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Best Islamic History

The World's Religions (Plus)
The World’s Religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor Huston Smith ( Tales of Wonder ), is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as regional native traditions. Huston Smith's masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the native traditions of Australia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
Reviews
"in 2009 I wrote a letter to Huston Smith telling him that in my teens I had taken a course on world religions at Boston University and the professor had used as textbook Smith’s “The Religions of Man” (now titled “The World’s Religions”)."
"This book gives a general idea of the religions mentioned in the description."
"A fifty year old book which helps to understand age old religions, and from one mans perspective not a lot of self promoting thought."
"Wonderful synopsis of the world's great religions."
"Great book written from a non biased perspective."
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No god but God (Updated Edition): The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
Aslan explores what the popular demonstrations pushing for democracy in the Middle East mean for the future of Islam in the region, how the Internet and social media have affected Islam’s evolution, and how the war on terror has altered the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East. He also provides an update on the contemporary Muslim women’s movement, a discussion of the controversy over veiling in Europe, an in-depth history of Jihadism, and a look at how Muslims living in North America and Europe are changing the face of Islam. Praise for No god but God “Grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . an incisive, scholarly primer in Muslim history and an engaging personal exploration.” —The New York Times Book Review “Acutely perceptive .
Reviews
"Every page is filled with notes... probably the reason all of Reza Aslan's books takes me a little more than a month to finish."
"Aslan is a wonderful author--both knowledgable in the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and many others, and who writes in a most understandable manner."
"I think everyone should read this book."
"A wonderful book that gives great insights into the history and nature of Islam."
"One of the best book to understand the ISLAM> Thank U !"
"The author, after making a general caveat in the first pages of the book as to the distinction between reality and mythology, only exceptionally attempts to discern what may be true or false historically in the story of Muhammad, discarding such debates as ultimately "irrelevant". The author obviously considers it to be God's unaltered revelation and makes little attempt to point at its possible inaccuracies, incoherences or contradictions. Faced with the usual criticisms levelled against Islam (violence, women's oppression), quickly labeled as 'stereotypes' or 'clichés', the author would have none and basically puts the blame on Western misinterpretations. In a sentence whose ambiguity is hardly worthy of a scholar, he even propounds that "It would seem, therefore, that the biggest obstacles in the path to creating a genuinely Islamic democracy are not only the Traditionalist Ulama or Jihadist terrorists, but, perhaps more destructively, those in the West who stubbornly refused to recognise that democracy, if it is to be viable and enduring, can never be imported". Whereas he triumphantly states that one of the Quran's most fundamental principles is that there can be "no compulsion in religion", he is happy to blame the severe punishment of apostasy (which can carry the death penalty even up to this day in certain Muslim jurisdictions) on a regrettable historical association between 'apostasy' and 'treason'. For example, in dealing with the Indian rebellion of 1857, the author describes as a fact that the British had greased rifle cartridges with beef and pork fat, which would have been sacrilegious to both Hindu and Muslim troops. The book then goes on to explain that much of the violence found in Muslim countries in modern times is a result of the decolonisation process (involving, of course, European powers). Surprisingly, it doesn't even deal with the Israeli-Palestinian problem and what an overwhelming majority of Muslims view as America's unacceptable support for the Zionist cause (to be fair, there is one single mention of the "partitioning of Palestine and the resulting cycle of violence", but here again the blame falls on the European colonial powers). The seeds of democracy may have been sown in ancient Greece, but it is on American soil that they sprouted and flourished to achieve their full potential." I was shocked by the blatant assertion that "The fact is that the vast majority of the more than one billion Muslims in the world readily accept the fundamental principles of democracy". For instance, the author writes that "It is no accident that a few months after Muslim Spain fell to Ferdinand's Christian armies in 1492, most of the Jews were summarily expelled from the realm."
"Lacking in depth and knowledge."
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The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
The Crusades is an authoritative, accessible single-volume history of the brutal struggle for the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. “Brilliant, authoritative, and accessible, Thomas Asbridge’s THE CRUSADES is a must read.
Reviews
"In a nice touch, he continues to revisit the contemporary meanings, definitions and assumptions behind crusading as it developed from an event without even a name ("crusading" was a later appellation) to the currently-understood form. That said, he does an admirable job of situating the reader as best he can in the Muslim frame of mind during each crusade, giving admirable detail on outside pressures that might've existed, any internal dynastic or civil events that had bearing on their interactions with the Crusaders... other histories I've read of this era often fall flat in this particular regard. He closes with an excellent overview of how the Crusades have themselves been viewed throughout history, both in the West and in the Muslim World; this may have been my favorite part of the book as it's not a topic I've ever seen covered before, much less so well."
"This book is a very interesting and in depth review of medieval crusades and the powerful men who wielded the swords."
"The final section on the hijacking and distortion of the historical impact of the Crusades by modern nations, religious groups, and many other political groups is unique and important."
"I encourage you to read this book."
"Which....is the point of this book."
"Well written account of the crusades, very good narrative at times make you feel you are reading a thriller."
"real history and informative."
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Best Islamic History

