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A very quick read (a couple hours tops) which seeks to give an overview of Islam to a very specific audience: post-911 Americans.I think it does a pretty good job, overall. I gave it three stars (and not more) simply because it is so basic in it's info. Great, and enlightening for sure, but I felt I had more questions when I finished than when I started. I also felt like, maybe, it wasn't telling the whole story (like it was selectively sharing info about the faith, trying to hit only the good s...
Can Islam be presented in a way that does not express animosity toward the West?
Huston Smith has given us a great, concise guide to Islam. It clarified much for me, though I wonder what an orthodox Sunni (traditional) Muslim would think of the book. No doubt it contains some reductions for the sake of simplicity, but hopefully it is a good starting point.Here are a few items that I found most helpful: -Islam comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, from which we get Salam/Shalom. The original sense of the appellation "Islam" seems to have been "the peace that comes when one's life...
I love Huston Smith's work at explaining the world's religions, and those whose faith drawn to them. He is honest, willing to deal with both the uplifting and disturbing, without being judgmental. His book The World's Religion is a great resource.
I picked this up because, once again, Islam is in every dialogue I have lately. I realized that, having been raised in the Catholic Church and having worked for a Jewish institution for six years, I know quite a bit about both faiths but nothing whatsoever about Islam. I wanted to know the basics and this concise introduction is informative and I learned a great deal in about 100 pages. I do admit when the author was introducing Sufis I got a bit lost but I am fascinated by this faith and am per...
I read this book over the duration of a few sittings (bus rides). It's more of a pamphlet, than a book.This was my introduction to Smith. I knew of him, as a copy of The World's Religions is bound to be found in most of the used book stores where I live.At times, Huston writes eloquently and from a non-religious perspective, in regards to some of the doctrines and ideas of Islam. At other times, it seems he is clearly trying to write from the perspective of a practicing Muslim instead of overvie...
This book reads like Huston Smith was taken hostage by Muslims and he wrote it while under the influence of Stockholm Syndrome. He makes only a couple passing references to Muhammad's multiple wives and no mention at all of Aisha, who married him when she was six (though the marriage was mercifully not consummated until she was nine.) The only mention of death by stoning being the punishment for adultery is in rebuttal to a supposed Western stereotype that Islam causes licentiousness. When he co...
Smith is trying to get his audience to have a general feel of Islam, and it's clear that he's writing to those westerners with a caricatured view of Islam. He spends a lot of time dispelling the stereotypes and myths associated with Islam, and, although I did find those sections enlightening and useful, I do agree that at certain points he can be a bit apologetic. I would recommend this as a very very quick introduction.
In a quest to better understand the religion of Islam, this book was recommended to me. It is, as the title says, a concise overview. The author does his best to present the religion in an easy to understand manner given the topic is complicated. As a Westerner I have trouble getting my arms around Islam as it seems to fit the Middle Eastern culture better even though it does extend to Africa and the Far East, too. The author clearly puts Islam in a favorable light given its radicalization by a
This book covers a lot about Islam but I was still left with some questions. I would like to see a follow-up to an intro book.
Huston Smith collaborated with PBS in the series "The Wisdom of Faith." Great summary that gives broad strokes about how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have the same root and explains where they split, their similarities and differences, and obstacles in understanding each other. I liked that it didn't get too philosophical, and I feel like I learned a lot in a short timeframe.
Clear and informative.
