Solid Performance, story jumps a bit

Feels like the story jumps too much, going from different geographical areas and times without much warning. Narrator did a good job

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Interesting but wish the argument was a it clearer at times

I enjoyed this book.it provides a really interesting look at the origins of Islam. Maybe it is the academic in me but I wish there was slightly more discussion of sources but imsuremost listeners will be glad that is not in there. Enjoyable

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It's great

Book is great if you like history. I flew through this audiobook in like 4 days

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Extremely interesting and engaging.

Perhaps the best way to describe Holland is "A Fantasy novel fan's first history book" He uses the most sensationalist versions of any story and then adds a little on top.

Can't not love it. He makes History so approachable, interesting and engaging. Buyer Beware, this is a starting point in the journey of history not the last stop. It will light the fires to know more.

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Outstanding

Tom Holland reads like poetry. I listened to Shadow of the Sword after Dominion....both books opened my eyes and answered many questions I had regarding organized religion. I believe more now than ever that faith and religion are two separate things.
I'm a fuller person by my better understanding of the evolution of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and paganism and their effect on humanity.

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An amazing look at the end of the ancient world

An epic as well told and fascinating as any modern story, no matter how fantastical.

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Best material for History of Christianity .

I already took numerous history courses in the university on this subject that this book is still amazed me to hear it again that serves as my personal refresher course. Thanks for making this available to me.

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EXTREMELY INTERESTING:

Fascinating and highly informative .
I believe that it's very important for truth to out there and assessable.
I have no wish to be controversial but so many people claim to practice a religion which in truth they know little about. Here I am referring to any specific religion.

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Not accurate about Christian history

While the narration is good, the writer has studied only one side of his argument and presents a very skewed version of Christian history. It sounded like apologetics for the Muslim faith.

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1 person found this helpful

Wearying

For a book about the rise and history of Islam I’m 20 chapters in and he still hasn’t started to talk about Islam — which is disappointing because I have been looking for a good, thoughtful history of Islam. (Note that he did write in the first chapter about Islam where he explained that it is hard to determine an accurate history of the origins of Islam).

I would probably be okay to continue with the somewhat meandering backstory but the longer he talks about the history of Middle East religion the more scornful his tone gets. It is almost as if he is fearful that his readers will think that he holds the same views as the people he is writing about. If he simply recorded the history without the derision and allowed us as readers to make our own judgment, that would be quite helpful. Unfortunately eventually it starts to sound like the long, rambling history lectures I used to get in university from history professors who thought that I was too dumb to think for myself. Too bad because I really enjoyed the first book of his that I read (Rubicon) and was looking forward to a thoughtful examination of the history of one of the great world religions.

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