John L. Esposito is Professor and Founding Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. A past-president of the Middle East Studies Association, he is editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Esposito's purpose was to ``write an introductory volume on Islam . . . to enable readers to understand . . . what Muslims believe and practice,'' and although readers might occasionally wonder whether to regard Islam as a straight textbook, it succeeds admirably as a primer for the general reading public. Esposito begins with a straightforward discussion of the forces that brought Muhammad to spiritual and sociopolitical prominence. He then moves on to a thorough exposition and evaluation of Islamic theology, which he ties solidly to Islamic social theory. Albeit a bit wordy, Islam is eminently readable and will greatly aid readers in understanding the current conflicts in the Middle East. Highly recommended. David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L., Ariz.
Esposito ( Islam in Asia , etc.), professor of international studies at College of the Holy Cross in Worchester, Mass., refreshingly eschews the more sensationalist aspects of contemporary Islam for a detailed survey of early Islamic history and a thorough review of the intricacies of Islamic law and ritual, and of the development of the various and often conflicting interpretations of these traditions in the modern world. The book corrects many popular misconceptions (e.g., that Friday is the ``Muslim Sabbath'' or that women are enjoined by the Quran to wear the veil) and is especially good on delineating the beliefs and practices of the Shii Muslims. Unfortunately, in his attempt to be factual and dispassionate, the author tends to present the material in a dry, toneless manner. And the proliferation of Arabic terms, inadequately defined in the glossary, will confuse those readers unfamiliar with the religion. Despite these shortcomings, this is a helpful guide to the history and current status of the world's fastest-growing religion. (August)
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