A great way to introduce yourself to IslamJuly 29, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I listened to the audio set (6 CDs) of this book, & was really impressed by how much was conveyed in such a short time. It would be appropriate to classroom history of Islam as well. This book is very strong on understanding the Islamic view of religion & politics, religion & society needs, etc., not just a dry recitation of facts. I am really surprised at the negative reviews I read here, I thought this was a very approachable text. Give it a try!
Good/Bad in "ALL," Religions PERIODMay 31, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Read the book and open your closed mind! Do NOT generalize about any culture or religion, as some of the 1 star reviewers have done. Those who generalize against any people or religion are nothing more than hypocritical BIGOTS! There is nothing complicated about it. If you look for the bad/good in any religion you will find it. What 1 star reviewers chose to focus on in this healingesque book, exposes their own misgiuded agenda.
Apologetic in capital lettersMay 2, 2008 4 out of 8 found this review helpful
Armstrong seems to be aware of the existence of Ibn-Ishaq's text "Sirat Rasul Allah", yet she doesn't seem to have read it. Instead, she uses Qu'ranic verses to show the peaceful nature of Islam. These verses however are often dating from the Meccan period. Very poetic and often very incomprehensible without the Qu'ran commentaries. She ignores the (more militant) verses from the Medinah period. Unfortunuatly she doesn't explain why she cites so arbitrary from the Qu'ran. On a more personal note I think it's academic suicide to support your (secular) view on history with quotes from religious scriptures alone. But than, she probably doesn't have any academic pretentions.
Some information she presents as 'facts' contradicts the sources we have about the formative years of Islam. These sources could be very 'wrong' since most of them were writen after Muhammad's death, but unfortunuatly she doesn't tell us why she thinks she can push them aside. That would be interesting to read. To know how she got to certain findings. But those conclusions lack footnotes and we'll have to assume she knows more about it than any other person in the world.
A very apologetic book which relies more on the imagination of the writer than on what we know about Islam sofar.
Fascinating BookMarch 24, 2008 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This was a great book for trying to understand a very complicated religion. I found it easy to read and very insightful.
A must read for every thinking westernerMarch 23, 2008 3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Wow what a great book, that educates the reader on facts most westerners don't know concerning Islam. How many westerners know that Arab businessman named Muhammad is the Prophet Muhammad and that he saw himself not as a holy man but as a leader for the left behind and forgotten amongst him?
Or that Islam thru him, began because of how the Christians looked down on the Persians/Arabs, mocking them because they didn't have a holy leader like the Jews and Christians had? This alone should make people want to read the book.
