In this gripping narrative history, Lesley Hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam.“Fascinating. . . . Lively and engaging. . . . Anyone seeking to understand today’s Middle East can learn from this book."—Seattle TimesEven as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by...

**The extraordinary life of the man who founded Islam, and the world he inhabited—and remade.Lesley Hazleton's new book, Agnostic: A Spirited Manifesto, is out now from Riverhead Books.**Muhammad’s was a life of almost unparalleled historical importance; yet for all the iconic power of his name, the intensely dramatic story of the prophet of Islam is not well known. In The First Muslim, Lesley Hazleton brings him vibrantly to life. Drawing on early eyewitn...

**“Vital” –The New York Times Book Review“Provocative…[Hazleton] paddles the river of doubt with energy and exuberance.” –The Seattle TimesA widely admired writer on religion celebrates agnosticism as the most vibrant, engaging—and ultimately the most honest—stance toward the mysteries of existence.**One in four Americans reject any affiliation with organized religion, and nearly half of those under thirty describe themselves as “spiritual but not ...

There is no woman with a worse reputation than Jezebel, the ancient queen who corrupted a nation and met one of the most gruesome fates in the Bible. Her name alone speaks of sexual decadence and promiscuity. But what if this version of her story, handed down to us through the ages, is merely the one her enemies wanted us to believe? What if Jezebel, far from being a conniving harlot, was, in fact, framed?In this remarkable new biography, Lesley Hazleton shows exactly how the proud ...

Muhammad's was a life of almost unparalleled historical importance; yet for all the iconic power of his name, the intensely dramatic story of the prophet of Islam is not well known. In The First Muslim, Lesley Hazleton brings him vibrantly to life. Drawing on early eyewitness sources and on history, politics, religion, and psychology, she renders him as a man in full, in all his complexity and vitality.Hazleton's account follows the arc of Muhammad's rise from powerlessnes...

In this gripping narrative history, Lesley Hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever.Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, sparking a succession crisis marked by power grabs, assassination, political intrigue, and passionate faith. Soon Islam was embroiled in civil war, pitting its founder’s contr...

**“Vital” –The New York Times Book Review“Provocative…[Hazleton] paddles the river of doubt with energy and exuberance.” –The Seattle TimesA widely admired writer on religion celebrates agnosticism as the most vibrant, engaging—and ultimately the most honest—stance toward the mysteries of existence.**One in four Americans reject any affiliation with organized religion, and nearly half of those under thirty describe themselves as “spiritual but not ...

Born into the factious world of war-torn Arabia, Muhammad experienced a life that is a gripping and inspiring story of one man’s tireless fight for unity and peace. In a world in which greed and injustice ruled, Muhammad created change by affecting hearts and minds. Just as the story of Jesus embodies the message of Christianity, Muhammad’s life reveals the core of Islam. Deepak Chopra shares the life of Muhammad as never before, putting his teachings in a new light.

The Middle East has long been a region of rival religions, ideologies, nationalisms, and ambitions. All of these conflicts—including the hostilities between Arabs and Israelis, and the violent challenges posed by Iraq's competing sects—are rooted in the region's political inheritance: the arrangements, unities, and divisions imposed by the Allies after the First World War.In A Peace to End All Peace, David Fromkin reveals how and why the Allies drew lines on an empty map t...

This is a short account of the wives of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. It is meant to shed light on the individual personalities of his eleven wives and Muhammad's relationship with them.The book discusses Ayesha the infamous child-bride with profound new insight.This book is a must read to learn about the true nature of Muhammad as a husband-which is the road map for all Muslim men.

#1 New York Times Bestseller • More than 10 million Copies SoldIn this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F**k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked a...

“Compassionate and clear…a courageous undertaking.” —Greg Mortenson, New York Times bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools“As a scholar and storyteller extraordinaire, Deepak Chopra portrays a morally courageous yet highly human messenger of God.” —Irshad Manji, Director, Moral Courage Project, New York UniversityFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Buddha and Jesus comes the page-turning and soul-stirring story of Muhammad. Deepak Chopra—e...