No god but God (Updated Edition): The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
Aslan explores what the popular demonstrations pushing for democracy in the Middle East mean for the future of Islam in the region, how the Internet and social media have affected Islam’s evolution, and how the war on terror has altered the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East. He also provides an update on the contemporary Muslim women’s movement, a discussion of the controversy over veiling in Europe, an in-depth history of Jihadism, and a look at how Muslims living in North America and Europe are changing the face of Islam. Praise for No god but God “Grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . While [Aslan] might claim to be a mere scholar of the Islamic Reformation, he is also one of its most articulate advocates.” —The Oregonian. He is also the author of How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism ), as well as the editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East .
Reviews
"Every page is filled with notes... probably the reason all of Reza Aslan's books takes me a little more than a month to finish."
"One of the best book to understand the ISLAM> Thank U !"
"Book came quickly, was in great shape, and also is a phenomenal book for anyone interested in religious history or the genesis and development of Islam."
"The book tends to be somewhat academic so would not satisfy the a dual reader."
"Excellent as usual."
"Wonderful read - very informative and helpful in understanding the origins and progress of the the Muslim faith."
"Lacking in depth and knowledge."
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Best Islamic Law

No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
How in No Go Zones a blind eye is being turned to polygamy, female genital mutilation, sexual assault, segregation, and even honor killings Why Muslim ghettos in the West aren't the equivalent of Little Italy or Chinatown, but a serious cultural and political threat How the welfare state actually funds and supports a Muslim subculture of resentment How to identify extremist mosques A matter of numbers: how mass migration could transform Europe into a Muslim-dominated continent within our own lifetimes The alarming speed at which No Go Zones are coming to America Compelling in its reporting, shocking in its detail, Raheem Kassam's No Go Zones is one of the most frightening true stories you will read this year.
Reviews
"As Kassam details, Europe has appeased Islamists who have taken over Islamic communities and created a state within a state, encouraging Muslims not to assimilate, spreading lies about the police and the citizens, and using the threat of violence and actual violence to instill fear in the locals to get what they want. Fear, guilt, and naivety has made the regressive left, political and media elites, submit to the radical Islamic right, to their Ultra Conservative Imams and religious scholars and self-proclaimed 'community leaders' who form and enforce the No Go Zones to enforce Sharia (Islamic law)."
"Much as I wonder at giving a 'like' rating to a book that expresses so much potential darkness for the future of Western Civilization, the author earned this evaluation."
"I, a West London boy who studied politics at the University of Westminister, arguably should not be the one telling these stories from the United States, or Belgium, or France, or Swedon. But the failure of the mainstream media to produce real reporting on No Go Zones has left me with no other choice but to bring this topic to light." -- page 235. Did you know that while Saudi Arabia has consistently refused to welcome Syrian refugees into their own country while at the same time they have pledged to build 200 mosques in Germany? Clearly there is something sinister afoot in Europe and unless we shift gears forthwith here in America the same sort of egregious problems will be coming to a town near you. As editor-in-chief of Breitbart London, Raheem Kassam has been aggressively and courageously covering these and a whole host of other troubling stories regarding the march of radical Islam through Europe and now to the shores of America."
"Many immigrants are fine, who could object to Hindu's or Sheikhs but one group refuses to assimilate and second and even third generations are do not speak English as their first language."
"Good Read, and a lot of information."
"Very informative book."
"Very informative book about shari moslem enclaves forming in Europe and the United States!"
"It's refreshing for somebody to actually be talking openly about this issue."
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Best Turkey History

