My Jihad is the personal story about the biggest threat to world peace and stability in our generation, as told by an insider.
My Jihad: The True Story of An American Mujahid's Amazing Journey from Usama Bin Laden's Training Camps to Counterterrorism with the FBI and CIA
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My Jihad is the personal story about the biggest threat to world peace and stability in our generation, as told by an insider.
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Wayland Smith –
I'm not sure exactly what I think of this one. It rings true mostly, but some of it sounds really cliche. It's the story of an American who signs up to become an American Mujaheddin. I'll give him that he doesn't really take action against America directly. Most of it is in Bosnia, Kashmir, and Chechnya. It gives you some good insight into the mindset of people who do this. You can learn a lot from it. I wasn't thrilled with it, but it's worth a read if you want to learn more about jihad. I'm not sure exactly what I think of this one. It rings true mostly, but some of it sounds really cliche. It's the story of an American who signs up to become an American Mujaheddin. I'll give him that he doesn't really take action against America directly. Most of it is in Bosnia, Kashmir, and Chechnya. It gives you some good insight into the mindset of people who do this. You can learn a lot from it. I wasn't thrilled with it, but it's worth a read if you want to learn more about jihad.
Logan –
It's really hard to review this book accurately. From my perspective, I see Collins conversion and then submersion into fundamentalist Islam as obvious: an abused child from a chaotic, broken home, no father, empty and lacking in a path or life goals- a common story with an uncommon reaction from an American(to turn to Islam, as opposed to Jesus,) that is simultaneously entirely predictable. In fundamentalist faith, you are given the ultimate father, strict rules, and big expectations. The sudd It's really hard to review this book accurately. From my perspective, I see Collins conversion and then submersion into fundamentalist Islam as obvious: an abused child from a chaotic, broken home, no father, empty and lacking in a path or life goals- a common story with an uncommon reaction from an American(to turn to Islam, as opposed to Jesus,) that is simultaneously entirely predictable. In fundamentalist faith, you are given the ultimate father, strict rules, and big expectations. The suddenly aimless life is replaced by not only a big love, but a mission, and a duty to pick up arms. While I find his sense of duty admirable, and his jihad service mostly noble (Chechnya, etc.) it saddens me that he is willing to subjugate women in the name of his faith, when he has been raised in a culture that has grown away from such abhorrent behavior. Collins now has a daughter, and I hope as she grows he will learn to treat women appropriately. I truly feel that this book taught me more about Islamic fundamentalism, mujaheddin, and jihad than I knew before. It is definitely a 180 from the propaganda that we hear about in the papers, and from the experience of boots on the ground, an American Mujaheddin was not fighting to topple America, but training with Al Qeda to learn tactics for fighting real revolutionary struggles. I will forever respect and appreciate this book for enlightening me to the depths of these issues that are portrayed so one dimensionally in our media. In the end, the Islamic fighters are just as duped and misguided as our Rick Warren/James Dobson Christian soldiers.
Kane Tews –
My jihad is an enlightening book. Before reading this book I believed just what a typical America does: jihad is a wretched thing and mujahideen (a word I didn't know before reading the book) are all set out to destroy the good ol' USA. But, this book gave a face to this large minority of people, who are fighting for their countries as much as we are fighting for ours. I do realize that many mujahideen are horrid people but I found out that generalizing them all as "terrorists" is flat out wrong My jihad is an enlightening book. Before reading this book I believed just what a typical America does: jihad is a wretched thing and mujahideen (a word I didn't know before reading the book) are all set out to destroy the good ol' USA. But, this book gave a face to this large minority of people, who are fighting for their countries as much as we are fighting for ours. I do realize that many mujahideen are horrid people but I found out that generalizing them all as "terrorists" is flat out wrong and ignorant. Many of these mujahideen are people just like anyone in the US who just have been led down a different path in life, due to their living environment. This book shows you that you cannot base all of your opinions off of what the mainstream media says. My Jihad is a book about a man who finds his true calling in life, through his search for God and his fight for his people. It's his story of his unique experience with the so-called "terrorists" and the governments of various countries, most of whom ARE trying to stop the actual terrorists but harm many other people in collateral.
