Islam: The Religion and the People

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 256 pages
• Published by: Wharton School Publishing August 29, 2008
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0132230852
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0132230858
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1 pounds

Product Description
Praise for Bernard Lewis "For newcomers to the subject[el]Bernard Lewis is the man." TIME Magazine "The doyen of Middle Eastern studies." The New York Times "No one writes about Muslim history with greater authority, or intelligence, or literary charm." British historian Hugh Trevor-Roper "Bernard Lewis has no living rival in his field." Al Ahram, Cairo (the most influential Arab world newspaper) "When it comes to Islamic studies, Bernard Lewis is the father of us all. With brilliance, integrity, and extraordinary extreme proficiency of languages and sources, he has led the way for[el]investigators seeking to understand the Muslim world." National Review "Bernard Lewis combines profound depth of scholarship with encyclopedic knowledge of the Middle East and, above all, readability." Daily Telegraph (London) "Lewis speaks with authority in prose marked by lucidity, elegance, wit and force." Newsday (New York) "Lewis' style is lucid, his approach, objective." Philadelphia Inquirer "Lewis writes with unsurpassed erudition and grace."WashingtonTimes An objective, easy-to-read introduction to Islam by Bernard Lewis, one of the West's leading experts on Islam For many people, Islam remains a mystery. Here Bernard Lewis and Buntzie Ellis Churchill examine Islam: what its adherents believe and how their religion has shaped them, their rich and diverse cultures, and their politics over more than 14 centuries. Considered one of the West's leading experts on Islam, Lewis, with Churchill, has written an illuminating introduction for those who want to understand the faith and the global challenges it confronts and presents. Whatever your political, personal, or religious views, this book will help you understand Islam's reality. Lewis and Churchill answer questions such as/ How does Islam differ from Judaism and Christianity? / What are the pillars of the Islamic faith? / What does Islam really say about peace and jihad? / How does the faith regard non-Muslims? / What are the differences between Sunni and Shi'a? / What does Islam teach about the position of women in society? / What does Islam say about free enterprise and profit? / What caused the rise of radical Islam?/ What are the problems facing Muslims in the U.S. and Europe and what are the challenges posed by those minorities?

Back Cover Copy

Praise for Bernard Lewis

 

"For newcomers to the subject[el]Bernard Lewis is the man."

TIME Magazine

 

“The doyen of Middle Eastern studies."

The New York Times

 

“No one writes about Muslim history with greater authority, or intelligence, or literary charm.”

British historian Hugh Trevor-Roper

 

“Bernard Lewis has no living rival in his field.”

Al Ahram, Cairo (the most influential Arab world newspaper)

 

"When it comes to Islamic studies, Bernard Lewis is the father of us all. With brilliance, integrity, and extraordinary extreme proficiency of languages and sources, he has led the way for[el]investigators seeking to understand the Muslim world."

National Review

 

"Bernard Lewis combines profound depth of scholarship with encyclopedic knowledge of the Middle East and, above all, readability."

Daily Telegraph (London)

 

"Lewis speaks with authority in prose marked by lucidity, elegance, wit and force."

Newsday (New York)

 

"Lewis' style is lucid, his approach, objective."

Philadelphia Inquirer

 

"Lewis writes with unsurpassed erudition and grace."

Washington Times

 

An objective, easy-to-read introduction to Islam by Bernard Lewis, one of the West’s leading experts on Islam

 

For many people, Islam remains a mystery. Here Bernard Lewis and Buntzie Ellis Churchill examine Islam: what its adherents believe and how their religion has shaped them, their rich and diverse cultures, and their politics over more than 14 centuries. Considered one of the West’s leading experts on Islam, Lewis, with Churchill, has written an illuminating introduction for those who want to understand the faith and the global challenges it confronts and presents. Whatever your political, personal, or religious views, this book will help you understand Islam’s reality.

 

Lewis and Churchill answer questions such as

 

• How does Islam differ from Judaism and Christianity?

• What are the pillars of the Islamic faith?

• What does Islam really say about peace and jihad?

• How does the faith regard non-Muslims?

• What are the differences between Sunni and Shi’a?

• What does Islam teach about the position of women in society?

• What does Islam say about free enterprise and profit?

• What caused the rise of radical Islam?

• What are the problems facing Muslims in the U.S. and Europe and what are the challenges posed by those minorities?

 

 

Reader Reviews
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Bernard Lewis is Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Emeritus, at Princeton University. Along with Buntizie Ellis Churchill served for twenty-three years as President of the World Affairs council of Philadelphia and a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. From their background this book takes us on what I would consider an introductory survey course of Islamic history. This very basic and brief introduction to the world of Islam gives those with no knowledge of the subject a very good starting point. And that is all the book promises according to the publishers advertising. So based on what the book promises to deliver I gave it a five star rating (4.5 if it was allowed). This small book seems timely now because the far West is now noticing what is transpiring, but this book was actually was needed decades ago. We have known for over a thousand years of the generational conflict that would exist between Islam and the West. Remember that this book is an introduction and sets the ground work for your further reading. It is a small and easy to read primer on on this complex society. For it would benefit the westerner to think of Islam in this light. And the authors do cover a wide range of subjects quickly from the beginnings of Islam (much of the origins is left out) and how the different sects of Islam came into being. What we in the West see as two main sects have actually fragmented into more than that. But Islam is a tribal institution that leaves no facets of life untouched. From the religious, social, economic and political, they are all one. No separation of church and state exist (or at least is not suppose too). They do cover one recent development in our modern times I found most interesting. And that was that Muslims were not to live in none Muslim lands. But now you can see the immigration of Muslims into Europe and America where they find their guiding principles of Shari'a are in conflict with the law of the land they choose to live in. The fact that they will not assimilate into the countries they choose to immigrate to causes this conflict. Which Lewis and Churchill's briefly explains in these pages. These conflicts with Shari'a become a source of problems and tension for he observant Muslims in non-Muslim lands. Whether you feel those immigrating should simulate to the culture they choose to move to or not, this section will give you some insight into what is happening. This is an excellent book for anyone to start off to learn about Islam and to see where Islam, Christianity and Judaism have similarities and differences. And how these core beliefs cause basic misunderstandings. So forget what you have heard on the street or through the uninformed modern media and read this book to understand about Islamic motivations, beliefs, and customs.