President Obama need look no further for the perfect go-to-guy to help resolve the conflict in the Middle East than Reza Aslan. Known as the “Muslim Hipster,” Aslan’s profound understanding of the global scene, from Israel to Iraq and from New York to the Netherlands, is spelled out in his new book, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (Random House; $26). The LA-based bestselling author is clear and concise in breaking down complicated and controversial information for a message of real problem solving.
Aslan’s voice should be heard by Washington. He gets past the symptoms to understand the root of the problem. “Religion is a stronger force today than it has been in a century,” Aslan tells me. “We need to focus our efforts not only on defeating Al Qaeda militants, but also on confronting the global social movement behind Al Qaeda—Jihadism.” Take a break from those celebrity tell-alls and selfindulgentm memoirs and read this riveting book. If you’ve ever wondered how to win a war, the solution is easy, according to Aslan: “Refuse to fight one.”
