ISLAM AND THE WEST

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a seminal figure in Islamic studies. Through relentless scholarship and deep knowledge of the subject, he and a few others wrenched the field of Orientalism from the pre-1970s' world of Christian bias to today's academic objectivity. Orientalism is now Islamic Studies, and nobody on the planet is better prepared to present a course such as this to Western ears. This is a presentation of ideas and the movements of civilizations, not an enumeration of battles and wars. Nasr speaks with flawless English; only the slightest of accents is evident. His is a friendly, direct voice--there is no stridency or anger here. Among other things, Nasr shows why Shia and Sunni Islam are not directly comparable to Catholic and Protestant Christianity. This is a gem. D.R.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]