Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism

John Calvert

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August, 2010
Cloth, 256 pages,
ISBN: 978-0-231-70104-4
$29.50

"This rich and carefully researched biography sets Qutb for the first time in his Egyptian context, rescuing him from caricature without whitewashing his radicalism. It is no small achievement." — The Economist

"[A] comprehensive overview of Qutb’s life and writings." — Joshua Sinai, Washington Times

"Fascinating details emerge in this book . . . . Anyone interested in the evolution of

Islamism in the 20th century should read it." — Marc Lynch, The Atlantic

"The first truly comprehensive biography." — Samuel Helfront, Jewish Review of Books

"Given that Sayyid Qutb is taught on a large (and increasing) number of campuses, and given that he has already been introduced to the public in best-selling books, such as Lawrence Wright's The Looming Tower, the very publication of a Qutb biography should attract considerable interest. This book not only constitutes what is likely to remain the figure's definitive biography but also offers crucial new insights on the post-1954 history of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. We are dealing with a rare book that is likely to become a classic in the field of political Islam. Outstanding." — Thomas Hegghammer, associate, Initiative on Religion in International Affairs, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

"Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism will become the standard intellectual biography of the most influential Muslim thinker of the twentieth century. Demonstrating a deep engagement with contemporary history, religious thought, and social theory, John Calvert eschews the sensationalism that too often posits Qutb as the ideological 'godfather' of global jihad. An erudite and engaging writer, Calvert situates Qutb in time and place, tracing his political evolution and exploring the power of his words, personality, and divergent legacies. Neither hagiography nor exposé, Qutb gets his due." — Joel Gordon, author of Nasser: Hero of the Arab Nation

Related Subjects

• Islam
• Middle East Studies

About the Author

John Calvert is associate professor of history at Creighton University, Nebraska. He is the author of Islamism: A Documentary and Reference Guide and coeditor and translator of Sayyid Qutb's A Child from the Village. His research focuses on social protest and political resistance movements in the modern Middle East, as well as Egyptian nationalism and the ideological origins of al-Qaeda.

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