Reviews (113)

History is fun!
A look at the history of U.S. presidential assassinations.Part history, part comic commentary, Ms. Vowell extensively documents her visits to sites (official or not) associated with these events.The history of the assassinations alone is interesting and details are often overlooked (or not looked at at all - e.g., Garfield, McKinley) when these events are presented / captured in popular forums.It is a quick read that will shed light on and insight into these assassinations that you never considered before.

I will buy this book from you if you don't like it
I read this book aloud to 5 pre- and teenagers on a grueling road trip down south over Easter. Not only did it hold their attention the entire time it was an incredible coincidence to pass an important site in the book at the EXACT time we were reading about the capture of John Wilkes Boothe. Because of the author's exacting description we were able to arrive at the exact site she describes in such detail and VOILA, nearly living history. (Of course, being uncouth Northerners we allowed our dog to pee on the shrine in question and one child left eggs from his Easter basket on the marker).This book compelled me to read three or four more books about Lincoln, Booth and assorted others Vowell writes about. She captures history in such a remarkably approachable manner, I've since bought copies for every history teacher in our school district. Every American should read this book and even if you think you know about our first assassinations, you will learn something, and laugh while learning it. Spectacular.

Move over Bill Bryson, there's stiff competition
Assassination Vacation is one of the best books I've read this Summer. Ms Vowell should take up teaching American history. Her brilliant and expert knowledge of her subjects (normally written about in stententious and serious tones given the subject matter) is quite impressive. But, it is the wit and humor and unusual angle of expression and personal observations that is the most captivating. I was amazed to learn so much more about the Lincoln assassination and conspirators (despite more than 35 years of reading and research on the subject) and view it from a different and less reverent angle. But even more, I was entranced by the Garfield and McKinley coverage - which added huge amounts of information to my very limited knowledge of either of these presidents or their assassins and the events surrounding them. Garfield came off so much better than I ever knew - which was very little. And his hilarious "disappointed office seeker" far more ambitious (Ambassador to France?) and political (Stalwart for Grant) than I ever knew. Don't know how one can make an account of assassinations hilariously funny? Read this book - and don't assume that it isn't historically accurate, because it is. This one is a real keeper and I am thinking of buying it on tape - just so I can listen to it while stuck in traffic, so that fellow travellers can see someone who is having fun while in the midst of DC rush hours.Have fun with this book and share it with everyone you know who loves history and has a good sense of humor. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assassination    2. Biography    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. History    5. History: American    6. Homes and haunts    7. Islam - Shi'ism    8. Murder - General    9. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    10. Presidents    11. Special Interest - General    12. Travel - General    13. United States    14. United States - State & Local - General    15. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Reviews (20)

Interesting overview of a misunderstood sect of Islam
The Assassins are part of the legend of the Crusades. The legend of their intoxicants, and the pleasures that initiates were allowed to sample before being sent on missions, are almost part of our historical lore, and of course the sect has lent its name to a word in the English language. This scholarly account by historian Bernard Lewis is detailed, and relentless at least in terms of sentimentality, brushing away legends and folklore and sticking to what's known of this splinter group of Islam and their culture, activities, motives, and fate.
Lewis is a racist
I am an Ismailli and totally offended by Lewis's book.He is no doubt a total anti-Muslim racist.For greater information on the Nizari ismaillis read Farhad Daftary

