Science & Islam: A History
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'The fruits of the golden age of Islamic science are summarised briskly and engagingly in Ehsan Masood's Science & Islam, which was written to accompany a recent BBC television series ... Keen to dismantle the myth that Islam is fundamentally opposed to science, and [shows] that the words of Muhammad can be read as obliging rational inquiry.' Sunday Times 'Why did science and learning decline so rapidly [in the Islamic World]? Ehsan Masood gives a viable answer to this question. Masood's eminently readable survey of science in Islam fills many gaps in [Jonathan Lyons'] The House of Wisdom by providing the social and political context in which discoveries took place.' The Times 'A delightful and approachable work, packed with surprises and treats, and offered by a writer whose passion for the subject does not daunt his objectivity' Wharf
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The fruits of the golden age of Islamic science are summarised briskly and engagingly in Ehsan Masood's Science & Islam
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I got this book on the back of the accompanying TV series that began on BBC4 last night
(which is currently the most popular BBC4 programme on iPlayer). I have to say it's one of the most fascinating books
I've ever read - I had no idea how much of the scientific development we take for granted originated in the Middle East during
the Middle Ages. Algebra, engineering like pistons, camshafts and cranks, and the hugely influential textbook Canon of Medicine all had their origins
in the so-called 'golden age' of Muslim thought. I for one never knew that.
Ehsan Masood unearths these discoveries in an engaging manner that makes the book a real page-turner - and I'm no scientist. In a time where Islam
is often under attack, it's eye-opening to learn how much we owe to that ancient and often misunderstood culture. 'Science and Islam' does what it says on the cover, discussing
and conncecting the two with a depth and sensitivity hitherto unexamined.
(which is currently the most popular BBC4 programme on iPlayer). I have to say it's one of the most fascinating books
I've ever read - I had no idea how much of the scientific development we take for granted originated in the Middle East during
the Middle Ages. Algebra, engineering like pistons, camshafts and cranks, and the hugely influential textbook Canon of Medicine all had their origins
in the so-called 'golden age' of Muslim thought. I for one never knew that.
Ehsan Masood unearths these discoveries in an engaging manner that makes the book a real page-turner - and I'm no scientist. In a time where Islam
is often under attack, it's eye-opening to learn how much we owe to that ancient and often misunderstood culture. 'Science and Islam' does what it says on the cover, discussing
and conncecting the two with a depth and sensitivity hitherto unexamined.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A good easy to read book to follow the documentary, which I hope will be released on DVD. It is a good beginners book, which gives a great overview that teaches and reminds us how Islam encouraged and contributed greatly to the develpment and progress of Science and how that drive and legacy shaped the European Enlightment and the Modern world Algebra, Industry, Astronomy, Health care and even Evolution and how broad and open it is to integrate religion with science and progress. Sadly especially today Islam is at times misunderstood and abused for political reasons but this book and similiar ones makes a difference by teaching us historical facts and how now it's legacy is being acknowledged. It also gives us a good overview of the great Muslim dynasties and empires without overshadowing the books title and what we can learn from the past and apply it today. Put the newspaper down and read this enlightening book to rediscover history or your heritage. It reminds us especially today that education is the duty and requirement of every Muslim equal to the Mosque.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Even for those who have read about early Arab and Persian science before, 'Science & Islam' may contain some new insights, such as the fact that Copernicus copied some of his illustrations directely from Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, a Persian astronomer. On the other hand, Ehsan Masood remains vague about what it precisely was that Copernicus copied. This is a pattern.
Standing for the task to introduce muslim science to a lay audience mr. Masood has chosen not to delve too far into the actual science, but to sketch the historical circumstances under which science could flourish. After all, he could not assume his readers to have any knowledge of the caliphs and their 'houses of wisdom'.
So, this is not a book that fills the usual gap in history of science books when it comes to the non-western middle ages. Such books, however, take readers' knowledge of broad political and social circumstances for granted. Read this as a broad introduction and mr. Masood has done an excellent job. However, those seeking more thorough knowledge about the actual achievements of muslim scientists will likely be disappointed.
Standing for the task to introduce muslim science to a lay audience mr. Masood has chosen not to delve too far into the actual science, but to sketch the historical circumstances under which science could flourish. After all, he could not assume his readers to have any knowledge of the caliphs and their 'houses of wisdom'.
So, this is not a book that fills the usual gap in history of science books when it comes to the non-western middle ages. Such books, however, take readers' knowledge of broad political and social circumstances for granted. Read this as a broad introduction and mr. Masood has done an excellent job. However, those seeking more thorough knowledge about the actual achievements of muslim scientists will likely be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Reading for fun
Very interesting read but it comes across as a bit disjointed. The chapters are bite sized chunks which is good to read if you don't have much time to give, but seems the lack a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Edward Oates
Summary of Summary of Commentary of Commentary
One of the main reasons of "Closing the Great Door of Islam" was the Islamic scholars' concerns of what would happen with the great knowledge gained through scientific discoveries... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2010 by Anna Abrahamyan
Inaccurate and highly flawed -- take caution
This book, although intended for the lay reader is fraught with errors from start to finish. For one, for some reason the author acknowledges the ethnicity and cultural background... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by asha
Borrow not buy
This book although has some interesting and benifical information in there has some mistakes in it. I would avoid it as there are better books to read about Islam and science.
Published on 24 Aug 2009 by gnostic
Seek knowledge not ignorance
This is a well written, easy to follow and great introduction to how Islam sought and improved upon knowledge in the fields of chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, weaponry,... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by Mr. Tariq Aslam
Islam & Science
Companion book to the BBC series. The TV series was excellent with many science links, photos and examples. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by T. J. Palmer
Rediscovering the past
I really enjoyed this book, which took the recent TV series rather deeper; I hope that it will be widely read and not just by scientists, because the scientific information in it... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by S. K. Lewicki
Science and Islam: A History
This could be a very good book if it had pictures in it. Should have pictures of every person talked about in the book and the pictures of the inventions.
Published on 4 Mar 2009 by Faisal Ihsan
An enlightening overview of a greatly misrepresented time in history
The book was throughly readable. A good balance between breadth and depth; giving enough detail in each chapter to keep the interest to the end. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2009 by artsariz
Shallow insights printed on cheap and nasty paper
This is a book that should have been so much better. No rigour seems to have gone into putting it together and especially not into some of the simplistic conclusions drawn. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by Firdaus Vogt
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