This volume encompasses the beliefs, practices, history and culture of the Islamic world. Entries cover subjects including all aspects of religious belief, ritual practices, prayer, seers, spiritual and political leaders, art, architecture, sects, laws, social institutions, history, ethnography, nations, languages, science and major cities, and centres of learning. It aims to provide a source and background for understanding of current events in the Islamic world and the complex past. A reference work with real life!

For anyone trying to get a better grasp or a first grasp of Marx and Marxism, I recommend this book highly. A little out of date as far as the author's ideas have developed, but this book gives a solid understanding closer to Marx than most of the post-Marx Marxist tradition. Even better, it does so through a critical engagement with 'orthodox' Marxism. This book can be read by people with little formal knowledge of Marx, though Marx himself has always been the best place to start.

This book has limitations, and it should be supplemented with a wide range of reading (as well a Marx, of course) from John Holloway, Werner Bonefeld, Raya Dunayevskaya, Guy Debord, Carlos Castoriadas, Sergio Bologne, Mario Tronti, early Antonio Negri, Lukacs, Adorno, Bloch, Marcuse, Korsch, Horkheimer, Pashukanis, Mattick Sr., Anton Pannekoek, I.I. Rubin and others in this line. But as an introduction to a libertarian/Hegelian tradition within Marxism which moves away from the bankruptcy of the Social Democratic and Leninist traditions, you could do worse than start here.

Cheers.

First of all, I'd like to say "BRAVO" and "EXCELLENT JOB" to the Author and international lecturer Mr. Cyril Glasse.

I used the 1989 edition to find some information about a few entries. I thought i'll just find the entries, read about them, and close the book. But it didn't happen. Each enrty lead me to other entries which were more interesting and so on.

I really enjoyed every second I spent using this encyclopedia. That's what I call a "quality time". That is because I am interested in comparative religion and I like reading about Christianity, Judaism, Freemasonry, and Islam. And this is a very nice addition to my small library of cool books.

Highly recommended...

This book is a must-have for anyone interested in early Medieval art or glassworking or metallurgy. It includes detailed how-to instructions and formulas - not all of which are safe to follow, however!

A very good source of information on damascus steel, Wootz steel, Japanese sword construction and mokume. If you are a sword or knife collector or blade smith, this book is a must. There is also another book by him that would be an excellent reference. Cyril's orginal information and background data for this book is in the MIT library! Just in case you need to look up one of his foot notes.