Islam: A Concise Introduction

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Drawn from his masterful presentation of Islam in the bestselling The World's Religions, Huston Smith offers a highly readable and incisive guide to the heart of a tradition with more than 1 billion adherents worldwide. Dispelling narrow and distorted notions about the nature of Islam, Smith shows the rich history, culture, and values that sustain this vibrant tradition. As Huston points out, Islam itself means primarily "peace," and its full connotation is "the peace that comes when one's life is surrendered to God." Featuring a new introduction for these troubled times, the book covers not only the history and teachings, but also such timely issues as the true meaning ofjihad, the role of women in Islamic societies, and the remarkable growth of Islam in America. This book will stand apart as the least expensive and most concise, timely, and reliable introduction available today.

Author Bio

Huston Smith is internationally known and revered as the premier teacher of world religions and for his bestselling book The World's Religions. He was the focus of a five-part PBS television series with Bill Moyers, and has taught at Washington University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Born in Changshu, China, he currently resides in Berkeley, CA.