A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East
Published with a new afterword from the author―the classic, bestselling account of how the modern Middle East was created. “Wonderful...No book published in recent years has more lasting relevance to our understanding of the Middle East.” ― Jack Miles, Los Angeles Book Review.
Reviews
"If you have dreams of quality international politics or agreements, this book will shatter them. Finding a quality map of the late Ottoman empire and modern middle east is essential if you're going to follow the campaigns, as the map is unfortunately devoid of any maps."
"This book gave me a much deeper understanding of the middle east and how we have arrived in the mess we're in."
"Fromkin has done an incredible amount of research to gather such an immense volume of detail about the political machinations of the combatants, victors and losers of the first world war and early post war period that have so materially shaped the political landscape of the Middle East."
"About half way through and I’m really appreciating learning the back stories all in one place."
"Terrific history of the period 1905-1922 with focus on The Middle East."
"Fromkin provides a thorough analysis of the collapse and Ottoman rule and the European reworking of those middle eastern territories into patchwork states wherein cultural, ethnic, tribal and religious rifts threaten to explode."
"No one daring to give political advice about the broadly defined Middle East should neglect this book."
"A lasting Peace in the Middle East requires vigilance and perseverance with a understanding and respect for all major share holders We cannot allow history to repeat itself over and over again without a copromise and continuation of hostilities and hatred."
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Best Saudi Arabia History

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arab
For the sake of her daughters, she has decided to take the risk of speaking out about the life of women in her country, regardless of their rank. Although they share affection, confidences and an easy camaraderie within the confines of the women's quarters, they also share a history of appaling oppressions, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations; thirteen-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age, young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the women's room, a padded, windowless cell where women are confined with neither light nor conversation until death claims them.By speaking out, Sultana risks bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and te heads of her children. Jean Sasson is an American writer whose work mainly centers around women in the Middle East and the injustices that they suffer at the hands of a patriarchal society.
Reviews
"The people in it become like women we would meet and befriend anywhere in the world."
"Full of hope, terrifyingly charged with true stories that you can't scape of feeling empathy."
"This book tells of such appalling acts against women, that it is nearly incomprehensible in the naïve eyes of an American woman. The novel made me acutely aware that we, as Westerners, are abundantly blessed with freedoms that many women around the world will never experience."
"It was an interesting story from her childhood to her life as a wife and mother."
"Eye-opening and informative tour behind the very closed curtain that is Saudi Arabian culture."
"It seems that women are still viewed as slaves in the Middle East."
"This book was chosen for me through one of the members of my book club...Normally, I wouldn't have chosen this book - with so many GREAT books out there, and so little time to read, I feel I have to choose wisely... Thankfully, someone chose wisely for me because "Princess" was fantastic! I calculated that in real time, Sultana is about 13 years older than me - therefore, many of the recurring themes - especially those of the extreme oppression of women in Saudi Arabia - almost seemed unreal to me. My favorite quote is definitely toward the end of the book - "A great imbalance is created in the world when women are treated as liabilities, as they are in many counties"... and also, "Our goal remains that all women of the world might live in dignity and in peace."..."
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Best Shi'ism Islam

