Struggling to Surrender Paperback – January 1, 2008

This book was at the same time heart warming is it was a very cerebral read. Recommend for anyone searching for the truth.

By far the most relatable and helpful book I've found about good and bad experiences with regards to conversion to Islam in the United States. Easy reading and great information that really helped me a lot. When I finish this one I an going to read his other book: Even Angels Ask.

Beautiful book. Very inspiring and good read.

found it very inspiring to read. Anyone interested in learning about Islam should def pick this book up and give it a read.

Highly recommend this book

Dead level honesty, heart touching, interesting impressions.

I read this book as well as Lang's "Even Angels Ask" after a Muslim girl I was seeing bought them for me. (In order to continue the relationship, I would have had to convert to Islam which I was open to and considered.) I read these books with the hope that it would provide some insight on what it was like to be an American convert as well as deal with some of the troubling aspects of Islam that, due to my cultural upbringing, I had problems with. On the first point, Lang delivered and provided some honest insights on the difficulties he had in becoming part of the Muslim community. I found these reflections invaluable and very helpful in demonstrating the myriad difficulties an American convert faces.As far as addressing the troubling aspects of Islam, (the treatment of women, the irrational prohibitions on food, the concept of jihad, the non-separation of church and state, anti-Semitism, and general intolerance of non-Muslims), he failed to provide any adequate justifications or explanations. His attempts at justifying the treatment of women were inadequate and akward and only strenghthened a rational opposition to the treatment of women in Islam. In reading, it seemed that the subject caused him a bit of discomfort. His anti-Jewish feelings were apparent and disturbing and did nothing to assuage my impression that Islam is inherently hostile to Jews in particular. All of his other attempts to explain Muslim beliefs and practices that conflict with American values also left me unsatisfied.In the end, I have to admit that the book was helpful to me in that it made it clear that Islam was not a worldview to which I could subscribe. The book did clarify many things for me which made it more clear that Islam was in conflict with my values. I appreciate Prof. Lang's attempt to share his experiences and thoughts on his conversion and am grateful that, thanks in part to his book, I was able to avoid making the mistake of converting to a faith which would have made me profoundly unhappy.

Dr Lang gave an insight view of how a new Muslim feels and differences between cultural practices and actual Islamic teachings. It shows that Islam is perfect but Muslims are not.

Good read and great way to understand and learn about a religion that is so great

Excellent read. Really enjoyed reading the author's journey to Islam and his take on what it means to be a Muslim. Also enjoyed reading the author's attempt at understanding and explaining various contentious issues such as the use of imagery in the Qur'an, the authenticity of Hadith, the role of women in Muslim communities, apostasy, the People of the Book and many others! Of course not everyone will find the author's opinions agreeable and sometimes his opinions are not in line with the Muslim status quo but you can feel his sincerity and his strong desire to maintain objectivity throughout.

Must read book! It's brilliant and very excellent. Jeffrey lang came from Christian and ethist background and then finally to Islam. ..so he has good grasp on facts.

Great read.