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 ...

**“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 ...

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 collection presents 2,500 adages attributed to Imam Ali, one of Islam's most revered figures, renowned for his wisdom, leadership, and deep spirituality. The book offers a profound glimpse into Ali's teachings, covering topics such as justice, morality, humility, and the complexities of human nature.Rooted in early Islamic thought, these sayings resonate with timeless ethical principles, making them relevant for both spiritual and philosophical reflection. Through concise, imp...

A twentieth-anniversary edition of the fascinating, accessible introduction to Islam with a new preface and study guide, from the #1 bestselling author of ZealotFINALIST FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD“Wise and passionate . . . an incisive, scholarly primer in Muslim history and an engaging personal exploration.” —The New York Times Book ReviewTwo decades after its original publication, ...

The New York Times bestseller: "Historically incisive, geographically broad-reaching, and brimming with illuminating anecdotes."—Max Rodenbeck, New York Review of BooksProfiled on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, Iranian-born scholar Vali Nasr has become one of America's leading commentators on current events in the Middle East, admired and welcomed by both media and government for his "concise and coherent" analysis (Wall Street Journal

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**...

From the two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning author, God’s Crucible brings to life “a furiously complex age” (New York Times Book Review).Resonating as profoundly today as when it was first published to widespread critical acclaim a decade ago, God’s Crucible is a bold portrait of Islamic Spain and the birth of modern Europe from one of our greatest historians. David Levering Lewis’s narrative, filled with accounts of some of the most epic ba...