The Islamist: Why I joined radical Islam in Britain, what I saw inside and why I left

This tale of one young man's journey into the world of Islamic fundamentalism delivers important messages for youth workers.

On first picking up The Islamist, I expected to gain an insight into the minds of radical, hate-filled fundamentalists and the workings of extremist organisations that are hell-bent on the destruction of the West and deviant Arab leaders.

But The Islamist did not provide this insight, nor does it attempt to do so. Instead it delivers some vital messages about the importance of engaging with young people and offering them positive values.

Author Ed Husain provides a powerful autobiographical account of his own personal journey through Islamism. Starting with his childhood, he describes growing up in the east end of London in a loving family and attending a primary school that created no big tensions over race or religion - a school that promoted multi-cultural Britain in the truest sense of the term.