasons for leaving Islam, Western and Arabic apologists for Islam as a totalitarian system, and in the title article written in response to the 9/11/2001 attacks, misguided ideas of martyrdom. The book includes a guide to further readings. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)