Jonathan's review
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
by Reza Aslan
Jonathan's review
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan
Jonathan's review
rating:
recommended for: Those interested in Islam
I found Aslan's account to be sporadic, wide-ranging and often lacking in depth; the ambitious nature of the book meant that some issues were superficially explored. Some annoying traits were also present in his writing style, such as beginning chapters with a presentation of a historical episode in the present tense, as though narrating a story, which I found trite.
However, where Aslan's book did succeed was in providing a historical sketch of the rise of Islam which succinctly dealt with the branching of the faith into different stands - Sufi, Shi'ite and Sunni. Where Aslan successfully illuminates a concept he writes with great fluency and style. As someone who lacks knowledge about Islam, and who wants to understand more, I found the text to be peppered with the names of rather too many historical figures in quick succession, alongside terms - hijaz, ta'wil, tawhid etc. which had me scrambling for the glossary at the back. But it is to Aslan's credit that he does provide a re...more
However, where Aslan's book did succeed was in providing a historical sketch of the rise of Islam which succinctly dealt with the branching of the faith into different stands - Sufi, Shi'ite and Sunni. Where Aslan successfully illuminates a concept he writes with great fluency and style. As someone who lacks knowledge about Islam, and who wants to understand more, I found the text to be peppered with the names of rather too many historical figures in quick succession, alongside terms - hijaz, ta'wil, tawhid etc. which had me scrambling for the glossary at the back. But it is to Aslan's credit that he does provide a re...more
