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)

Helpful to see the story's "other" side

Tamim Ansary placed me well in the mind-frame of today's Muslim, looking back at nearly 1400 years of proud cultural heritage, and wondering what happened to such a promising place in global development. From the onset, this book challenged my preconceptions of a culture struggling against modernity and an ideology that western civilization is the goal toward which "developing" nations should strive. It defined for me what is Islam and what it means to have one's ancestry in this religion, ideology, and culture.

A Must Read for History Lovers

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book summarizes the historical events and helps you to understand the current ones;.

What about Tamim Ansary’s performance did you like?

Listening the book from the author makes you feel like you are being narrated in front of him in a classroom.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I couldnt stop listening and finished the book in very short time.

Outstanding Historical Narrative

I have a feeling that many westerners whom come across this title will not even give it a second thought. It will be their loss. While one could forgive the casual shopper for looking at a book with the dome of a Mosque on the cover and promising "A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes" and assuming that it is an anti-western book of Islamist propaganda.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Maybe there would be less conflict and greater understanding of foreign cultures if all nations wrote their cultural history with such an unbiased assessment of their deeds, crimes, and neglect.

For the record, I was raised in a Catholic house, but converted to Islam four years ago when I met my wife. A woman whom changed my life completely. I have always loved to learn about history, and suddenly having to submit myself to mandates of a culture that I had never understood, and one that is so maligned in popular culture left me with many questions, and no answers at all.

My wife was little help in answering my questions, because she had never had the need to ask them herself. And, for reasons that become clear in this book, many Muslims are largely ignorant of their own cultural significance in world history.

My wife is a Sunni Muslim, and so far I have resisted taking sides in a sectarian divide that I didn't even understand. Thanks to this book, I now know what it is that a Shi'a Muslim believes. However, understanding the differences in a fair and balanced manner, makes it much less likely that I will ever take sides in that conflict.

Tamim Ansary dedicates a large portion of this book to the development of Islamic society through the revelations to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and the subsequent rulers of Islam, both religious scholars, and the leaders of the empires. And it is spellbinding. It becomes clear just how the Islamic world authored its own fragmentation throughout history, and how that fragmentation of society made the Middle World easy for invading armies to exploit.

I won't give spoilers, but I was shocked to discover that my own understanding of the Middle World (Middle East) was wrong, wrong, wrong. Nobody told me to think these things, but I placed the blame for many of the problems in the Middle World squarely at the feet of Christianity beginning with the Crusades, continuing through colonialism, progressing through puppet dictators, the outrage of Zionist occupation, and resulting in jihadist hatred.

What I found in this book was that my beliefs were wrong, if not completely, at least partially, on every single one of those beliefs. Tamim Ansary spreads the blame around equally. If the Muslims acted in a way that brought misfortune upon them, he calls them out for it. At the same time, he does not shy away from talking about the horrors committed by invading forces. And to show that he is not simply making things up, he provides specific sources within the book as well.

I recommend this book to ANYBODY that enjoys history. It won't disappoint.

Essential

I've read a lot of history. (Fiction and "summer reading" too.) Along the way I've been exposed to the "story" of Western Civilization many times. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Crusades, Ages (many), Wars (Too Many), kings and queens and tsars and Popes and dictators and Vikings, and voyages of discovery. Et al. Etc. Yada Yada.

What I missed out on was a basic survey of the past two thousand years from a non-western perspective. Ansary offers the basic survey course of what he calls the Middle World and the course of Islam I needed. And didn't know I needed. [Although I've read a fair number of books by non-westerners.]

Ansary reads his own work. In this case it works quite well. He adds the emotion, the emphasis, that only an author can provide. His voice is pleasant to listen to, too.

My wife, with a science backgrounds, found Destiny Disrupted as essential, as beneficial, as I did.

A thoroughly excellent audio book

Would you listen to Destiny Disrupted again? Why?

Author Tamim Ansary narrates his book in a pleasant, well paced, conversational tone. It is easy listening. Occasional use of common slang makes the presentation more like a well rehearsed speech than a book reading.There is plenty of information for many repeat listenings.

What does Tamim Ansary bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ansary is of Afghani-American heritage. His early years were at an English language school in Afghanistan. The topic is of current interest - Islam in the core geographic area of Egypt through Afghanistan. Coverage is from the life of Mohammad through the middle ages, colonialism, to the current spectrum of Islam beliefs.The book presents history from the perspective of the middle empire - Persian and Turkic peoples - and the fundamental paradigms of Islam. (Not perhaps views to which Ansary personally adheres, but which he can credibly present.)

deep background of Islam's history

fascinatingly different view of world history. being read by the author gives a special flavor.

Much Wanted Inside Information

An honest viewpoint telling the other side of the story. Very refreshing! Of course, the thought is, "Why can't we discuss the differences calmly?".

I really like hearing the author read his own book. Tamim Ansary is very easy to listen to and he tells a good story. We are listening to all of his books and feel fortunate to have found him. I would recommend Tamim Ansary's books to anyone interested in Middle Eastern Islam and how it affects us Americans.

Islamic world chronology

Ansary writes objectively with great insight about how the regions of the different parts of the Islamic world perceived itself and others. Best chronological reference of Islamic history.

Very Educational

This is an outstanding summary of a culture. It isn't in any way an apology, it doesn't preach, and is quite objective. It provides a clear and interesting summary for those who aren't part of that culture. And as such hopefully contributes a bit more to some perspective and understanding.

Outstanding historical viewpoint

This book presents a view of history that appears very valid and important!! It has a viewpoint that is significantly different than anything I've heard/read before. Thanks to the author for doing this!!