Too factual, not enough philosophy
This book about the Ismailis and the Assassins could have been fascinating but it is only a compilation of facts and details about individuals and their actions. We never get into the deeper layers of their ideology, theology and religious beliefs and practices. They are connected to the Shi'ites agains the Sunni'ites but it is not clearly shown and explained what's the difference between the two sides and what's more how the Ismailis get into this picture. Altogether the vision of Islam given by this book is that of a world rent by factions, ambitions, personal power, military achievements, and the basic and irrepressible desire and need to be cruel and shed a lot of blood through torturing and making people suffer. This is a caricature. Never the filiation between the other semitic religions that judaism, christianism and the zealot branch of both in the first century before Christ and the first century after Christ were, is shown, stated or explained and explored. Islam is one descendent of the Bible, Old and New Testament. What's more this vast expanse of territory from the Mediterranean sea to India was one of the most brilliant melting pots of science, culture and philosophy, the Ismailis among them just as much as the Sh'ites or the Sunni'ites. This is not explored, nor explained. Hence this book accumulates factual details and data but never reaches any level of explanation, understanding and the desire to go and discover that enormously progressive and powerful culture and science. At the time of the Crusades, the west was definitely, at all levels, a lot less advanced than the Middle East and Islamic countries. It is these Crusades that started the movement thet will eventually lead to the freezing of these societies in some kind of ossified ancient state out of which it has become extremely difficult to move, and such a move has to be endogenous, to come from inside.
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Subjects:  1. Assassins (Ismailites)    2. History    3. History: World    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. Islamic Government    6. Middle East - General    7. Political    8. Political Process - Leadership    9. Radicalism    10. Religion - World Religions   

Reviews (6)

FANTASTIC-a must for anyone studying Shia Islam
Dr. Momen provides a comprehensive and objective overview of Shia history and beliefs.It doesnt matter if you are new to learning of Islam, or an advanced scholar, you can get a wealth of information from this book.
A tough read
I recently bought this book after reading the excellent reviews about it, but unfortunately, I couldn't go beyond the first two chapters. It starts off nicely but loses the focus soon and becomes extremly boring.

Best Concise History & Beliefs of Shi'e
This is a book that I recommend to everyone who is interested in understanding the history of Shi'e split from Sunni faction(s) in Islam. The book, however, goes much beyond that, and provides insight to developments of Islam at Mohammed's time, and immediately after his death, as well as a detailed follow on to present day. It is written with a style that keeps the reader glued to the book, unlike most books in similar subjects.Read more

Subjects:  1. Islam - Shi'ism    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Shiah    5. Islam    6. Religion / Islam / Shi'ism   

Reviews (2)

This book establishs Daftary as synonymous with Isma'ilism
This is an unprecedentedwork of scholarly insight, a must have for anyone interested in Isma'ilism although you never really read this sort of work from cover to cover, it's useful to dip in, on every issue. Awesome !
The most detailed book on Isma'ilis - the best unbiased, factual and complete book on Isma'ilis out there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. World - General    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history    7. History / World    8. Islam    9. Ismailites    10. Middle East   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Beirut    4. Gender Studies    5. Islam - Shi'ism    6. Islam and politics    7. Lebanon    8. Religion    9. Shiites    10. Sociology    11. Women in Islam    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Anthropology    14. Islamic studies    15. Middle Eastern Studies    16. Religion / Islam / Shi'ism    17. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

Justice and Remembrance: Introducting the Spirituality of Imam 'Ali
"Justice and Remembrance" is a tripartite study of the spiritual ethos of Imam 'Ali ibn Abu Talib, who represents the elaboration par excellence of the meanings contained in the Qur'an and enshrined in its application in the precedent set by its Messenger. This task is one of tremendous importance for appropriating the roots of religion and understanding the essential doctrines that constitute Islam as such, apart from an Islam which has pinned to it long complicated histories of sectarian and political interests which is of little concern for those serious seekers of Truth.
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Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Islam - General    3. Islam - History    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. Religion    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Social Justice (Ethics)    8. Sufism    9. Asian studies    10. Middle East   

Reviews (1)

The longest short book I have ever read....
As a long-time student of all things Middle East, I found Nakash's book to be absolutely horrible.The book lacks focus and a coherent theme and is very poorly written.The author makes an inadequate effort to describe over 200 years of history of the Shi'a populations in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia in 164 pages of text, but fails to provide any new or thought-provoking insights, indepth analyses of significant events, or any meaningful concluding statements.Worst of all, the book is extremely dull.This is by far the longest short book I have ever read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Islam - Shi'ism    4. Islam and politics    5. Islamic Studies    6. Middle East    7. Middle East - General    8. Political Process - General    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Religion, Politics & State    11. Shiites    12. History / Middle East    13. Middle Eastern Studies    14. Political Science and International Relations    15. Political ideologies    16. World History/Comparative History   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Islam - Shi'ism    3. Ismailites    4. Philosophy    5. Philosophy, Islamic    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Religious    8. Cultural studies    9. Islam    10. Islamic studies    11. Religion / Islam / Shi'ism   

