Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Monsters Among Us: A History of Sowing Fear in America
2. A Web of Deception: Fomenting Hate Online
3. Media Mayhem: Broadcasting Anti-Muslim Madness
4. We Come Bearing Crosses: The Christian Right’s Battle for Eternity
5. Of Politics and Prophecy: The Alliance of the Pro-Israel Right
6. To Washington and Beyond: Islamophobia as Government Policy
7. Across the Pond: The Deadly Effects of Hate in Europe
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

Nathan Lean is a writer and scholar of religion. He is the author of Understanding Islam and the West (Rowman and Littlefield, 2017) and The Islamophobia Industry (Pluto, 2017) and contributed to What Is Islamophobia? (Pluto, 2017).

Reviews

'This book performs a true service for the nation.'
*Glenn Greenwald, columnist for Salon and author of Liberty and Justice For Some*

'This concise, accessible and illuminating book meets one of the most urgent needs of our time. Lean has provided a compelling counter-narrative that reveals the vested interests and highly organised networks of those who preach the virulent Islamophobia that is not only endangering world peace but is also corroding the tolerance and egalitarian ethos that should characterise Western society'
*Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God, Islam: A Short History and Muhammad*

'The climate of fear and cultural mistrust is one grim aspect of present-day society, but it doesn't happen by accident. As this readable and well-researched book demonstrates, hatred sells; it can provide both money and power to those who profit from it. This book exposes the dirty secrets of those who try to manipulate public opinion against Muslims. It should be read by policymakers, concerned citizens, and everyone who values truth and intercultural understanding.'
*Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence*

'Nathan Lean has written a book of immense importance for our times. By lifting the veil on the multi-million-dollar Islamophobia Industry, Lean shines a light on the nefarious network of business, political, and religious organizations and individuals who employ rank bigotry to promote their interests. A must-read.'
*Reza Aslan, author of No God But God and Beyond Fundamentalism*

'In this provocative and engaging book, Nathan Lean meticulously untangles the dense web of fear merchants who have made Muslim-bashing a cottage industry. He reveals the connections between them and the motives that animate their machine of propaganda. Lean's is a battle against Islamophobia, one that he wages with a seamless and compelling narrative.'
*Juan Cole, author of Engaging the Muslim World*

'In the months after 9/11, Americans took pride in defending Muslim neighbors in their own communities. Political leaders boasted about liberating Muslims overseas. So why are the politics of fear more intense a decade after the murders at the twin towers? Lean pins the blame on an Islamophobia industry in a lucid and detailed examination of the dark side of our politics.'
*Richard Wolffe, MSNBC political analyst and author of Renegade: The Making of a President*

'The spike in anti-Muslim sentiment didn't fall from the sky - it was manufactured by a shadowy network of bloggers, funders, pundits, preachers and politicians. In a tightly written, fast-paced narrative that feels like a thriller backed by the research of a doctoral thesis, Lean shows just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Essential reading for anyone who wants a window into the origins of contemporary Islamophobia.'
*Eboo Patel, author of Acts of Faith and Sacred Ground*

'Lean's meticulous study is a convincing demonstration of the threat Islamophobia poses to a pluralistic society and democratic values. Rationalizing hatred of Muslims, well-funded ideologues also negatively impact civic discourse and push conservative politics into the orbit of right-wing extremism. This is an important resource for all who wish to understand the forces that manipulate our political process and discourse.'
*Ingrid Mattson, Chair in Islamic Studies, Huron University College*

'Nathan Lean has written an eye-opener — the most comprehensive book to date on a new and dangerous cycle of minority persecution in American society. Lean's book exposes the key players, funders and enablers of Islamophobia in America and the destructive effect of their politics on our national fabric. It is worth every minute of reading.'
*Nihad Awad, National Executive Director, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)*

'Absolutely indispensable... Any journalist, pundit, policy-maker or intelligence analyst who doesn't read The Islamophobia Industry and take its message to heart is committing professional malpractice. Any citizen concerned about the future of this country and the world at large owes it to themselves to read this book, lest the processes Lean describes poison relations between the West and the Muslim world for generations to come.'
*Mark LeVine, author of Heavy Metal Islam*