Islam: The Straight Path

by John L. Esposito

This exceptionally successful survey text introduces the teachings and practice of Islam from its earliest origins up to its contemporary practice. John L. Esposito, an internationally renowned expert on Islam, traces the development of Islam and its impact on world history and politics.

Lucidly written and expansive in scope, The Straight Path, Updated Fifth Edition, provides keen insight into one of the world's least understood religions. It is ideally suited for use in courses on Islam, world religions, comparative religions, and Middle East history and culture.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, History, School, Middle East, Theology

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 1988

About the author

He is a professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is also the director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian understanding at Georgetown University.

Esposito was raised a Roman Catholic in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, and spent a decade in a Catholic monastery. After taking his first degree he worked as a management consultant and high-school teacher. He then studied and received a masters in theology at St. John's University. He earned a PhD at Temple University, Pennsylvania in 1974, studying Islam and held post doc appointments at Harvard and Oxford. He is well-known as a promoter of strong ties between Muslims and Christians and has challenged the Vatican to make greater efforts to encourage such ties.

A specialist in Islam, political Islam, and the impact of Islamic movements from North Africa to Southeast Asia, Dr. Esposito serves as a consultant to the Department of State as well as multinational corporations, governments, universities, and the media worldwide. In 2005, Professor Esposito won the American Academy of Religion's prestigious Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion. This award honors a scholar who has been exemplary in promoting the public understanding of religion. A prolific writer, Professor Esposito is the author of over 25 books, including What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, and Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, The Oxford History of Islam, and The Oxford Dictionary of Islam.

Reviews

[Will Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent primer on Islam on a multitude of dimensions: historical, religious, modern, cultural, anthropological, scientific. I found this book to be the best guide to Islam, and I especially enjoyed its final chapter which dealt with modern history (up to mid-2009). It assimilates the many different streams of Islam into a readable work but one that is certainly well-researched and well written. This book was read for a course on Islam and I found it nearly as helpful as the classes attended. Esposito doesn't give too many editorial comments about the history he is describing, which I like. "Just the facts, ma'am." However, he does see that the future of Islam lies in its ability or inability to adjust to the changing demands of pluralism and adherents continuous struggle in defining their relationship in the West as either Muslims in the West or Western Muslims.

A great read that is neither dense nor superficial. Perfect for an introduction and jumping off point for willing learners about Islam.

[Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This does not seem like a very good introduction to Islam. I am not sure of the importance of covering obscure sects from centuries ago and all of that. The book is very dry, not much fun to read, and seems like an awful choice for a college survey course as it seems quite apologetic and does a very poor job of dealing with the current social issues and such within Islam. Nor does it go over any of the issues involving Islam and the outside world. Overall, I can't really recommend this.

[Dillon Tatum · Rating 4 out of 5]

People always ask me what a great intro to Islam book is, and this is it. Esposito does a fantastic job, and it is the best I have seen of its kind (in its 3rd edition even, I think). It does have some flaws, but what book doesn't.

[Kristen Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to begin researching and understanding Islam this is a great book to start with. It's easy to understand and gives you the history of Islam as a religion, ideology, culture, and political system. I would encourage everyone to read this so they can understand what Islam is and what it isn't. Its important to understand the richness and beauty that surrounds the tradition of Islam and not just modern perception of radical movements.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dry.
It's not really relevant to understanding Islam unless you're studying where the extremist groups first originated or you just want to know about the historical movements of the religion.
I though John Esposito could do much better than that.

[Rob Marney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has not aged well. Esposito gives a spirited defense of Islam and a loving discussion of Muslim modernists over the years, alongside a good survey of the history of Islam and the current Muslim governments that were in the news in 1998. Unfortunately, the Muslim world has changed a lot in the last 25 years, from 9/11 to the Arab Spring to the war in Afghanistan to the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and more. This makes all the analysis off base and more of a time capsule. There's also a clear American and Western perspective: there's a lot more words about the Nation of Islam than Indonesia, about Libya than sub-Saharan Africa.

It's not Esposito's fault that he wrote this textbook at the wrong time, but it is his fault that he's stuck halfway between wanting to rehabilitate Islam for the Western student and to teach its history and culture. The hopeful tone and focus on reform reminds me of "The End of History" more than a timeless classic.

[Belle Meade School]

297

[Thomas Funke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If i had to start my quest to learn about Islam/Arab culture all over, i would start with this book.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about the complete history of Islam and its origins. Impressed at the current-day focus of the latter half of the book as well.

[clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

islam the straight path

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book merits four and a half stars, but I rounded down to four. The book is excellent and filled with information and opposing theological strains within Islam. However, I felt that sometimes Esposito tried to defend Islam from Western critique (which I have no problem with in of itself) but would later write about certain tenets in Islam that kind of disproved the points he was trying to make. For instance, the question of "why did the Arabian Muslims seek to expand" never felt adequately answered. Esposito himself notes that researchers have not been able to agree on that matter. And yet I feel like he expended so much energy on why the Arab invaders were not a bad force, etc, while describing their erosion of the Sasanid Empire and spread into Asia.

Other than that grievance, this book was by far the best book offered in my theology class. As noted previously, different theological viewpoints were given in a clear and succinct way. This made essay writing on Islam easy and, frankly, fun. This book is the only book in my course literature that I do not want to sell. I feel like this book will be relevant as long as "Islamophobia" (ie, overblown fear of Islamic terrorism and general European xenophobia) exists.

[Tyrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Islam: The Straight Path is a really poignant and engaging introduction to the vast topics surrounding Islam. John L. Esponsito presents the complex history of 13 odd centuries of faith, innovation, expansion, trade, commerce, and sadly in more recent times, the spread of fanaticism.
This is a book I think everyone in the west should read so as to gain an insight into the culture and faith of Muslims, and how to not allow media bias to prejudice our interactions with our Islamic brothers and sisters.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly skimmed through and read the parts that interested me. But it provided a good overview of the development of Islam, the divisions within Islam and beliefs/practices. I especially found the info on how early Islam improved the rights of women to be interesting. However, I was hoping there would be more on Indonesia here (the country with the largest Muslim population), but I guess you can't cover everything in a college survey textbook.

[RachelAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I recommend to people who want to better understand Islam as both a religion and a global political phenomenon. In clear, simple, readable text, Esposito explains for the history and ideology of Islam and its offshoots. This is a great resource for anyone confused by the Sunni/Shi'ia divide, or who wants to understand distinctions between the Muslim Brotherhood, the Taliban, Hamas, and various Salafist organizations.

[Daughters Of Abraham]

This is a good basic text on Islam, from history to orthodoxy to the variety of sects in the religion of Islam. The Protestants in the group thought that Esposito’s view of “Christianity” was a view of pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Recommended, although some found No god, but God a better choice. (Review by Metro West)

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I have come across books which are perhaps better, "Jihad: from Quran to bin laden" by Richard Bonney would be a better choice. Also currently a production made by MBC on a series called "UMAR" available on Youtube in English subtitle is probably something worth watching, I found it amazing.

[Alex Rhea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough introduction to the history of Islam and some important events in the modern history of certain major Muslim countries. However, Esposito tries to be a bit overly apologetic when talking about some of the more violent aspects of Islamic history. This is an somewhat understandable attitude considering the current political climate, but also feels somewhat dishonest.

[Christina]

I gave up after the first couple of chapters. What I read was definitely good, but I just lost interest. Too many schisms in the religion and just not enough dedication on my part. Plus, the library wanted it back.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a bad introduction to Islam. If you think this is a monolithic faith Esposito will astonish you on that account. My major complaint is that this is mostly textbook dry and strikes me as slightly apologetic. I particularly enjoyed his acocunt of Black Islam in the US.

[Shawne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear, well-written, comprehensive treatment of Islam and its history. Perfect for beginners, though a bit simplistic otherwise.

[Craig Bolton]

Islam: The Straight Path by John L. Esposito (1998)

[Mei-yi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent intro book.

[Brumaire Bodbyl-Mast · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting western pre-9/11 perspective into Islam. Not openly hostile but not entirely friendly either, as any book on religion should be- written in the most unbiased way possible.

[Lara]

Reading this for a class

[Bryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful exposition.

[Sabah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, fair balanced writing.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got boring after a while.

[Flatron Koryo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Mohd Sufian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, succinctly put and informative enough for beginners that are interested in Islam. This book offers excellent information in summing up Islam in general. Again great for beginners and this book will not be a disappointment if you are searching of an overview of Islam, its theology, ethics, and current issues it facing. This book opens the door for more exciting and interesting stuffs you wish to know about Islam and what a great way to start by reading this book.