Lost Islamic History

Any book that ends with a quote from the late Malcolm X is worth a second look. This tome by American historian Firas Alkhateeb tries to push back against some of the more negative stereotypes regarding Islamic culture and civilisation over the past 1400 years. It frames his penetrating judgement and highly original ideas in the context of an ever evolving, indeed expanding and often turbulent, social world without trying to squeeze the subject matter into popular contemporary values and perspectives. The modest intention of the author ‘is to provide a short overview of the history of Muslim civilization, from the inception of Islam in the early seventh century to the modern day’ (p. xi). A unique, multi-disciplinary work, Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past, would ideally serve as a useful introduction to the subject for undergraduate students and the general public. It compares very well with Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong (2000).