Nancy –
An eye-opening look into the mind and heart of an American Muslim and his dedication to jihad. I certainly learned a lot and it made me realize that more and more I agree with Ron Paul's foreign policy. We don't truly understand the conflicts in other cultures, some of them have been going on for centuries and will continue to do so, and we have no business meddling in them. An eye-opening look into the mind and heart of an American Muslim and his dedication to jihad. I certainly learned a lot and it made me realize that more and more I agree with Ron Paul's foreign policy. We don't truly understand the conflicts in other cultures, some of them have been going on for centuries and will continue to do so, and we have no business meddling in them.
Colin W. –
Behind the Mask How well do you understand jihad? Where is the line drawn between jihad and terrorism, and is it a clear line? Was Al-Qaeda committing jihad or just murder? How about Islamic State? For many, Islamic jihad is a difficult concept to grasp, with misunderstandings and confusion around the principles of Islamic war especially due to the so-called "jihadists" that have been killing innocent people in recent news. "My Jihad" written by Aukai Collins and published by Lyons Press, is unl Behind the Mask How well do you understand jihad? Where is the line drawn between jihad and terrorism, and is it a clear line? Was Al-Qaeda committing jihad or just murder? How about Islamic State? For many, Islamic jihad is a difficult concept to grasp, with misunderstandings and confusion around the principles of Islamic war especially due to the so-called "jihadists" that have been killing innocent people in recent news. "My Jihad" written by Aukai Collins and published by Lyons Press, is unlike other books written on similar topics, as it allows readers to comprehend the Islamic Jihad from the perspective of one who has fought both alongside and against jihadists. I chose to read this book because I was curious about the pre-9/11 jihad and I was hoping to learn and draw comparisons between the mujahideen of the 1980s and groups such as Islamic State today. Despite what seems to be self-righteousness and arrogance from Collins at times, “My Jihad” was a very gripping read - his accounts of illegal border crossings and training camps allowed me to understand more about the jihadists, as footage usually shown on the news is almost exclusively of combat and people rarely see behind the curtain of violence. “My Jihad,” an autobiography by Aukai Collins, takes place mostly in Bosnia, Kashmir, and Chechnya. Collins is an American with a troubled background who eventually found his place in Islam and ended up joining the jihadist effort after learning of the atrocities committed against Muslims by Russian soldiers in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. As such, he is conflicted when confronted with the deeds of groups such as Al-Qaeda, who slaughter innocent civilians and call it jihad. His desire for a pure jihad shows at points in his book, as there seems to be an underlying theme about whether or not what he is doing is right. Throughout the book, a very personal tone is taken as if Collins were talking to a friend, giving the readers a surprisingly casual feeling for a book about such a topic. As for Collins’ writing style, it is relatively casual, as an autobiography usually is. The vocabulary is relatively common, with military terms and pieces of Arabic and Urdu vocabulary used to offer a more genuine feel to the accounts of his experiences. The occasional usage of sarcasm and recounts of humourous events also help to lighten the mood in otherwise serious situations. In addition, Collins’ occasional comments about the incompetency of the FBI seem very self-centered and arrogant to some, but I believe it helps people connect and relate to him even though the events in the book are very difficult to relate to. Overall, despite the lower degree of sophistication in the writing, the book is well written for its readers as an autobiography. I recommend this book most to those who are concerned about terrorism and Islamic extremism, or those who want to learn about the pre-9/11 jihad. Even if you do not have a particular interest in such topics, I still suggest reading this book, as it also serves somewhat of an educational purpose and clears several misconceptions about jihad. Overall, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 - it’s a very compelling and enlightening read, but sometimes readers may get frustrated with Collins’ self-righteous thinking. Just keep in mind that it offers a glimpse into what he was likely thinking at the time.
