Islam: A Short History (UNIVERSAL HISTORY) - Softcover

Karen Armstrong

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1842124625 ISBN 13: 9781842124628

Publisher: Phoenix, 2001

Synopsis

Unusual book

About this title

Review

The picture of Islam as a violent, backward, and insular tradition should be laid to rest, says Karen Armstrong, bestselling author of Muhammad and A History of God. Delving deep into Islamic history, Armstrong sketches the arc of a story that begins with the stirring of revelation in an Arab businessman named Muhammad. His concern with the poor who were being left behind in the blush of his society's new prosperity sets the tone for the tale of a culture that values community as a manifestation of God. Muhammad's ideas catch fire, quickly blossoming into a political empire. As the empire expands and the once fractured Arabs subdue and overtake the vast Persian domain, the story of a community becomes a panoramic drama. With great dexterity, Armstrong narrates the Sunni-Shi'ite schism, the rise of Persian influence, the clashes with Western crusaders and Mongolian conquerors, and the spiritual explorations that traced the route to God. Armstrong brings us through the debacle of European colonialism right up to the present day, putting Islamic fundamentalism into context as part of a worldwide phenomenon. Islam: A Short History, like Bruce Lawrence's Shattering the Myth and Mark Huband's Warriors of the Prophet, introduces us to a faith that beckons like a minaret to those who dare to venture beyond the headlines. --Brian Bruya

Review

"A small gem bristling with insight." --"The Washington Post"
"A valuable corrective to the hostile caricatures of Islam that circulate in the English-speaking world. . . . Engaging and provocative." --"The New York Times"
"Karen Armstrong, a respected and popular author of several books about religion . . . takes on a useful and formidable task in presenting the history of Islam in a single short volume. As many other such works have been written either by apologists or by those hostile to Islam, Armstrong's comprehensive and sympathetic work is welcome." --"Los Angeles Times"
"In Armstrong's brisk narrative, the cliches evaporate fast. . . . A book like this is suddenly essential." --"Entertainment Weekly"

A small gem bristling with insight. "The Washington Post"
A valuable corrective to the hostile caricatures of Islam that circulate in the English-speaking world. . . . Engaging and provocative. "The New York Times"
Karen Armstrong, a respected and popular author of several books about religion . . . takes on a useful and formidable task in presenting the history of Islam in a single short volume. As many other such works have been written either by apologists or by those hostile to Islam, Armstrong s comprehensive and sympathetic work is welcome. "Los Angeles Times"
In Armstrong s brisk narrative, the cliches evaporate fast. . . . A book like this is suddenly essential." "Entertainment Weekly""

A small gem bristling with insight. The Washington Post
A valuable corrective to the hostile caricatures of Islam that circulate in the English-speaking world. . . . Engaging and provocative. The New York Times
Karen Armstrong, a respected and popular author of several books about religion . . . takes on a useful and formidable task in presenting the history of Islam in a single short volume. As many other such works have been written either by apologists or by those hostile to Islam, Armstrong s comprehensive and sympathetic work is welcome. Los Angeles Times
In Armstrong s brisk narrative, the cliches evaporate fast. . . . A book like this is suddenly essential." Entertainment Weekly"

-A small gem bristling with insight.- --The Washington Post
-A valuable corrective to the hostile caricatures of Islam that circulate in the English-speaking world. . . . Engaging and provocative.- --The New York Times
-Karen Armstrong, a respected and popular author of several books about religion . . . takes on a useful and formidable task in presenting the history of Islam in a single short volume. As many other such works have been written either by apologists or by those hostile to Islam, Armstrong's comprehensive and sympathetic work is welcome.- --Los Angeles Times
-In Armstrong's brisk narrative, the cliches evaporate fast. . . . A book like this is suddenly essential.- --Entertainment Weekly

"A small gem bristling with insight." --The Washington Post

"A valuable corrective to the hostile caricatures of Islam that circulate in the English-speaking world. . . . Engaging and provocative." --The New York Times

"Karen Armstrong, a respected and popular author of several books about religion . . . takes on a useful and formidable task in presenting the history of Islam in a single short volume. As many other such works have been written either by apologists or by those hostile to Islam, Armstrong's comprehensive and sympathetic work is welcome." --Los Angeles Times

"In Armstrong's brisk narrative, the cliches evaporate fast. . . . A book like this is suddenly essential." --Entertainment Weekly

About this edition

• Publisher: Phoenix
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1842124625
• ISBN 13: 9781842124628
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224