Reviews (5)

Juan Cole in an expert on the Middle East
Juan Cole is brilliant.Just read his blog JuanCole.com
Juan Cole is an apologist for Islamic barbarism
Juan Cole's credentials are consistently undermined but his uncanny ability to apologize and/or ignore the savagery perpetrated by the Shia on ALL non-Shia citizens in their midst. This blatant deception reduces the entire work to yet another source of propaganda with that mighty Islamic stamp of approval. Who pays your bills, Juan?

Deceptive Advertising
This poorly edited and abysmally proofread book is nothing more than a compilation of unrelated articles on obscure elements of the history of one Shia sect.There is no unifying theme, and the book fails utterly to live up to its promise.I bought it after being impressed by interview with the author on NPR's "Fresh Air" program. Clearly the interviewer made the running. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. Islam    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Religion    7. Shiites    8. Islamic countries    9. Islamic studies    10. Religion / History   

Reviews (1)

Followers of a Man Made Cult
God has plans that we will never understand. We have a mind, and we can use it to think, plan, and decide. We have the ability to choose right from wrong. Once we see we have been doing something wrong and inappropriate, we change our behavior. But some do not change and continue with their wrongdoings in defiance of the rule of progression. Shia Muslims are in defiance of this rule and continue to follow the ways of their ancestors. They continue to slash their backs and heads to draw blood for someone who died 1300 years ago. They continue to worship at the graves of men who died hundreds of years ago. They are angry and its is in their system to be angry for all their lives. Although some leave the cult of Shia Islam like the grandson of the prophet Hassan did, who renounced the idea of bloodline leadership, others are raised in this system and stay with it. The massacre at Karbala was horrible and the people killed their most likely will go to heaven, but there are massacres that happen all the time. Not too long ago in Rwanda, Tutsi's massacred 800,000 Hutu's. Has anyone ever seen a Rwandan take a sword and cut himself to show he would have shed his blood if he was there? The beliefs that Shiites follow are man made ideas. They were done by a group of people who wanted to split the community in half. It is similar to how Paul came into Christianity and changed some rules around.Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, Paul said there are new laws. Jesus prohibited drinking and pork, Paul allowed it. Jesus said he was sent from God, Paul said Jesus was God. The holy Prophet Muhammad said to stick with the majority and forbid any innovation in Islam. We Muslims must unite and I think that we will be stronger with this unity then if we never were separated. This is what the enemy's of Islam do not want, a unified Muslim population. The term Shia and Sunni must be abandoned and we must all be like the prophet and his companions who were just Muslims. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hyderabad    2. Hyderabad (India)    3. India    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. Muslims    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Religious life    9. Shiah    10. Shåi°ah    11. Religion / Islam / Shi'ism   

Reviews (2)

Great translation, poor design
The translation from the Arabic could not be better of this classic work. It reads like a poetic stream of spiritual advice and stories. Sufi authors cite this book as their foundation source more than any other early text.
True Sufism
For anyone interested in Islamic belief and practice on a deep level, here is the best explanation of real Sufism. It is inside Islam (way inside) and outside brittle confrontational attitudesofall religions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Early works to 1800    2. Islam - Shi'ism    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - General    6. Sufism   

Subjects:  1. Islam    2. Islam - General    3. Islam - Shi'ism    4. Ismaili literature    5. Prayer-books and devotions    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Indic, East Indo-European & Dravidian Languages    9. Literary studies: general    10. Religion / General    11. South East Asia   

Reviews (1)

