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24 Jan, 2019
Spaces of Hope works
Thank you, Richard Phillips, for editing this work and to the contributors for their efforts and high standard of academic writing. I enjoyed the concept of "Muslims Spaces of Hope" and think the book is rather uplifting. This study is different from other texts which focus upon the somewhat standardised themes and topics (although often well written). This book tries to tease out the more optimistic side to multicultural societies in the West. And I think it works (both the book and multi-culture). Part One (Spaces of hope?) sets the background and introduces the intellectual discussion. The chapters are thorough and engaging to read. Peter Hopkins's chapter is noteworthy. Part Two (Convivial cities) contains some really fascinating chapters on fashion, the scouts, the Islamic bathhouse, and Bangladeshi homes in the East End. Magda Sibley and Fodil Fadhi have written a very good study of bathhouses. These chapters provided a colourful and descriptive analysis of the lives of British Muslims today. Part Three (Economic and political empowerment) is, again, another well researched and written three chapters. And, Part Four (Integration and resistance) looks at how, where and why Muslims are successfully (or not) living the integrated 'good life' in the UK and the USA, and elsewhere in the 'West'. The chapters by M.A. Kevin Brice, and Selcuk R. Sirin and Selen Imamoglu were very readable. Overall, I recommend this book. It will make you think differently about Muslims in Britain and the West, it looks at integration from a more positive stance, and examines topics of a social and cultural nature, as well as political ones. (In particular, I enjoyed reading chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 12 and 13.)