Adam –
Ironically this would make for good airport reading except for the cover and title. Irish American kid who converted to Islam while in a San Jose prison as a teen and was radicalized soon after. It's been years since I've read this, but as I recall he went to fight first in Chechnya and then the Balkans before becoming disillusioned that so much of what he was fighting for was protecting drug supply lines and smuggling routes, leading him to becoming an informant for the FBI. I seem to recall in Ironically this would make for good airport reading except for the cover and title. Irish American kid who converted to Islam while in a San Jose prison as a teen and was radicalized soon after. It's been years since I've read this, but as I recall he went to fight first in Chechnya and then the Balkans before becoming disillusioned that so much of what he was fighting for was protecting drug supply lines and smuggling routes, leading him to becoming an informant for the FBI. I seem to recall interesting stuff about sneaking around Azerbaijan/Dagestan or something, and a standoff with his hosts when he decided to go back to America. Supposedly volunteered (or was asked?) to go undercover in an Afghanistan training camp pre-9/11, but it didn't happen, and there was some 9/11 conspiracy stuff about how he knew one of the hijackers and either warned the FBI or claimed there was no way the guy would do it. Hard to know how much is real versus self-promotion, but an interesting story nonetheless. Seem to recall that in his life after the book he spent time in a Mexican jail for playing bounty hunter south of the border. I'm sure still have my paperback copy of this lying around somewhere.
Taf Teh –
Saya bukan pengkritik buku dan juga bukan penganalisa politik Amerika/perang/jihad/. Oleh itu, My JIHAD dibaca dalam frekuensi sekadar-nak-tahu. Aukai lahir 1974, tipikal budak lelaki Amerika bermasalah - keluarga hancur, mak hisap dadah, kena rogol & bunuh, masuk penjara pada usia muda. Yang bukan tipikal - mendapat hidayah Islam semasa di penjara setelah dipelawa mendengar kuliah agama. Pada umur muda 19 tahun, dengan semangat panas membara, mula mencari jalan untuk berjuang atas nama Islam. Dia Saya bukan pengkritik buku dan juga bukan penganalisa politik Amerika/perang/jihad/. Oleh itu, My JIHAD dibaca dalam frekuensi sekadar-nak-tahu. Aukai lahir 1974, tipikal budak lelaki Amerika bermasalah - keluarga hancur, mak hisap dadah, kena rogol & bunuh, masuk penjara pada usia muda. Yang bukan tipikal - mendapat hidayah Islam semasa di penjara setelah dipelawa mendengar kuliah agama. Pada umur muda 19 tahun, dengan semangat panas membara, mula mencari jalan untuk berjuang atas nama Islam. Dia kemudiannya bertemu Muhammad Zaky, seorang mujahid. Mendapat latihan perang di Afghanistan dan telah berjuang di Chechnya. Kemudian pernah berkhidmat untuk FBI dan CIA untuk misi counter-terrorist. Buku ini tidak menceritakan dengan jelas KENAPA atau sebab sebenar Aukai menjadi seorang mujahid. Mungkin, ada perkara yang tidak ingin diceritakan atau tidak boleh diceritakan. Tetapi, rasanya segalanya terjawab di ayat pertama Bahagian Ketiga buku ini; "All these years later I still am UNSURE as to exactly why I did what I did."
