Mythical or real threat? At the boundaries of the new millennium, the Western world is searching for new hopes and fears. After the end of the Cold War, futurologists claim that the clash of civilizations is the next threat to global balance, and Islam is presented by the media as the new ultimate enemy of the West. However, Andreas Andrianopoulos leaves behind the world of clichés and seeks the true Islam on his own. With the curiosity of a simple traveler and the insight of an observant writer, the author of this epic journey discovers and outlines with objectivity, liveliness, and humor a sincere image of contemporary Islam. It took over two years and consecutive journeys to the depths of Central Asia for Andreas Andrianopoulos to complete his adventure. Through his personal contact with the people and their landscape, Andrianopoulos conveys to us the pulse of today's Islam, which, as it appears through the pages you will read, is not willing to either swallow or embrace the Western world. Its diversity - social, religious, historical - is its uniqueness. Written with the rhythm of reporting and the eloquence of well-worded narration, the new book by A. Andrianopoulos, In the Heart of Islam, is a captivating, timely look at a hot contemporary topic. After many years of political and writing activity, A. Andrianopoulos expresses himself for the first time with the journalistic liveliness and skill of an insightful, well-traveled writer like Paul Theroux.