The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Crusades

by Paul L. Williams

Guide/How-To-Book

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Historical, War, Religion

Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Vince Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how historically accurate this book is but it is HIGHLY entertaining. I honestly couldn't put it down. It is an excellent gateway drug into medieval history - it definitely left me wanting to learn more.

The edition I read was very old (2002), but didn't seem terribly dated. The author makes an attempt at a balanced view of the Christian and Muslim (spelled "Moslem" in my edition) worlds, but it is mostly from the European Christian point of view. That said, it is definitely not a panegyric for the Crusades! Quite the contrary.

Anyway, if you want to read a lightweight history of a heavy subject, this is it. Again: highly entertaining.

[Bach Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary, funny, and slightly sarcastic read about the events surrounding the Crusades. The book only covers Crusades involving the Holy Land in the Levant, and is mostly summary of historical events and facts. A good read for starters who want to know the basics about what happen in those Crusades, how they started and how they ended. This is not a book that gives the readers in-depth details about why the Crusades happen, their underlying socioeconomic and religious causes, or how the Crusades affected and transformed the world. Overall a fun and light read that gives you a good background on medieval societies and interesting stories and characters of the Crusades.

[Mhorg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read but terribly formatted

This is an informative, quick read, but it's horribly formatted and really needs to be redone. If the book was better formatted, it would get a higher rating.

[Brian Hyooz · Rating 2 out of 5]

good info, poorly transcribed from the book

This kindle book is loaded with spelling errors and missing spaces between words. So much so that it becomes distracting from the information presented.

[Chris Holcom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the Complete Idiot’s Guides. Good starter book on the subject of the Crusades.

[Carlos Henrique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vou fazer um comentário aqui em relação À versão traduzida para o português pela editora Masdras. A tradução está horrível cheio de erros grotesco como a tradução "Festa de Maomé" onde deveria ser "Partido (Ou partidários) de Maomé" e por conceitos explicados erroneamente, como foi o caso da cultura rotativa (No livro em português dá uma ideia contrária ao que está no livro original, que está certo).

[Martin Bode · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few places where the light-hearted tone seemed inappropriate. It was interesting that the author presented some of the medieval reported miracles as facts without any sense of skepticism. Other numbers that seem like wild exaggeration are also presented without any critical analysis or footnote. These aren't so much criticisms as just a warning that this isn't a very scholarly work even though it's by a distinguished scholar.

[Wondergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I don't want to be admitting that I needed the Idiot's Guide. However, I read it cover to cover, and enjoyed every second. I have a much better grasp of the Crusades now! And a much lower self esteem, but ya can't have everything.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel compelled to read about the Crusades lately. This book is well organized, conversational, somewhat humorous and full of fascinating tidbits as well as the whole chronology of the Crusades and all the important personalities involved.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and gave a lot of insight.