• Destiny Disrupted

  • A History of the World through Islamic Eyes
  • By: Tamim Ansary
  • Narrated by: Tamim Ansary
  • Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,921 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Destiny Disrupted  By  cover art

Destiny Disrupted

By: Tamim Ansary
Narrated by: Tamim Ansary
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.80

Buy for $21.80

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

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

What listeners say about Destiny Disrupted

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,319
  • 4 Stars
    436
  • 3 Stars
    115
  • 2 Stars
    34
  • 1 Stars
    17
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,115
  • 4 Stars
    372
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    11
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,140
  • 4 Stars
    334
  • 3 Stars
    92
  • 2 Stars
    28
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Dip Into Major Islamic Epochs

I did not know what to expect when I read this book. Overall I feel it was a wonderful primer on Islamic History and how that history relates to the evolution of other societies around the world.

I think the author did a wonderful job of constantly juxtaposing events in Islamic history with those in other cultures. He was generally unbiased and I could tell he went to great lengths to avoid controversial positions.

I highly recommend this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

View from the Other Side

The author worked for a publisher of high school history textbooks and it shows. He has laid out the Islamic world's historical perspective in a neat, lively and easily digestible format. Great listen for someone, like me, with little background knowledge of the Islamic world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening!

The author opened my eyes to a new perspective. He helped me to widen my understanding of Islam not as a religion but as a political, philosophical and humanistic movement.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It is a must!

As a Muslim American, this was crucial to understanding the world! I have recommended this to almost everyone I meet. Can’t thank him enough for spending time or publishing such a detailed book mA!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening

A balanced presentation of an almost parallel history of civilization. Highly enlightening and thoroughly engaging the entire way through. The author’s narration was engaging. The content was well chosen and connected. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unpretentious history from a storyteller

I'm not sure how so many centuries of information and flavor could be distilled into one book, but Ansary does a fantastic job with it. I immediately went looking for more of his work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic overview of islam and world history

Fantastic overview of islam and world history in an articulate voice. Highlights great trends and themes that are easily missed, and creates a compelling story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent text and superb reading.

I know there are more serious academic texts out there on this topic, but this is an overall excellent treatment. It really changed how I think about things Also the reading is storytelling at its best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

A fantastic book written in a fantastic style. Kept me captivated throughout. I’ve recommended it IRL to anyone who will listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • RG
  • 07-03-23

Very good

A comprehensive but with enough detail a narrative of the history of Islam and its progression.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!