After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam
Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by power grabs, assassination, political intrigue, and passionate faith. Book Description Narrative history at its most compelling, After the Prophet relates the dramatic tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between Shia and Sunni Islam. The question haunted me, and led me to the magnificent story of the struggle for leadership after Muhammad's death, an epic as alive and powerful today as when it first happened. That's why I wanted to bring Western readers inside the story, to make it as alive for them as it is in the Middle East, so that they can not only understand it on an intellectual level, but experience it--grasp its emotive depth and its inspirational power, and thus understand how it has survived and even strengthened, and how it affects the lives of all of us today. The subject was all the more irresistible to me personally since it brings together many of my deepest interests: the interplay of religion and politics, more intricately intertwined in the Middle East than anywhere else in the world; my own experience living in and reporting from the Middle East for Time magazine and other publications; my affinity for narrative nonfiction and for tracing the interplay of past and present; and my original training as a psychologist, which comes into play as I explore the story, the way it has endured, and how it is used today in politics, society, spiritual life, and, too often, war.
Reviews
"He has an incredible voice and reads the story in a very enjoyable way."
"I wonder if one can trust so much in a source that seems almost 'partisan' to one of the branches of Islam..., although I can only say, it is inviting to keep reading and searching for other opinions."
"Probably better than many devote Moslems would because the are simply too close to the subject matter and the figures involved are "larger than life"."
"Did not know much of the history after the death of Prophet Muhammad SAW so this narrative was very enlightening."
"Good, simple, short and to the point not 100% accurate but still worth reading."
"Quite objective."
"I have worked for years in areas of the world where the Sunni-Shia split is most glaring (Iraq, Lebanon, Syria), and have always been fascinated by the depth and longevity of a power struggle which today threatens to throw the entire region up in flames."
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Best History of Hinduism

India: A History. Revised and Updated
Fully revised with forty thousand new words that take the reader up to present-day India, John Keay’s India: A History spans five millennia in a sweeping narrative that tells the story of the peoples of the subcontinent, from their ancient beginnings in the valley of the Indus to the events in the region today. Yet, observes historian John Keay , most historical work on India concentrates on the period after the arrival of Europeans, with predictable biases, distortions, and misapprehensions. Keay traces the growth of subsequent states and kingdoms throughout antiquity and the medieval period, suggesting that the lack of unified government made the job of the European conquerors somewhat easier--but by no means inevitable.
Reviews
"Some interesting topics I liked are VERY LONG history, Aryanization process, LONG secularist traditions practiced by empires until British started muddying the water in early 20th centuries( which continue to burn even to this day), origins of the so called Hindu religion. Leaving aside those minor issues, I recommend it for people who enjoy the history from sidelines or wants a different perspective."
"This one volume history of India offers a great perspective on the 3500+ years of known history (plus the 1000+ additional years of archaeological history) by focussing equal attention on equal periods of time, roughly speaking."
"Good overview that seems to be pretty well empirically researched but is also still readable for the non-academic reader."
"Complex and in depth, India beckons."
"If you are as much in the dark about India as I was before reading this book you will find India: A History a very interesting and readable book about an immense subject."
"It is a worthwhile read, since there is a lot of information that is not often taught or discussed and certainly should not be forgotten, but the development of India, the entity and the people, was not always clear to me. If I had not already read many other books on India, I doubt that I could have pieced together an understandable view from this book."
"Having read this book, I already knew most of the superficial details about various sites as the guide was describing them, which was nice."
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Best History of Judaism

