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wayfaring_witch's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book because my History of Islam professor recommended it in a class last fall. 8 months later I looked through my notes and saw that I wrote down that I wanted to read it, and so I did.
This book surprised me in that I actually enjoyed reading it. I figured it would have good information but be tedious and boring. Not the case, Ibn Khaldun (and perhaps with the help of the translator) has a curious nature and a light humor in his work. He really steps back and looks at the world around him.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history and culture of North Africa and the Middle East. That said, it shouldn't be your introduction to it. I had taken a History of Islam and an Anthropology of Morocco class which gave me familiarity to religious terms, historical events, and an idea of who different groups were. So be curious about the subject before trying this book. Also, know something about modern science because he says some interesting things that are downright incorrect. Like how skin color has to do with the air. Good try buddy :-)
In the end I gave it four stars. It does what it advertises, and it does it well!
This book surprised me in that I actually enjoyed reading it. I figured it would have good information but be tedious and boring. Not the case, Ibn Khaldun (and perhaps with the help of the translator) has a curious nature and a light humor in his work. He really steps back and looks at the world around him.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history and culture of North Africa and the Middle East. That said, it shouldn't be your introduction to it. I had taken a History of Islam and an Anthropology of Morocco class which gave me familiarity to religious terms, historical events, and an idea of who different groups were. So be curious about the subject before trying this book. Also, know something about modern science because he says some interesting things that are downright incorrect. Like how skin color has to do with the air. Good try buddy :-)
In the end I gave it four stars. It does what it advertises, and it does it well!
zmb's review
4.0
Often brilliant, occasionally tedious (especially the sixth chapter), but always remarkably impressive for his time. Ibn Khaldun's history and historiography is amazing and worthy of being included with Herodotus, Thucydides, and Sima Qian.
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