[Griff]

Belloc's book, Europe and the Faith is a lot shorter and so far (just started it) his method and language are interesting but obviously aimed at a Catholic audience. I don't remember Hourani's book making any assumptions about the audience. I meant to re-read that after 9-11 but it keeps getting bumped to the back of the list.

I think you're right about Islam being the organizing principle of Arab culture but hadn't made the language link to the other muslim societies which helps explain how Arab radicalism is welcomed without a central authority giving it credibility.