- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: HarperPress (4 Sep 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007232454
- ISBN-13: 978-0007232451
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 14 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 654,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Muhammad: Prophet for Our Time (Eminent Lives)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for ‘The Spiral Staircase’:
‘The book deserves many readers…Karen Armstrong must be a woman of iron to have survived, made a career and a life.’ Hilary Mantel
‘A subtle and funny memoir.’ Sunday Telegraph
‘An exceptionally impressive autobiography…Karen Armstrong’s account of her spiralling journey provokes thought and inspires respect.’ Daily Telegraph
Review
Praise for 'The Spiral Staircase': 'The book deserves many readers!Karen Armstrong must be a Woman of Iron to have survived, made a career and a life.' Hilary Mantel 'A subtle and funny memoir.' Sunday Telegraph 'An exceptionally impressive autobiography!Karen Armstrong's account of her spiralling journey provokes thought and inspires respect.' Daily Telegraph
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At a little over 200 pages I wasn't expecting this book to be a comprehensive biography of Muhammad or a detailed history of Islam. Indeed this book's strength is its very humanist approach, focusing neatly on the principle subject matter. Having a limited knowledge of Muhammad I found this book very accessible and enlightening. As an in introduction to Islam Karen Armstrong provides a refreshing perspective compared to some of the more negative portrayals prevalent in the media.
19 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For people looking for an accesable introduction to the life of Mohammed then look no further. This book is written in a humanist style and introduces the reader to the cultural and historical background of the life of Mohammed and the revelation of the Qu'ran.
There is a lot of interesting and useful insights into the origins of Islam, the life of Mohammed and the Qu'ran itself. Karen Armstrong has no axe to grind and presents her material in a straight foward manner with notes and a excellent bibliography the reader is able to examine concepts and events in greater depth.
A book for an an intellegent person who wishes to be informed rather than evangalised.
There is a lot of interesting and useful insights into the origins of Islam, the life of Mohammed and the Qu'ran itself. Karen Armstrong has no axe to grind and presents her material in a straight foward manner with notes and a excellent bibliography the reader is able to examine concepts and events in greater depth.
A book for an an intellegent person who wishes to be informed rather than evangalised.
13 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Knowing little about Islam except the difficulty of finding a balanced viewpoint, I bought this book and `The Truth about Mohammed' by Robert Spencer in the hope of finding out.
Whereas Spencer's book is an outright condemnation, Armstrong is mild in tone. Yet the accounts she gives confirm some of Spencer's accusations, while leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions. For instance, she tells the story of Mohammed's revelation justifying the attack on the Qureysh caravan at Naklah apparently without emphasizing the difficult precedent which this set (p. 130). Also the reaction of Mohammed's favourite wife Aisha to the revelation justifying the marriage to Zaynab (p. 168) "How convenient! Truly thy Lord makes haste to do thy bidding!"
Most of the book is a rather rambling and confusing biography which does however give a convincing picture of a lawless society ruled by violence. A religion born in such circumstances needs a lot of interpretation to be acceptable to the modern world.
A prophet for our time? Armstrong's contention, in contrast to Spencer, is that Mohammed was a man of peace who was forced into warfare and banditry by the violent times in which he lived. I think Armstrong expects the reader to read between the lines.
Whereas Spencer's book is an outright condemnation, Armstrong is mild in tone. Yet the accounts she gives confirm some of Spencer's accusations, while leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions. For instance, she tells the story of Mohammed's revelation justifying the attack on the Qureysh caravan at Naklah apparently without emphasizing the difficult precedent which this set (p. 130). Also the reaction of Mohammed's favourite wife Aisha to the revelation justifying the marriage to Zaynab (p. 168) "How convenient! Truly thy Lord makes haste to do thy bidding!"
Most of the book is a rather rambling and confusing biography which does however give a convincing picture of a lawless society ruled by violence. A religion born in such circumstances needs a lot of interpretation to be acceptable to the modern world.
A prophet for our time? Armstrong's contention, in contrast to Spencer, is that Mohammed was a man of peace who was forced into warfare and banditry by the violent times in which he lived. I think Armstrong expects the reader to read between the lines.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
you decide
I will try to be objective as much as i can and wish to help the buyer as much as possible a through this short evaluation of Karen's book (because I was desperately looking for an... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Naz
strong in places but completely inaccurate in others.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Karen Armstrongs 'A history of God' i was really looking forward to reading her book on the prophet. Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. Williams
Important contribution
Armstrong has provided a very clear, readable and fair account of the life of the Muhammed and the founding years of Islam. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2009 by Dr. I. Finlay
A great, neutral summary of the life of Muhammed
Ms Armstrong, a former nun, has done some real research in writing this book. It's fact driven overview of Muhammed, the Prophet who introduced humanity to Islam. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by R. C. ten Veen
An interesting but groundless storytelling
The increasing debate surrounding the influence of Islam has made Karen Armstrong's books very popular. Read more
Published on 13 May 2009 by Eirini Tsianaka
A story of evolving visions
Armstrong's brief biography quite impartially records both accomplishments Westerners can easily admire, and events which seem utterly foreign to Western society. Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by Brian Griffith
May be a helpful introduction but be prepared to study more
It would be too much to expect that the founder of any of the world's major religions could be understood from one book, even at the introductory level (not counting sacred... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2008 by calmly
Strange read
I always respected her point of a view as someone looking into Islam as oppossed to someone looking out. I found parts of the book excellent and other parts poor. Read more
Published on 25 April 2008 by gnostic
best possible book by non believer
The average score for this book is high so I wont talk to much about it's good points as many others have done that. Read more
Published on 21 July 2007 by Michael Badu
a nice guide to the truth about Islam and its Prophet
It is an excellent book about Muhammad who has been depicted in the media in a unfair way. This book is not all things about Mohammed, it is a little part of the truth. Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2007 by M. Shehri
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