Itanx –
Sebuah keyakinan, sebuah pilihan, membawanya pada sebuah perjalanan yang mungkin tidak pernah dia bayangkan sebelumnya, dan itu nyata. Dari awal yang biasa saja, dan akan tetap menjadi biasa saja andaikan dia tidak yakin dan akhirnya memilih jalan itu. Wow, betapa kita diberi kekuasaan untuk menentukan nasib kita sendiri meski saya percaya takdir itu ada. Di luar itu, dalam buku ini tidak berusaha menjelaskan konsep tentang jihad itu sendiri secara lebih detail. Yang ada hanya sebuah gambaran atas Sebuah keyakinan, sebuah pilihan, membawanya pada sebuah perjalanan yang mungkin tidak pernah dia bayangkan sebelumnya, dan itu nyata. Dari awal yang biasa saja, dan akan tetap menjadi biasa saja andaikan dia tidak yakin dan akhirnya memilih jalan itu. Wow, betapa kita diberi kekuasaan untuk menentukan nasib kita sendiri meski saya percaya takdir itu ada. Di luar itu, dalam buku ini tidak berusaha menjelaskan konsep tentang jihad itu sendiri secara lebih detail. Yang ada hanya sebuah gambaran atas sebuah realita, situasi nyata yg terjadi pada kehidupan para mujahidin,apa yang dilihat penulis saat itu dan ia alami. Menjadi menarik ketika penulis akhirnya berada disisi lain, dimana dia menjadi bagian dari mereka yg berusaha menghentikan pergerakan para mujahidin dengan dalih keamanan dunia dan memerangi terorisme. Pengalaman menarik. itanx_x
Ekoz_guevara Setiawan –
My Jihad versi Indonesia yang saya baca...bisa jadi referensi untuk kita bagaimana sebenarnya gejolak jiwa orang-orang yang selama ini dipandang sebagai teroris hanya lantaran membela saudara seimannya...Aukai Collins cukup jujur menceritakan perang batin seorang muslim amerika yang harus juga melawan stigma mayoritas bangsa barat pada jalan yang diambilnya....memang jalan Jihad tidak ada yang bisa dibilang mudah....
Eric Johnson –
My Jihad by Aukai Collins, is an autobiography following the journey of an American Mujahid. Collins tells of his horrific encounters with Usama Bin Laden and injuries that he had sustained while fighting with the Islamic Chechen Irregulars of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Collins tells his story of how he would eventually go on to work as a deep cover intelligence operative for the FBI and
Justin Stephens –
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's been a couple years since I read it. I actually sent Aukai or Aqil an email telling him how much I enjoyed his book. Not only did he write back, but we formed a friendship and have spoken for hours on end by phone on a variety of subjects. He's a very interesting guy, and has atleast a couple more books in him based on his adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's been a couple years since I read it. I actually sent Aukai or Aqil an email telling him how much I enjoyed his book. Not only did he write back, but we formed a friendship and have spoken for hours on end by phone on a variety of subjects. He's a very interesting guy, and has atleast a couple more books in him based on his adventures.
Mark Sequeira –
VERY interesting first-hand account of an American convert that joins the jihad in Chechnya, then later grows disillusioned by those who kill innocents and starts helping U.S. intelligence only to find them inept. Lost a foot/leg there. Still believes in jihad/Islam.
Anggraeni oktavia –
sebenarnya kisah yang ditulis dibuku ini luar biasa. perjuangan dan petualangan yang dahsyat. baca terjemahan indonesia, dan menurutku terjemahannya tidak enak dibaca. jadi tidak bisa menikmati buku ini
Jerry –
An interesting perspective full of insight from a blue-eyed American who became a Muslim and trained with radical Islamists.
Lia Almadino –
Violent!
Daniel Burton-Rose –
A different perspective, to say the least!
Scott Crawford –
I found interesting his perceptions of working as a source with the government.
Mja –
Very Well Done
Yannoor –
baru beli kemaren...kayaknya sih bagus....
Stephanie –
This is aninteresting story. By the end I had very mixed feelings about the whole thing. It was good for me to see things from this perspective.
Indah Threez Lestari –
65 - 2013 Menarik sih... cuma terjemahannya yang kurang sreg. Apa karena penerjemahnya sampai lima orang sekaligus?
Shane –
amazing tale of western mujahadeen
Diah –
good book- aukai collins is so brave to write his experience.
Charlie D –
Frozenorange –
Steven Maestas –
Brent –
Chris Doherty –
Afi Rahmah –
Lisa –
BookDB –
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