Inside Terrorism

The author's profile is impressive: Prof Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism and insurgency for over thirty years. He is a professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University, Washington, DC and has previously held the Corporate Chair in Counter-terrorism and Counter-insurgency at the RAND Corporation as well as having been the Acting Director of RAND's Centre for Middle East Public Policy.

Perhaps the most important contribution this unquestionably scholarly work makes to society in general is that it alerts us to the fragile balance under which most societies operate and the fine line betwixt an apparently 'normal' mindset and distinctly radical, extremist one. As a previous reviewer has pointed out, Hoffman, depicts terrorists as, largely, in many respects, being like 'the person in the street'. This is as worrying for many as it is unquestionably true for all.

The process of radicalisation is an altogether absorbing science in itself. Fortunately, it is something that has been around quite literally for millenia now and - for every dark cloud (and, let's face it, the clouds of terror are starker than most) has a silver lining - after each attack or terror act, we are able to improve our databases, enhance our understanding and, thus, our opportunities to profile more accurately and prevent the next attempted act.

This book is specialised but not too much so and this reviewer believes that it will be an interesting read for most. The precise causes underpinning a propensity or tendency towards radicalisation lie deep within the human psyche and its profound well of insecurities et al. This book will help to throw light on this and other related topics for many.

Michael Calum Jacques (author of 1st Century Radical: the shadowy origins of the man who became known as Jesus Christ)

Brilliant if you want to look beyond the hype and headlines (5/6 people found this helpful)

I found this book very interesting, as, unlike most books on terrorism it looks beyond the hype and the headlines and the propaganda and looks at terrorism from a neutral academic perspective, thus revealing details on this phenomenon which are rarely touched upon. Throughout the book you can tell that Bruce Hoffman is a professional who knows what he's talking about, who understands terrorism like very few people do and wants to share this with you. The very fact that he describes terrorists as "normal people rather than the crazed wild-eyed individuals we're conditioned to expect" shows that this is a book that really should be read by anyone who wants to know whats really behind the terror. Excellent.

An intriguing introduction. (5/6 people found this helpful)

This is an interesting and overdue introduction to the studt of terrorism that should grace the shelves of anyone with an interest of the subject. While not being the most comprehensive of tomes, Dr. Hoffman does make this book an excellent first text on the subject.

I personally found a few contradictions within this book, not to mention a number of points and arguments I strongly disagree with, but this does not diminish the fact that it is what I would consider to be the best first text on this subject. If you are interested in studying this phenomenon or just have a passing interest this is the book that I do recommend. Buy it, think about it and hopefully look into the area of terrorism more deeply.

B Hoffman

Reader Reviews:

Comments by Michael Calum Jacques, author of '1st Century Radical'. (1/1 people found this helpful)

Brilliant if you want to look beyond the hype and headlines (5/6 people found this helpful)

An intriguing introduction. (5/6 people found this helpful)

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