F. W. Burleigh

This is just about as disturbing a book as there is, but not for the reason Burleigh intended. This poorly researched but heavily "documented" work is both an insult to actual scholars as well as nothing more than an opportunistic grab by a self-proclaimed expert in the field, in spite of language deficiencies that prevents him reading many of the texts in their original form. This is the same puppet who intentionally misrepresented President Obama's finger wag and dismissive facial gesture as "throwing a Muslim Gang Sign."

If anyone actually wants to learn about either Muhammad or Islam then read a selection of books by scholars who readily display their education and scholarly credentials and attempt to present a balanced and factual picture, then make up your own mind. Don't let a fearmonger feed you half-truths and untrained psychobabble designed to increase hatred and unrest. Read broadly, choose your authors wisely and think for yourself.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing.… (més)

F.W. Burleigh has constructed a well referenced biography of the man Muhammad in a scholarly and well referenced book. He uses original source documents to tell the story of an illiterate man spurned by his society who exploits human fears and frailty to terrorize and convert his world by the sword. It is an extremely unsettling read, but you can't put it down because it explains the "why" behind the Islam-terrorist perversions we see in our modern world. We know what we are reading and we see it in our daily world, there is no difference. Burleigh's book tells us why - "all about Mohammad". Read this book and understand the truth. .… (més)

It's All About Mohammad by F. W. Burleigh

We live in a world where leaders, politicians and rulers all have access to communication via radio, TV, the Internet. Mohammed had none of these. How then was he able to rally vast masses of followers, raise and maintain an army, conquer, plunder etc. etc.....

Author Burleigh dedicated this book to Theo Van Gogh who died Nov. 2, 2004 age 47. This Dutch film director, author and actor of our era was shot and stabbed. Other crimes today are the heritage of the man who, before his death in June of A. D. 632 was the de facto ruler of the Arabian Peninsula, whose brand of monotheism had become the official religion.

This is a big book: in addition to its text there are 47 pages of footnotes, a 6 page bibliography and an index. There are maps and illustrations. In his introduction Burleigh states: " In all, twenty thousand pages of material were given line-by-line scrutiny."

Mohammad had thirteen wives and concubines. His youngest wife was nine years old (he allowed her playmates to visit and play with her by day). He said, "Treat women well, for they are like domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from God."

I read the book, and many of the chapter notes. I paused to catch my breath. I took notes (too many to include here). I salute Frank Burleigh for this volume. I urge readers to be sure to read his Epilogue which he titles "A Manual for the Future"even if they do not have enough time to read as completely as I did.… (més)