Rating: 
Summary: Concise over-view for a Western audience
Review: Karen Armstrong's work is a great introduction to the history of this major religion for a Western audience. Packing fourteen centuries of history into 187 pages can be a daunting task, but Armstrong manages to convey the internal and external forces that shaped Islam without bias and prejudice. Since most readers are unlikely to tackle the three volumes of Hodgson, find copies of Watt, or have the opportunity to study under Lapidus (I had that fortune while at Berkeley), this will be their only source of value on the subject. Balanced and insightful, the work expresses an understanding of the impact and significance of the Dar al-Islam on the history of the world.
Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: I took an Islamic Tradions course in school and it was my fovorit course since Us History. I chose to read this book for my independant resarch project, and it helped me toi understand the aspects of islmic culture and though alot. I recomend this to anyone who wants to obtain a deeper understanding of the religion.
Rating:
Summary: A clear and concise history
Review: Armstrong provides a concise political and religious history of the Muslim world, beginning with the Qur'anic revelation to Muhammad in 610AD through the present day. She covers the early caliphate leaders of the 7th century and the first fitnah, which led to civil war in the Arab world. She discusses the role of the Umayyads in the second fitnah and the religious division between the Sunnis, the Shiites, and the Sufis. The author uses the Abbasid period of the 8th and 9th centuries to show how the Muslim community used their faith to adapt to numerous political changes that ultimately crumbled the caliphate and ushered in the Sunni Iranian dynasty. The 14th century Crusades led to the Muslim subjugation to the Mongols, but prepared Muslims for the imperial Islam of the Ottoman Empire. Armstrong concludes by introducing the modern democracies of the Western world and their influence on Islam. She discusses the modern Islamic state and how Islamic perceptions of democracy differ from Western notions. The author also provides a clear definition of Muslim fundamentalism.
Rating: 
Summary: Short on history, long on opinion
Review: An interesting and well written book but not exactly the historical look at Islam which the title would seem to suggest. It first stuck me as odd that while going though a narrative of Muhammad's life she would refer to him as `the prophet' it would be like if someone had used `Christ' in a work looking at the historical figure of Jesus.
This is just such of an example of the pseudo-academic work that Islam:A Short History seems to represent-leaving the reader never quite sure of if a given section is representative of that academic side or of the more subjective side of the book. This is not a strict accounting of where Islam has been but is instead a much more personal look at Islam's past as well as it's current trajectory. It isn't that this book seems dishonest is how it seeks to portray itself it just leaves the reader in a little bit of a limbo.
The most interesting part of the whole book for me was seeing how one man's faith evolves into a religion with all the structure and ideology that it has today. Armstrong's best insights come when discussing the areas of fundamentalism and reactionary movements in general which makes me feel the book is worth reading but it is not a homerun by any means.
Rating: 
Summary: Overly sugared pabulum
Review: A former nun who rejects the Christian theology of Trinity, Karen Armstrong in this book emphasizes and eagerly embraces the Islamic version of monotheism, its universalism and its charity.
On the downside, this book does not openly discuss the faith, its history or its faults. Islam means submission--that, is, making others submit to the will of Allah. Armstrong does not cover that Islamic characteristic. The book also omits the early Islamic history of massacring infidels, which Armstrong quickly glosses over, as if these atrocities did not occur.
Unfortunately, the book also fails to cover Islam's historic persecution of non-Muslim peoples during the ensuing 1,400 years--including, but not limited to, Zoroastrians, Ba'hai, Hindus, Coptic Christians, Sudanese Christians and of course, Middle Eastern Jews. Nor does this book discuss what is likely the most chauvinistic city in the world-Mecca--which is closed all together to anyone but Muslims.
The book's key advantage is its mercifully brief form. Otherwise, it is overly sugared pabulum.
For brief lessons on faith, one is better off turning to the Internet, where a vast array of writings shows Islam in all its aspects. Some observers contend that Islam has been radicalized by sects and leaders controlling more than 75% of the mosques in the western world, funded (like this book) by the Saudis--and Iran. For history, one might consider Bat Ye'or's understanding of Islamic political treatment of non-Muslims (Islam and Dhimitude: Where Civilizations Collide, The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude and the upcoming Eurabia).