Bad Rabbi: And Other Strange but True Stories from the Yiddish Press (Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture)
But this book is not about the success stories. " Bad Rabbi is a masterful set of finely-tuned scholarship and critical zingers that brings detailed archival history of 'downwardly mobile' nineteenth- and twentieth-century Jews alive through vivid, erudite, and spit-take funny storytelling. "Don't feel guilty chuckling your way through Bad Rabbi as you read about the crazy deeds and commonplace misfortunes of marginal Jews from a century ago. ". "In the staid world of academic Yiddishists, Eddy Portnoy is a live wire, a funny guy, a mischief-maker, what they used to call in the Catskills, a tummler ... Bad Rabbi is a succession of outlandish misadventures, a wild panorama populated by an astonishing array of characters... Yiddish journalists were showboats, garnishing tabloid sensationalism with literary jokes and religious references. "Eddy Portnoy's Bad Rabbi is an extraordinary thing: a gateway to the lost world of Jewish street life in pre-World War II New York and Warsaw. The Yiddish newspapers Portnoy mines were free from piety and light on decorum; instead they present a vast, roiling canvas of human behavior in all its extremes, from comedy to horror, with fiercely unbuttoned characters declaiming eloquently as stoopside choruses annotated their rants.
Reviews
"Still, it's one of the few books available to give you a perspective on the yiddish press.I'm sure the material is out there for a better book than this."
"A unique, often sad and often funny look at the Yiddish-speaking world at the beginning of the 20th century."
"Fasciating view into the notorious Jews of the shtetl."
"My father read the Yiddish newspapers."
"Bashevis loved to recount the careers of Warsaw crooks and connivers, among them the team of Puny Khane and Shimshon Gramophone. Khane mimes an epileptic fit in the streets, and Shimshon, after rescuing her, begs the crowd for money, explaining that she has been hungry for days. When [a suicide scam] trick is exposed, Krochmalna Street takes its revenge: they force Khane to jump or else “we’ll come up there and throw you off ourselves.” Her leg broken in the fall, Khane laments her “tragedy” on the way to the hospital: “Who knows if I’ll ever again be able to earn money as a jumper?”. "While we’re on the subject of suicide, consider this headline from Moment (April 1927): “The Anatomical Institute Returns the Body of a Jewish Suicide Because Her Bones Are Worthless” (17-year-old Rokhl Weinstein, dying of tuberculosis, wanted to will her body to science)."
"Like every ethnic group, Jewry has always had its share of lowlives, sleazeballs, weirdos and raving lunatics--but their stories would be lost to history were it not for being preserved in the almost-never-read archives of the late Yiddish press. Still, a fair number of them comport with popular anti-Semitic stereotypes, suggesting that the bigots had at least second-hand if not direct experience with the sordid underbelly of Jewish society. The stories are fascinating, sometimes hilarious, but one still fears they will play into the hands of bigots even if the squalid, teeming slums of the Lower East Side and of Warsaw, the incubators of all that, are long gone."
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Best History of Buddhism

Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha
Drawn directly from 24 Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources, and retold by Thich Nhat Hanh in his inimitably beautiful style, this book traces the Buddha’s life slowly and gently over the course of 80 years, partly through the eyes of Svasti, the buffalo boy, and partly through the yes of the Buddha himself. The simple style is engaging, leading the reader through events in the Buddha's life while taking care to present and reinforce the central meaning and tone of his teaching.
Reviews
"Book was in fair condition."
"This book is a must read for the spiritual seeker, a devout practitioner, or anyone who simply wants to know more about the core elements of the Buddha and Buddhism."
"I bought this book to "get to know" the Buddha better and learn more about his life and teachings."
"All true but do read more than one book."
"quick service great book."
"As a Buddhist, I really appreciate this biography of the Buddha, though it will work as an introduction to those only getting interested in Buddhism."
"If you are looking for a biography of the Buddha without constant source references (they are provided in the back) or analysis, if you are just looking for the story of his life, you might really enjoy Old Path White Clouds like I did."
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Best History of Christianity

Killing Jesus (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)
Millions of readers have thrilled by bestselling authors Bill O’Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln , page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. The iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor led the program to the status of the highest rated cable news broadcast in the nation for sixteen consecutive years. He holds a history degree from Marist College, a masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another masters degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Reviews
"There is no writing concerning the actual miracles attributed to Jesus, but they are mentioned in the text as news of them spread into the surrounding area, so the authors appear to make no claim to any authenticity. After that, it's once again news of post death appearances spread by supposed eyewitnesses, with no attempt to state any author belief in whether or not these events actually occurred. Lest I be accused of being some type of sceptic or unbeliever, let me state that, like the authors, I am a practicing Roman Catholic and truly believe that Jesus is who he said he is and that, if I do what is right, he will greet me when I die. I know that there are many people out there who do not like O'Reilly for his political views and will allow that mind set to lead them to give this book a bad review, even though many of them will not have read it."
"The details of the physical affects of the crucifixion were tough to get through but at the same time it increased my appreciation of the suffering that Jesus endured."
"Extremely well written and engaging."
"I just finished the book Killing Jesus by Bill O'Riley."
"Throughly enjoyed this book.The history came alive with the facts presented."
"Their meticulous research brings to life the people and customs of Jesus' time and explains the human side of Jesus, his disciples, his followers, and his enemies. O'Reilly took some criticism for not putting more emphasis on the spiritual side of Jesus, but he made it plain early on that this book is a history of Jesus the man, not a companion piece to the Bible."
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Best General History of Religion

