Guides the reader deftly through the whirlpool these [radical Islamist] currents have created… Islam’s future – as a religion of peace and tolerance, or of hatred, violence and supremacy – may well hinge upon Indonesia’s destiny.
WALL STREET JOURNAL
A vividly engaging portrait of the jarring contradictions at play as two diametrically opposed forces — globalisation and Islamisation — vie for Indonesia’s soul…a striking social and political travelogue…A fine writer and lively storyteller with an eye for lurid detail.
THE AUSTRALIAN
Eye-opening piece of reportage…evocative writing…A compelling read for anyone interested in Islam or Indonesia.
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Fascinating…A very fresh and quite urgent book on aspects of our great neighbour that we know absolutely nothing about.
PHILLIP ADAMS, LATE NIGHT LIVE, ABC RADIO NATIONAL
Dhume plunged into the friendly squabble that is Indonesia…He’s a casually elegant writer with an eye for the big ideas and he’s fascinated by the crunch between Islam and modernity.
AUSTRALIAN LITERARY REVIEW
Perfectly timed…elegantly written.
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Takes on a big issue and delivers with flair.
VISHAKHA DESAI, PRESIDENT, ASIA SOCIETY
A troubling series of events over the past few months is lending credence to Dhume’s concerns…a marvelously fluid writer.
ASIA SENTINEL
Highly well written and entertaining read…more than recommended.
INDONESIA MATTERS
My Friend the Fanatic is a portrait of the world’s most populous Muslim country, Indonesia, a land once synonymous with tolerance that finds itself in the midst of a profound shift toward radical Islam. This portrait is painted through the travels of a pair of unlikely protagonists. Sadanand Dhume, the author, is a foreign correspondent, an Indian atheist with a fondness for literary fiction and an interest in economic development. His companion, Herry Nurdi, is a young Islamist who hero worships Osama bin Laden.
Dhume’s quest to understand the ongoing radicalization of Indonesia gives My Friend the Fanatic the contours of a travelogue. His attachment to the country’s fading culture of pluralism and the inherent tension of his friendship with Herry supply the emotional undertow of a memoir. Both strands come together to answer the same question: how does a society go from broad inclusiveness to shrill intolerance in the space of a generation?
By turns disturbing and amusing, My Friend the Fanatic addresses some of the most pressing questions of our times. Is Islam compatible with liberal democracy? Is it compatible with economic development? Is Herry an anomaly or does he in fact represent his country’s future?
