Book excerpt: Both Turkey and Iran consider themselves modern Islamic states—though with radically different status in today's social and political world. In Multiple Modernities, Civil Society and Islam, Masoud Kamali explores the historical factors that have shaped such dissimilar Muslim states, including the continued influence of Europe and the United States. Kamali's assertion that the "Muslim world" is far more multifaceted and pluralistic than generally portrayed is a message particularly relevant today. Multiple Modernities is critical reading for those interested in the history—both ancient and modern—of Islamic movements around the world.