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# “Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam,” Jason Burke
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/radical-islam-2746jsp/
- Published: 2005-08-10T23:08:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-17T11:51:43.000Z
- Author: Chloe Davies
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:17, #ImagesUploaded

![al-qaeda.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3f/80/3f804bea-4b2d-4ddf-9ff0-6ec7d0afa5fa/content/images/2026/04/al-qaeda_c0xiwCd-1776425895179.jpg)

al-qaeda.jpg

**“Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam”** 
**by Jason Burke**  
Penguin UK | August 2004 | ISBN 0141019123

Buy now: UK, US, Worldwide

**Recommended by** [**Chloe Davies**](http://www.opendemocracy.net/author/Chloe%5FDavies.jsp): “I’ve only just started this book, written by journalist Jason Burke, but so far it has proved very helpful in illuminating the origins and scope of al-Qaida, the history of radical Islam and its complex interaction with the west. I am loathe to bring it out on public transport, which is why I’m not reading it too quickly.”

**What the publisher says**: “Jason Burke has produced the definitive account of Islamic militancy – revolutionising our understanding of al-Qaida, retelling its history from scratch and critically exploding the myths that form the very foundations of the ‘war on terror.’ Fully updated with new material on Iraq and Afghanistan.”

About the author: Jason Burke is a prize-winning chief reporter for the Observer. His other books include “Al-Qaeda: Casting a Shadow of Terror” (IB Tauris, 2003)

If you would like to suggest a “Book of the week” please email [maryam.maruf@opendemocracy.net](mailto:maryam.maruf@opendemocracy.net)