Destiny Disrupted

A History of the World through Islamic Eyes

By: Tamim Ansary

Narrated by: Tamim Ansary

Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Until about 1800, the West and the Islamic realm were like two adjacent, parallel universes, each assuming itself to be the center of the world while ignoring the other. As Europeans colonized the globe, the two world histories intersected and the Western narrative drove the other one under. The West hardly noticed, but the Islamic world found the encounter profoundly disrupting.

This book reveals the parallel "other" narrative of world history to help us make sense of today's world conflicts. Ansary traces the history of the Muslim world from pre-Mohammedan days through 9/11, introducing people, events, empires, legends, and religious disputes, both in terms of what happened and how it was understood and interpreted.

©2009 Tamim Ansary (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Informative and thoroughly engaging....A must read." (Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner)

Wonderful introduction to the Islamic world

This book was wonderful. I very good introduction to Islam and its influence in the world.

very useful in understanding

Thus book is useful for a greater understanding of important historical events as well as the modern day world.

Excellent Read!

I would recommend this as a must read for everyone, regardless of what your preconceived notions are about Islam.

I had to buy the print book also, however, because the reader's Arabic accent is SO bad!! When he said Ollah and Oisha .. I decided, I had to have the print version.

An excellent overview of Islamic history

Great book, does an excellent job at presenting a western reader such as myself with a very unique viewpoint I have not experienced before. Highly recommend to anyone who likes history presented in a casual, non-academic way. As the author says in the forward "a history of the Islamic world if you asked him in a coffee shop "so what's with these Muslims and the middle East anyway?"

I also really like that the book is read by the author himself, if only for the pronunciation and intended emotional emphasis on some points.

Excellent

Very informative and enlightening. Great listen for anyone interested in Islam and who Muslims are. Highly recommended.

Great Book

as a Muslim I agree up to 90% of the book information although I wish he has studied a bit more about certain times.

The only thing I dislike is the names he describes in the book I wish he uses the English name rather than saying the names in the bushtoo language.

Helpful to Understand the Middle World Perspective

I am glad that I stumbled upon this book and made the time to listen to it. It helped me to understand a perspective of a person raised in what Tamim Ansary calls the Middle World (aka the Middle East to Westerners). The fact that the author read the book gives it a degree of authenticity which I appreciate. He wouldn't be a great narrator for another book, but he was great for this one.

The book is useful to understand some of the reasons from the "other side" of the conflicts that exist today and gives hope that a peaceful solution is possible, though we are in a rather deep hole. I wish I had the "Cliff Notes" listing key events and people to make it easier to retain the material - perhaps the printed book includes that.

Tamim Ansary is not unbiased and I have a different take on some aspects of history and the meaning and drivers behind Christianity; however, that is part of what makes the book useful in understanding the perspective of others. And while he is not unbiased, he is among the more balanced voices talking about the great world religions and the intersecting narratives of competing world histories. Take what he says as a perspective rather than the single right interpretation of events and you won't be misled or frustrated.

If you like this book, I suggest you read "Arabia Unified" by Mohammed Almana which tells of the founding of modern Saudi Arabia and likewise will expose you to a different and thoughtful perspective.

Terrific book

This book was time well spent. The author’s perspective was informed and reasoned and a welcome break from the broad brush that the West has used to paint Islam.

Very Welcoming Look in to the Islamic World

Any additional comments?

If you are largely ignorant of Islamic history and culture I can't imagine a more comprehensive whilst still approachable book on the subject.

I particularly liked the wry humor of the author which comes across beautifully in his narration of his own work.

Thanks Mr. Ansary for helping to bridge the cultural gap.

Heartily recommended!

Really good book

I learned a lot from this book and the narrator (who is the author) is great. He speaks in a nice, conversationalist tone. Highly recommend!