Many people say and write many things about Islam nowadays. It is a hot topic, no two ways about it. I wish a great number of other critically important things received this much attention. Still, the reason Islam has suddenly become so relevant is probably that is was relatively unknown (as in 'it does not exist if it does not affect me') to the average person of the west. So when on September 11, 2001 believers of Islam committed unprecedented acts of terror against the United States, people had to suddenly realize how little they knew about the religion that sprang from the Prophet Muhammad's teachings. People started desperately looking for answers, explanations, motivations, or at least some understanding. Karen Armstrong's book attempts to provide the historical perspective for those who wish to have a better understanding of how Islam came into being, it's expansion into a vast empire whose influence has been a determining force shaping world history, politics, religion, and culture. The author also offers a brief summary of Islam's current issues.
I found the book to be highly informative, packed with great content, especially for the pre-20th-century period, written with an engaging style. The reality is that one cannot expect that an introductory-level book of mere 272 pages could possibly cover all aspects of Islam. One has to compromise in one's expectations of what is relevant. Karen Armstrong attempts to focus the reader's attention on facts of history spanning from the early days of Islam. She does not offer value judgment. She sticks to those facts of history that can be and have been well researched and not challengeable from the perspective of current events. This, in my view, is a good thing.
As her other relevant books on related topics (History of God, The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism or The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions), this one is a well-researched, interesting read. One that stays away from the trap of overlaying history with various filters of ideology and political or religious bias.
I found the book to be highly informative, packed with great content, especially for the pre-20th-century period, written with an engaging style. The reality is that one cannot expect that an introductory-level book of mere 272 pages could possibly cover all aspects of Islam. One has to compromise in one's expectations of what is relevant. Karen Armstrong attempts to focus the reader's attention on facts of history spanning from the early days of Islam. She does not offer value judgment. She sticks to those facts of history that can be and have been well researched and not challengeable from the perspective of current events. This, in my view, is a good thing.
As her other relevant books on related topics (History of God, The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism or The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions), this one is a well-researched, interesting read. One that stays away from the trap of overlaying history with various filters of ideology and political or religious bias.
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