But give Karen Armstrong a pass.
--Alyssa A. Lappen
Rating:
Summary: Not a good choice for an intro to Islam
Review: I got this book as a gift per my interest in a factual and information based book on Islam. What I got was at best a subjective and defensive portrayal of this supposed expert's opinion on the faith. While there are many examples throughout the book of historical events of Islam's history, the facts are hard to find in the material. I don't pretend to be an expert on Islam as some other reviewers may profess, but you can sense the theme of reviews on this book and find a consistent theme: This book is not in line with it's title, which seems to indicate a factual history and account (chronicle??) of Islam.
Perhaps also alarming, to be blunt, is her stereotypical and again unfactual judgements thrown in about Christianity in an effort to put Islam in a good light. Of course, you have to take into account comparisons to other religions on such subjects, but I was hoping to see how Islam "stood on its own".
I would suggest looking elsewhere if you're looking for a first read on Islam, perhaps this would be better suited as a supplementary reading... I should also mention I pretty well felt the same way about her other book, Muhammad.
Rating:
Summary: One-Sided
Review: Karen Armstrong's introduction to Islam is a quick, interesting read. If you are interested in Islam, it's worthwhile; however, do not make it your only source. Armstrong's facts are mostly accurate, but she glosses over the less pleasant aspects of Islam. Like any philosophy, religion, or culture, Islam has its good and bad sides. Armstrong focuses solely on the good. It's an exercise in tolerance, but not necessarily in truth.
Rating:
Summary: A dishonest account
Review: To see why the author is not truthful about Islam, read Irshad Manji, The Trouble with Islam. Manji is very honest about her faith, and is at the same time, loyal to the faith. Manji admits that the Prophet of Islam is an opressor of women. She admits that the Koran has Antisemitic diatribes, and is full of contradictions. Unlike Armstrong, she is honest.
Rating: 
Summary: Karen Armstrong has no hypocrisy
Review: Karen Armstong would like to believe in the Prophet Mohammad, not because of his visions or poetry or even his special relationship to God, but because of his ability to create a compassionate and unified movement out of the chaotic tribalism of sixth century Arabia. She also wants to believe that Islam is at least as much social experiment--in equality, compassion, and surrender to God--as it is doctrines or rituals. For Muslims, Armstrong writes, "salvation does not mean redemption from sin, but the creation of a just society." That's a long way from hanging the burned body parts of Americans on public bridges, but that's exactly why this book should be on every American voter's reading list. It's not so much to find out the objective facts of Islam (though there are plenty of those), but to understand the religion's deepest yearnings and view of the world. If you've bought into the American party line on Islam, the last 40 pages of this book are going to be hard to swallow--Armstrong's litany of Western imperialism and meddling are unflinching and humbling. Violent Islamicists also come in for their own share of criticism. Alarmed by the failure of Western materialism to satisfy spiritual needs, Armstrong fears that Islam will fail in its calling to justice and compassion. The broad premise of this calling--that religion might provide an enduring improvement in social life--is the possibility Armstong is most interested in, the desire that makes sense of past and present. Muslims carry this sense and desire into every part of their lives. It may not be important for us to do the same, but refusing to recognize its grip on Muslim hearts and minds is where the battle of Fallujah really began.
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Summary: I've read several of Karen's books..............
Review: and I started to read all the reviews here. That was until I got to stunning-reversal.com's stupid remarks, but, then, what would you expect from someone from San Francisco?
Ms Armstrong has spent a good deal of time "whitewashing" Islam. I get tired of hearing statements like "Islam is the most misunderstood religion in the world." No! No, it's not, Ms Armstrong. We pretty much understand all that we see. But, what you would expect us NOT to understand is the bloody spread of Islam by the sword, which you gloss over. You also gloss over the invasion of Europe by the Muslims. But, worse than that, you and your compatriots write glowing reports of the dynasties in Europe, while forgetting that they shouldn't have been there at all. If it hadn't been for Charles Martel at the "Battle of Tours", when Muslims tried to conquer all of Europe, Europe would be Muslim today. This was long BEFORE the Crusades, Ms. Armstrong. Indeed, Islam was spread by the sword. I hope you wake up and tell the truth some day.
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