Muhammad - the Qur’an

First posted 7/1/2020.

Qur’an Muhammad

Written: year 609 to 632 CE Category: religion Sales: 800 million

Accolades (click on badges to see full lists):

About the Book: The Qur’an is the religious text of Islam described within as a book of guidance for mankind. Muslims view it as the culmination of divine messages and the liteal word of God (Allah) as orally revealed to the prophet Mohammad through the angel Gabriel. Islamic tradition says the first revelation happened in 609 CE in the Cave or Hira during one of Muhammad’s isolated retreats to the mountains. He continued to receive revelations until his death in 632 CE. The Qur’an is considered of proof of Muhammad’s prophethood and his most important miracle. Muhammad himself didn’t know how to write, but his companions served as scribes and memorized large chunks of Muhammad’s revelations. After his death, his companions compiled it and a standard version was established by Uthman. It assumes some familiarity with events already recounted in other scriptures, such as the Bible, and presents some alternative accounts and interpretations of some events. During prayer, the Qur’an is recited only in Arabic and in the month of Ramadan, Muslims typically recite the Qur’an in its entirety. It has been a tradition that children memorize the more than 6200 verses. Those who succeed are given the title of Hafiz. Resources and Related Links: AZ Amazon WK Wikipedia

Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows published 100 years ago today

First posted 7/4/2020; last updated 7/5/2020.

The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame

First Publication: April 1, 1908 Category: children’s literature Sales: 25 million

Accolades (click on badges to see full lists):

About the Book: “One of the most cherished works of children’s literature ever written.” AZ After Kenneth Grahame “retired…as secretary of the Bank of England, he moved back to Berkshire, where he had lived as a child, and spent his time by the River Thames doing much as the animal characters in his book do – …‘simply messing about in boats’ – and expanding the bedtime stories he had earlier told his son Alastair into a manuscript for the book.” WK “The Wind in the Willows chronicles the adventures of four friends” BN “in a pastoral version of Edwardian England.” WK “The story begins at the arrival of spring where we find the good-natured Mole tired of doing his spring cleaning. Mole decides to abandon his cleaning in order to enjoy the fresh air of spring. He journeys to the river where he meets Rat, whom he quickly befriends. Together the two row down the river eventually meeting up with Toad at Toad Hall. There they discover Toad’s current obsession with his horse-drawn caravan, one which he quickly abandons for a motorcar when his caravan is run off the road by one. A fourth friend enters the story in the form of Badger and when it is discovered that Toad’s obsession is becoming self-destructive, Mole, Rat, and Badger intervene to help protect Toad from himself.” AZ The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality and camaraderie.” WK It was adapted by A.A. Milne for the state in 1929 and as a musical almost a century later. The first of several film adaptions came in 1946. WK Resources and Related Links: AZ Amazon BN Barnes & Noble TG Telegraph: The Perfect Library WK Wikipedia

Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time published

First posted 7/3/2020.

A Brief History of Time Stephen Hawking

First Publication: March 1, 1988 Category: non-fiction/science Sales: 25 million

Accolades (click on badges to see full lists):

About the Book: A Brief History of Time is written by Stephen Hawking the English physicist who suffered from the paralysis-inducing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was diagnosed with it in 1963 at age 21 and given a life expectancy of two years. He died in 2018 at the age of 76. Despite his disability, he became perhaps the world’s premiere scientist in his lifetime. His best-selling A Brief History of Time focuses on cosmology, which is “the study of the origin and evolution of the universe.” WK It is “a landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time.” AZ “With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.” AZ In non-technical terms, he “talks about basic concepts like space and time, basic building blocks that make up the Universe…and the fundamental forces that govern it.” WK He also “discusses two major theories, general relativity and quantum mechanics, that modern scientists use to describe the Universe.” WK The book “explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?” AZ “Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and ‘arrows of time,’ of the big bang and a bigger God – where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected.” AZ Resources and Related Links: AZ Amazon WK Wikipedia

Richard Adams' Watership Down published this month

First posted 6/12/2020; updated 7/6/2020.

Watership Down Richard Adams

First Publication: November 1972 Category: fantasy novel Sales: 50 million

Accolades:

About the Book: “Watership Down is the compelling tale of a group of wild rabbits struggling to hold onto their place in the world.” AZ “Set in England’s Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home.” AZ Adams “takes us to a world we have never truly seen: to the remarkable life that teems in the fields, forests, and riverbanks, far beyond our cities and towns. It is a powerful saga of courage, leadership, and survival; and epic tale of a hardy band of Berkshire rabbits” BN as “they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.” AZ The book has been “a phenomenal worldwide bestseller for more than forty years, Richard Adams’ Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time.” AZ Resources and Related Links: AZ Amazon BN Barnes & Noble