Reviews
""A rich biography… Those who read it will come away well prepared to understand the prophet whose message, 14 centuries later, is the creed of more than a billion and a half people." The San Francisco Chronicle "Richly detailed and beautifully written... [Hazleton] is able to do with words what is almost never attempted in pictures... indispensable." The Seattle Times "Like her subject, Hazleton brilliantly navigates ''the vast and often terrifying arena in which politics and religion intersect,'' revealing the deep humanity of faith." More Magazine "The book''s focus is an effort to portray the prophet''s unique circumstances and recognizable humanity… Hazleton''s biography covers the broad strokes of his life with fairness-she doesn''t gloss over his more fallible moments-and insight." NPR "This story is deep with details not only of Muhammad''s life journey, but with historic information about the culture of the times in Arabia... filled with rich color of the locations, culture, and peop≤ it is a book plentiful with tales of Muhammad''s life that follow logically from orphan to religious leader, but more than that, it enriches us with the detail of a time and place in history." The New York Journal of Books "Hazleton... is in the revelation business: She''s out to consider Muhammad as a mortal human, a man who lived and died and was vulnerable... A world-class history teacher who contextualizes the realities of [his] far-off times... [she] can effortlessly distill years of research into a few conversational sentences." The Stranger "Vivid and engaging... a fluid and captivating introduction that will be invaluable for those seeking a greater understanding of Islam''s message and its messenger." Publishers Weekly "Winning... a level-headed, elegant look at the life of the prophet amid the making of a legend." Kirkus "Beautifully written, The First Muslim respectfully humanizes the inimitable prophet of Islam and sees him whole." Cornel West, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University "Hazleton sets her keen eye and her sculpted prose on one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in history. What she uncovers is a complex yet utterly relatable man whose personal trials and triumphs changed the course of history. This is a wonderful book." Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and How to Win a Cosmic War "Hazleton has done the seemingly impossible: rendered into human proportions a man who is more often the subject of pious veneration or political vitriol. This is the most readable, engaging study of Muhammad I have ever come across." G. Willow Wilson, author of Alif the Unseen and The Butterfly Mosque " The First Muslim tells the mostly unknown story of the prophet Muhammad in a masterful, accessible, and engaging way. Hazleton''s empathetic touch softens her rigorous scholarship and research as she crucially demystifies both the man himself and the birth of Islam. An absolute delight (and indispensable) for believers and non-believers alike." Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ and The Ayatollahs'' Democracy PRAISE FOR AFTER THE PROPHET: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SHIA-SUNNI SPLIT "Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events." The Wall Street Journal "Marvelous... [for] any reader interested in a story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill." The Dallas Morning News "Anyone seeking to understand today's Middle East... can learn from this book." The Seattle Times "A Sunday school story it is not... Essential." The Christian Science Monitor, "Richly detailed and beautifully written... [Hazleton] is able to do with words what is almost never attempted in pictures... indispensable." The Seattle Times "Like her subject, Hazleton brilliantly navigates 'the vast and often terrifying arena in which politics and religion intersect,' revealing the deep humanity of faith." More Magazine "This story is deep with details not only of Muhammad's life journey, but with historic information about the culture of the times in Arabia... filled with rich color of the locations, culture, and peop≤ it is a book plentiful with tales of Muhammad's life that follow logically from orphan to religious leader, but more than that, it enriches us with the detail of a time and place in history." The New York Journal of Books "Hazleton... is in the revelation business: She's out to consider Muhammad as a mortal human, a man who lived and died and was vulnerable... A world-class history teacher who contextualizes the realities of [his] far-off times... [she] can effortlessly distill years of research into a few conversational sentences." The Stranger "Winning... a level-headed, elegant look at the life of the prophet amid the making of a legend." Kirkus "Vivid and engaging... a fluid and captivating introduction that will be invaluable for those seeking a greater understanding of Islam's message and its messenger." Publishers Weekly "Beautifully written, The First Muslim respectfully humanizes the inimitable prophet of Islam and sees him whole." Cornel West, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University "Hazleton sets her keen eye and her sculpted prose on one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in history. What she uncovers is a complex yet utterly relatable man whose personal trials and triumphs changed the course of history. This is a wonderful book." Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and How to Win a Cosmic War "Hazleton has done the seemingly impossible: rendered into human proportions a man who is more often the subject of pious veneration or political vitriol. This is the most readable, engaging study of Muhammad I have ever come across." G. Willow Wilson, author of Alif the Unseen and The Butterfly Mosque " The First Muslim tells the mostly unknown story of the prophet Muhammad in a masterful, accessible, and engaging way. Hazleton's empathetic touch softens her rigorous scholarship and research as she crucially demystifies both the man himself and the birth of Islam. An absolute delight (and indispensable) for believers and non-believers alike." Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ and The Ayatollahs' Democracy PRAISE FOR AFTER THE PROPHET: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SHIA-SUNNI SPLIT "Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events." The Wall Street Journal "Marvelous... [for] any reader interested in a story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill." The Dallas Morning News "Anyone seeking to understand today's Middle East... can learn from this book." The Seattle Times "A Sunday school story it is not... Essential." The Christian Science Monitor, Praise for The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad "Beautifully written, The First Muslim respectfully humanizes the inimitable prophet of Islam and sees him whole." --Cornel West, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University "Hazleton sets her keen eye and her sculpted prose on one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in history. What she uncovers is a complex yet utterly relatable man whose personal trials and triumphs changed the course of history. This is a wonderful book." --Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and How to Win a Cosmic War "Hazleton has done the seemingly impossible: rendered into human proportions a man who is more often the subject of pious veneration or political vitriol. This is the most readable, engaging study of Muhammad I have ever come across." --G. Willow Wilson, author of Alif the Unseen and The Butterfly Mosque " The First Muslim tells the mostly unknown story of the prophet Muhammad in a masterful, accessible, and engaging way. Hazleton's empathetic touch softens her rigorous scholarship and research as she crucially demystifies both the man himself and the birth of Islam. An absolute delight (and indispensable) for believers and non-believers alike." --Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ and The Ayatollahs' Democracy Praise for After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split "Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events." - The Wall Street Journal "Marvelous . . . [for] any reader interested in a story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill." - The Dallas Morning News "Anyone seeking to understand today's Middle East . . . can learn from this book."- The Seattle Times "A Sunday school story it is not. . . . Essential."- The Christian Science Monitor, Praise for The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad "Beautifully written, The First Muslim respectfully humanizes the inimitable prophet of Islam and sees him whole." -Cornel West, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University "Hazleton sets her keen eye and her sculpted prose on one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in history. What she uncovers is a complex yet utterly relatable man whose personal trials and triumphs changed the course of history. This is a wonderful book." -Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and How to Win a Cosmic War "Hazleton has done the seemingly impossible: rendered into human proportions a man who is more often the subject of pious veneration or political vitriol. This is the most readable, engaging study of Muhammad I have ever come across." -G. Willow Wilson, author of Alif the Unseen and The Butterfly Mosque " The First Muslim tells the mostly unknown story of the prophet Muhammad in a masterful, accessible, and engaging way. Hazleton's empathetic touch softens her rigorous scholarship and research as she crucially demystifies both the man himself and the birth of Islam. An absolute delight (and indispensable) for believers and non-believers alike." -Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ and The Ayatollahs' Democracy Praise for After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split "Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events." - The Wall Street Journal "Marvelous... [for] any reader interested in a story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill." - The Dallas Morning News "Anyone seeking to understand today's Middle East... can learn from this book." - The Seattle Times "A Sunday school story it is not... Essential." - The Christian Science Monitor, "Beautifully written, The First Muslim respectfully humanizes the inimitable prophet of Islam and sees him whole." Cornel West, Professor, Union Theological Seminary, and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University "Winning... a level-headed, elegant look at the life of the prophet amid the making of a legend." Kirkus "Vivid and engaging... a fluid and captivating introduction that will be invaluable for those seeking a greater understanding of Islam's message and its messenger." Publishers Weekly "Hazleton sets her keen eye and her sculpted prose on one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in history. What she uncovers is a complex yet utterly relatable man whose personal trials and triumphs changed the course of history. This is a wonderful book." Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and How to Win a Cosmic War "Hazleton has done the seemingly impossible: rendered into human proportions a man who is more often the subject of pious veneration or political vitriol. This is the most readable, engaging study of Muhammad I have ever come across." G. Willow Wilson, author of Alif the Unseen and The Butterfly Mosque " The First Muslim tells the mostly unknown story of the prophet Muhammad in a masterful, accessible, and engaging way. Hazleton's empathetic touch softens her rigorous scholarship and research as she crucially demystifies both the man himself and the birth of Islam. An absolute delight (and indispensable) for believers and non-believers alike." Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ and The Ayatollahs' Democracy PRAISE FOR AFTER THE PROPHET: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SHIA-SUNNI SPLIT "Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events." The Wall Street Journal "Marvelous... [for] any reader interested in a story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill." The Dallas Morning News "Anyone seeking to understand today's Middle East... can learn from this book." The Seattle Times "A Sunday school story it is not... Essential." The Christian Science Monitor