Killing Jesus (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)
Millions of readers have thrilled by bestselling authors Bill O’Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln , page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. The iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor led the program to the status of the highest rated cable news broadcast in the nation for sixteen consecutive years. He holds a history degree from Marist College, a masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another masters degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Reviews
"There is no writing concerning the actual miracles attributed to Jesus, but they are mentioned in the text as news of them spread into the surrounding area, so the authors appear to make no claim to any authenticity. After that, it's once again news of post death appearances spread by supposed eyewitnesses, with no attempt to state any author belief in whether or not these events actually occurred. Lest I be accused of being some type of sceptic or unbeliever, let me state that, like the authors, I am a practicing Roman Catholic and truly believe that Jesus is who he said he is and that, if I do what is right, he will greet me when I die. I know that there are many people out there who do not like O'Reilly for his political views and will allow that mind set to lead them to give this book a bad review, even though many of them will not have read it."
"Over all, it was a delightful book and I enjoyed it thoroughly."
"While this book is written in the dry detective-like style and non-religious manner, it presents certain historical information of the area and era that add to what you would read in the Bible."
"Great reading - really give the historical background and context in which the life of Jesus was lived in."
"The details of the physical affects of the crucifixion were tough to get through but at the same time it increased my appreciation of the suffering that Jesus endured."
"Extremely well written and engaging."
"I just finished the book Killing Jesus by Bill O'Riley."
"I was all set to love this book until he continued the myth that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute!"
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Best History of Religion & Politics

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
This well-researched examination of human moral impulses will appeal to liberals and conservatives alike following the 2016 presidential campaign and election. Beautifully written, Haidt’s book shines a new and creative light on moral psychology and presents a provocative message.”. — Science “A remarkable and original synthesis of social psychology, political analysis, and moral reasoning.”. —Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. The principal posture in which one envisions him is that of a scrappy, voluble, discerning patriot standing between the warring factions in American politics urging each to see the other’s viewpoint, to stop demonizing, bashing, clobbering. “Jonathan Haidt is one of smartest and most creative psychologists alive, and his newest book, The Righteous Mind is a tour de force—a brave, brilliant and eloquent exploration of the most important issues of our time. This is the book that everyone is going to be talking about.”. —Paul Bloom, Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology, Yale University. This elegantly written book has far-reaching implications for anyone interested in anthropology, politics, religion, or the many controversies that divide modern societies. If you want to know why you hold your moral beliefs and why many people disagree with you, read this book..”. —Simon Baron-Cohen, Cambridge University, Author of Zero Degrees of Empathy and The Science of Evil. “Jonathan Haidt’s absorbing The Righteous Mind should come with a warning label: ‘contents highly addictive.’ Written in a breezy and accessible style but informed by an impressively wide range of cutting-edge research in the social sciences, evolutionary biology and psychology, The Righteous Mind is about as interesting a book as you’ll pick up this year.”. — The Globe and Mail. “What makes [ The Righteous Mind ] so compelling is the fluid combination of erudition and entertainment, and the author’s obvious pleasure in challenging conventional wisdom. [Haidt’s] core point is simple and well-made: our morality, much of it wired into brains from birth, at the same time binds us together and blinds us to different configurations of morality.”. — The Guardian (London). Haidt’s brilliant synthesis shows that Christians have nothing to fear and much to gain from the evolutionary paradigm.”. —Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution. “The Righteous Mind is an intellectual tour de force that brings Darwinian theorizing to the practical realm of everyday politics. “As a fellow who listens to heated political debate daily, I was fascinated, enlightened, and even amused by Haidt’s brilliant insights. This penetrating yet accessible book will help readers understand the righteous minds that inhabit politics.”. —Larry Sabato, University of Virginia, author of A More Perfect Constitution. “A profound discussion of the diverse psychological roots of morality and their role in producing political conflicts.
Reviews
"Haidt's understanding of human morality and the science of communication and decision making are weaved together into an approachable, beautiful and potentially life changing symphony. You can probably imagine how frustrated I felt when I was consistently unable to win arguments about out-there, government's coming for us-so buy some guns, conspiracy discussions. One of the foundational pieces discussed in the book is the fact that we, as humans, make decisions in the parts of our brain that aren't subject to critical thinking. If you want to sway someones opinion, Haidt suggests, you must first appeal to their elephant (the emotional part of their brain or "why they feel the way they do"). I only wish everyone could read this book, understand their natural decision making process and be aware of what's happening to them when they have disagreements or strong opinions on a subject."
"This book was stressful for me to read because I really wanted to keep not liking the people I don't agree with."
"I lean toward "liberal" idealogies, but this book made me realize the value of a more diverse perspective for the survival of the human race and how my anti-religious viewpoints had incorporated "sacred" elements of their own."
"I've been dismayed and puzzled as to why we liberals and conservatives get so enraged at each other and simply fail to hear each other across the chasm of what seems to be two different truths."
"A great book that methodically develops the differences between the liberal and conservative dispositions and thinking."
"It's an unusually readable academic product of mind-Opening scholarship and, I found, accurate analysis."
"I'm not through with it, but it's well written with sources cited."
"Assumes some group or beehive behavior is evolving within our genes and the rest is unconscious, conditioned behavior."
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Best History of New Age & Mythology

