Lately I have been struggling with all the things I have seen in the media about Islam. I was raised Christian in a very conservative area of the USA so my understanding of it is very basic. However all the negativity I see directed towards it by my friends and coworkers breaks my heart. I feel that the place I was born dictated the fact that I am "christian" more than anything, and if I was born in the Middle East I would have been Muslim.
Can you guys recommend a book so that I can get a better understanding of Islam or the Middle East and educate myself and help others around me?
Whether you're looking to understand the theology, politics, or history behind Islam, I would start off by reading the Quran. It provides some much needed background.
Reza Aslan's No God But God should be fine and readable.
I'd like you to qualify here: Do you want a history book, a philosophy book, a political book, a theological book? Do you want fiction or non-fiction (fiction sometimes being better at presenting ideas in less dense or more culturally accessible ways)?
A book I would recommend is No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan, which gives a rather positive description of Islam that argues against many things that make people see Islam in a negative light. It might be a bit biased, but it's an easy read that can directly address what your friends say about Islam.