ISLAM A Short History

An introduction to the history of Islam provides listeners with a greater understanding of world events without burying them in the minutiae of the past 2,000 years. The special challenges of nonfiction narration sometimes defeat even the most savvy performer. Too much drama, too damped down an inflection leading to monotone, the pitfalls are many. Davidson avoids the traps neatly and delivers an accomplished and beautifully modulated reading. He moves you smoothly from Muhammad the Prophet through the splitting of Islam into Sunnism, Shiism, and Sufi mysticism and the various conquerers and conquered right up to present day. From one of our most highly respected religious scholars, this is an accessible and nicely thought-out history. Whether you come away wanting to pursue the subject further or just feeling better qualified to understand the evening news, this is an essential read. D.G. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]