The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Featuring Integrated Text and Full-Color Images
For the first time in 3,300 years, The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day: The Papyrus of Ani is showcased in its entirety in seventy-four magnificent color pages. Dr. Ogden Goelet, Jr. is a Clinical Professor of Egyptian Language and Culture in the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University.
Reviews
"Dr. Goelet has divided the bibliographical materials into separate categories that include: general studies of Egyptian Afterlife literature; Book of the Dead studies and bibliographies; production techniques of Book of the Dead manuscripts; comprehensive commentaries and translations; suggestions for a program of self-study for the interested amateur; and a selection of online resources. Each section is preceded by a brief introduction that explains its parameters. Here is a list of changes made to the Plates of the Twentieth Anniversary Edition: Nancy Wasserman restored two small wadjet-eyes on the Djed pillar between Isis and Nepthys on Plate 1b; She added Thoth's reed pen on Plates 3b and 31b. The tree goddess on Plate 16a has been made more visible. Another tiny wadjet-eye has been returned to the prow of the solar bark on Plate 18a. Ani and Tutu's headbands were enhanced on Plate 19a; and the third color of the multicolored mound below the swallow was highlighted on Plate 25a."
"It was a present for my Daughter in law for Christmas and she loved it."
"Great book!"
"Excellent!"
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Best History of Ethnic & Tribal Religions

Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition
Black Elk Speaks , the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time. (N. Scott Momaday 2013-10-25). “An American classic.”— Western Historical Quarterly.
Reviews
"Neidhardt promoted this book and Black Elk's vision tirelessly until the end of his life and I truly believe it was because he saw the incredible spiritual nature of Black Elk, his life, and visions. Neidhardt left out the ensuing years on Pine Ridge Reservation and Black Elk's acceptance of Catholicism to frame a lost way of life, the sadness and injustice of it, and the greatness and seeming inevitability of Black Elk's vision. The book was not meant to be a biography or history of the Lakota, but to preserve Black Elk's vision and so the purpose of the book was accomplished. Those who want to pick at the book miss the greater impact of Black Elk's life and vision. After reading this book, if Black Elk interests you there are books available on the later half of his life."
"A very interesting read."
"Gorgeous book."
"I have a mint 1st Edition- 😜."
"A great history of a troubled time."
"Needed a new copy."
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