Islam Explained: A Short Introduction to History, Teachings, and Culture (Salim Ahmad Rashid)(Paperback)

Islam Explained: A Short Introduction to History, Teachings, and Culture (Salim Ahmad Rashid)(Paperback)

A revealing guide to understanding the principles of Islam With more than 1.8 billion followers worldwide, Islam is one of the world's largest religions, but it is also one that is poorly understood by many Americans. Islam Explained offers an informative overview of the faith, helping those who

Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (Silverstein Adam J.)(Paperback)

Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and spread of Islam, from the seventh to the twenty-first century, this Very Short Introduction introduces the story of Islamic history, charting the evolution of what was originally a small, localized community of believers into an international religion

Buddhism: A Concise Introduction (Smith Huston)(Paperback)

A concise and up-to-date guide to the history, teachings, and practice of Buddhism by two luminaries in the field of world

The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction (Carrasco David)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction employs the disciplines of history, religious studies, and anthropology as it illuminates the complexities of Aztec life. Readers meet a people highly skilled in sculpture, astronomy, city planning, poetry, and philosophy, who were also profoundly committed to cosmic

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (Keown Damien)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction offers readers a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? Words such as 'karma' and

Decadence: A Very Short Introduction (Weir David)(Paperback)

The history of decadent culture runs from ancient Rome to nineteenth-century Paris, Victorian London, fin de siecle Vienna, Weimar Berlin, and beyond. The decline of Rome provides the pattern for both aesthetic and social decadence, a pattern that artists and writers in the nineteenth century

History: A Very Short Introduction (Arnold John H.)(Paperback)

The History of Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction (Stedall Jacqueline)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction explores the rich historical and cultural diversity of mathematical practice, ranging from the distant past to the present. Historian Jacqueline Stedall shows that mathematical ideas are far from being fixed, but are adapted and changed by their passage across periods

Islam - Faith and History (Ayoub Mahmoud M.)(Paperback / softback)

Combining the scholarly with the personal, this innovative introduction by an internationally renowned Islamicist gives the reader an insight into the history, traditions and beliefs of Islam. Taking his own spiritual journey as a starting point, Professor Ayoub explores all aspects of Islam; from

Art History: A Very Short Introduction (Arnold Dana)(Paperback)

Art history encompasses the study of the history and development of painting, sculpture and the other visual arts. In this Very Short Introduction, Dana Arnold presents an introduction to the issues, debates, and artefacts that make up art history. Beginning with a consideration of what art history

The World of Rome: An Introduction to Roman Culture (Jones Peter V.)(Paperback)

The World of Rome is an introduction to the history and culture of Rome for anyone seriously interested in the ancient world. It covers all aspects of the city--its rise to power, what made it great and why it still engages and challenges us today. Frequent quotations from ancient writers and

African History: A Very Short Introduction (Parker John)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction looks at Africa's past and reflects on the changing ways it has been imagined and represented, both in Africa and beyond. The author illustrates important aspects of Africa's history with a range of fascinating historical examples, drawn from over 5 millennia across

Islam: A Very Short Introduction (Ruthven Malise)(Paperback)

Islam dominates the news, often in stories filled with images of violence. Yet these disturbing images are at odds with a faith that most adherents--who now number over a billion worldwide--would regard as no less pacific than Buddhism or Christianity. Indeed, the word Islam in Arabic means

Global Islam: A Very Short Introduction (Green Nile)(Paperback)

This book presents the first comprehensive survey of the multiple versions of Islam propagated across geographical, political, and cultural boundaries during the era of modern globalization. Showing how Islam was transformed through these globalizing transfers, it traces the origins, expansion and

Islam: History, Religion, and Politics (Sonn Tamara)(Paperback)

Now available in a fully-revised and updated third edition, Islam: History, Religion and Politics, provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the core teachings, historical development, and contemporary public struggles of Islam. Features a new chapter on the Arab Spring and the

Ibn 'arabi and Modern Thought: The History of Taking Metaphysics Seriously (Coates Peter)(Paperback)

These penetrating metaphysical and spiritual teachings cross the divides of culture and time, providing unexpectedly modern

Islam: The Straight Path (Esposito John L.)(Paperback)

This exceptionally successful survey text introduces the teachings and practice of Islam from its earliest origins up to its contemporary practice. John L. Esposito, an internationally renowned expert on Islam, traces the development of Islam and its impact on world history and politics. Lucidly

American History: A Very Short Introduction (Boyer Paul S.)(Paperback)

In a miracle of concision, Paul S. Boyer provides a wide-ranging and authoritative history of America, capturing in a compact space the full story of our nation. Ranging from the earliest Native American settlers to the presidency of Barack Obama, this Very Short Introduction offers anilluminating

Short History of Drunkenness (Forsyth Mark)(Paperback / softback)

Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there's drink there's drunkenness. But in every age and in every place drunkenness is a little bit different. Tracing humankind's love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, it answers every possible question:What did

A Culture of Ambiguity: An Alternative History of Islam (Bauer Thomas)(Paperback)

In the Western imagination, Islamic cultures are dominated by dogmatic religious norms that permit no nuance. Those fighting such stereotypes have countered with a portrait of Islam's medieval 'Golden Age,' marked by rationality, tolerance, and even proto-secularism. How can we understand Islamic

Statistics Explained (Hinton Perry R.)(Paperback)

Statistics Explained is an accessible introduction to statistical concepts and ideas. It makes few assumptions about the reader's statistical knowledge, carefully explaining each step of the analysis and the logic behind it. The book: provides a clear explanation of statistical analysis and the

Islam and Modernity: Key Issues and Debates (Khalid Masud Muhammad)(Paperback)

An introduction to and overview of the debates and questions emerging regarding Islam and modernity. Key issues are selected to give readers an understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon, an historical perspective, and access to several manifestations of modernity in Muslim

Augustine: A Very Short Introduction (Chadwick Henry)(Paperback)

Augustine was arguably the greatest early Christian philosopher. His teachings had a profound effect on Medieval scholarship, Renaissance humanism, and the religious controversies of both the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. Here, Henry Chadwick places Augustine in his philosophical and

Color Theory: A Critical Introduction (Fine Aaron)(Paperback)

Giving an overview of the history of color theory from ancient and classical cultures to contemporary contexts, this book explores important critical principles and provides practical guidance on the use of color in art and design. Going beyond a simple recitation of what has historically been said