Is it time to reconsider how we look at the Shi'a???
"... the West demonstrates a dangerous tendency to equate Sunnis with secularism and Shi'a with Islamic Movements.Neither is accurate."Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - Comparative    2. History    3. History: World    4. International Relations - General    5. Islam - General    6. Islam - Shi'ism    7. Middle East - General    8. Politics / Current Events   

Subjects:  1. Authority    2. Islam    3. Islam - General    4. Islam - History    5. Islam - Shi'ism    6. Islamic Theology    7. Murjiah    8. Murji®ah    9. Religion    10. Religion - World Religions    11. Religious aspects    12. Taqlid    13. Taqlåid    14. Islamic studies    15. Religion & Theology | Islam    16. Religion / Islam   

Reviews (11)

The title says it all. It is the "Peak of Eloquence", the epitome of wisdom.

A review not of the book , but of the editor of the book
A word of caution , small people appropriate the words of great people according to their own capacities of understanding and concern. Fascinating
Whether you are a Sunni or a Shia, or whether you believe every word here to have been spoken by Hadrat Ali or not, it is undeniable that this collection of speeches and letters is saturated with widsom- which, according to a proverb found in this book, is the same no matter its source. The major themes running throughout these sermons are the deadly mirages and shortness of the present life compared to the infinite worth of the hereafter, the major need to work for it, and discourses about God, particularly His astonishing power as manifested through astonishing creations such as the peacock, locusts, bats...Other notable material included two touching prayers for rain, and a portrayal of the luminous qualities of a sober, self-fulfilled believer. The style throughout is highly eloquent and often philosophic, yet also extremely clear. There was also included a instructions to a governor for an ideal government which in their fairness, tolerance, and mercy could well be a guide for any Muslim nation today. I would recommend this book, particularly to non-Muslims who find it hard to believe that a volume of this size could be entirely about Islam, and yet with barely any reference to rules or regulations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 600 (ca.)-661    2. Ali ibn Abi Talib,    3. Caliph,    4. Hadith    5. Hadith (Shiites)    6. Literary Collections / Middle Eastern    7. Religion    8. Religion / Islam / Shi'ism    9. Texts    10. Â°AlÃ¥i ibn AbÃ¥i òTÃ¥alib,    11. Islam    12. Islam - Shi'ism    13. Letters    14. Literary Collections    15. Middle Eastern    16. Sermons   

Subjects:  1. Doctrines    2. History & Theory - General    3. Imams (Shiites)    4. Islam    5. Islam - General    6. Islam - Shi'ism    7. Islamic Government    8. Middle East - General    9. Political aspects    10. Religion    11. Religion - World Religions    12. Shiah    13. Shiites    14. ShÃ¥i°ah    15. Islamic studies   

Reviews (1)

A Great Historical Adventure Tale Hidden, oddly, in an Academic Title
The title of this book is deceptive.It comes off as a heavy academic treatment of the prescence of Islam in Tibet, which is presented in a couple of short opening essays.They are good essays, sufficiently anecdotal and eye-opening, dismissing the popular notion of Tibetan culture as homogenous.And the acceptance and even promotion of Islam is a testimony to the religious tolerance espoused by Tibetan Buddhism.
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Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Islam    3. Islam - General    4. Islam - Shi'ism    5. Religion    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Tibet   

Reviews (2)

A true Master
I could not think of a better title. The book is filled with discourses, Iwould have loved more but...Many spiritual healings of the heart and themind can be found. True Sufi Master!
This is one of the best books I have read about Sufism.The letters was from a master to advice his disciples concerning the sufi path.It is informative and helpful to all who are intrested to step into the spirtualpath.Read more

Subjects:  1. Islam - Shi'ism    2. Islam - Sufism    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Spirituality - General    6. Islam   

Subjects:  1. Islam - Shi'ism    2. Religion - World Religions    3. Iran    4. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    5. Religion: general   

Subjects:  1. Iran    2. Islam - Shi'ism    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Shiah