Rating: 
Summary: A Good Starting Point
Review: This book may be a good starting point for a Westerner who knows little or nothing about Islam and its prophet. The book is fairly easy to read, as it is not saturated with excessive details or citations, but the tone does get monotonous quickly. Armstrong may have been very interested in the subject, but if that's the case, her passion and interest do not really come through and fail to make a deep impression on the reader. At times, I felt bored. The title is a bit misleading, too. This is not really a biography of Muhammad, but a kind of interpretation of Islam, its origins, and the character of the prophet--all intertwined in a single book.The sources for the book are English-language secondary sources, and the author was relatively new to Islam at the time of writing. I give it a generous four stars, but strictly speaking this is not really a biography of the prophet, nor a particularly gripping account of the rise of Islam. For a secular interpretation of Muhammad, you may want to see Rodinson's book, and for the faithful, perhaps Martin Lings'. Armstrong's book is best for those who are curious about Islam but afraid to wade in with both feet. Also, the book has an absolutely beautiful cover.
Rating: 
Summary: Do not bother to read this book
Review: The book is not a biography of Muhammad, rather it is Armstrong's attempt at figuring out why Judeo-Christianity does not like Muhammad or Islam. If you want to read a biography, read Martin Ling's biography, based on the earliest sources.
Rating: 
Summary: A well-written book on an important subject
Review: This book is both easy to read, full of useful and fascinating information, and thoroughly enjoyable. The subject, an objective examination of the life of Muhammed, is vitally important, seeing as Americans have very little understanding of Islam (as clearly demonstrated by the review immediately preceding this one). In writing this book, Karen Armstrong has done a wonderful service.
Rating:
Summary: Starting Point
Review: I think this is a good book to start with if you are interested in learning about Muhammad and his teachings. I recommend this book especially for a westerner who has not read anything on Islamic origin. Although this book by no means is an authority on Islamic history, it does give a good brief snap shot of events. I would abet the non-Muslims to read this book to understand the Islamic beliefs even though they might not agree with them.
Rating: 
Summary: Biased, biased...
Review: Sadly, I found it difficult to like this book as her blatent lack of objectivity concerning both Islam and Christianity brought into question many of the most interesting and meaningful aspects. Having researched Muhammad to a small extent, I found that many of her "facts" are based on tentative evidence and unverified accounts. If you're looking for an objective and true account of Muhammad, look elseware.
Rating:
Summary: Every Christian should read this!
Review: Karen Armstrong scored big with Muhammad. Having read her History of God, I read her biography of the Prophet believing I would be treated to some genuine insight, and I was not disappointed. I highly recommend this, especially to Western readers! Muhammad, his story, his religion, and his people are among the least understood elements of world history to your average Westerner. The information we are bombarded with today portrays Muslims as terrorists, anti-western, blood-thirsty savages. This book endeavors to release the Western mind from the bonds of ignorance and the blinders of propaganda, and reveal a Prophet, and a people, with a real, sometimes tragic and sometimes triumphant history, with a conclusion of remarkable success. Whether you agree with Muhammad or not, you will finish this book appreciating his genius, his faith, his leadership, and his accomplishments. Most importantly, you will read the story elegantly portrayed within the context of the cultural dynamics of the Arabia of Muhammad's day. Without that context, it is easy to cast Muhammad's actions as barbaric. Additionally, Armstrong does a fine job of demonstrating the demise of much of Muhammad's most original thinking by zealous, but culturally constrained leaders who followed him (most notably the emancipation of women). Because most Western Christians don't read Arabic, we will never understand nor appreciate the Koran, Muhammad's crowning achievement. But with the help of Karen Armstrong, we can gain an appreciation of the origin of that great work, and the meaning it has in the lives of nearly a billion people in the world today.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-researched, but biased
Review: Ms. Armstrong trys too hard to explain away everything Muhammad is alleged to have done. From the villianization of Jewish tribes (Muhammad just had to slaughter them because they were devious), to women wearing veils (Muhammad had to prevent embarassment and possible scandal from the constant wave of visitors). I only wish she were as kind and forgiving toward orthodox Christianity as she is of Islam. Overall a well-researched and written book.
Rating:
Summary: Review from a Muslim reader
Review: A well written book, worth the time and money spent. Would have preferred a more detailed/thicker version but then there might be some restrictions on the size of the content from the publisher. Personaly I would recommend a buy. Another good one from her is the History of God... . (Note please don't take the recommendation as a verification of the facts in the book since I'm not a muslim scholar)
Rating:
Summary: The most accessible bio on the Prohpet available today.
Review: Armstrong has written what is likely the most accessible biography of Muhammad available today. It gives an intriguing account of not only Mohammed's life, but also the historical context under which Islam emerged. The book provides a sound introduction to how and why the Muslim world came to be, as well as glimpse into why it has evolved into its current state. One negative aspect of the novel is that Armstrong often painstakingly tries to justify many of the Prophet's actions, likely out of fear that Western readers will simply write these actions of as barbaric and primitive. There is no need to do this, and the downside is that Armstrong often comes off sounding biased. Armstrong already gives us a clear understanding of the harsh and violent society which plagued 6th century Arabia. Based on this, why the Prophet took many of the actions he did should be understandable to the reader. This however is only a minor criticism and it by no means mars this fascinating book. One only wishes Muslim writers could offer such enriching accounts of their Prophet rather than blindly praising him to no end and offering little valuable insight into the complexities of the man.
Rating:
Summary: very informative and readable
Review: Large chunks of the book seem to have been lifted verbatim from the author's "A History of God" (or the other way around). Left me feeling a bit cheated, but I guess it's legal. Otherwise a very readable book, the prophet comes across as a very sympathetic and inspiring man. ( One gets the distinct impression that Ms. Armstrong wishes she had been one of his wives. :>) However the author's denunciation of Western attitudes does not seem objective. I think she may be guilty of the same kind of stereotyping that she accuses (other) Western writers of.
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