Download or read book Between Memory and Desire written by R. Stephen Humphreys and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2005-11-16 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Middle Easterners today struggle to find solutions to crises of economic stagnation, political gridlock, and cultural identity. In recent decades Islam has become central to this struggle, and almost every issue involves fierce, sometimes violent debates over the role of religion in public life. In this post-9/11 updated edition R. Stephen Humphreys presents a thoughtful analysis of Islam's place in today's Middle East and integrates the medieval and modern history of the region to show how the sacred and secular are tightly interwoven in its political and intellectual life.