Richard Bulliet's timely account provides the essential background for understanding the contemporary resurgence of Muslim activism around the globe. Why, asks Bulliet, did Islam become so rooted in the social structure of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in those parts of Asia and Africa to which it spread after the tenth century? In assessing the historical evolution of Islamic society, Bulliet abandons the historian's typical habit of viewing Islamic history "from the center", that is, focusing on the rise and fall of imperial dynasties. Instead, he examines the question of how and why Islam became - and continues to be - so rooted in the social structure of the vast majority of people who lived far from the political center and did not see the caliphate as essential in their lives. Focusing on Iran, and especially the cities of Isfahan, Gorgan, and Nishapur, Bulliet examines a wide range of issues, including religious conversion; migration and demographic trends; the changing functions and fortunes of cities and urban life; and the roots and meaning of religious authority. The origins of today's resurgence, notes Bulliet, are located in the eleventh century. "The nature of Islamic religious authority and the source of its profound impact upon the lives of Muslims - the Muslims of yesterday, of today, and of tomorrow - cannot be grasped without comprehending the historical evolution of Islamic society", he writes. "Nor can such a comprehension be gained from a cursory perusal of the central narrative of Islam. The view from the edge is needed, because, in truth the edge ultimately creates the center".

Blizzards, drought, fire, floods, hail, tornadoes, and wind are the violent forces of nature that define extreme living in the upper Midwest. In View From the Edge, Warren Swier opens a door into the hearts of those who live in rural America and eloquently exposes the complexity of their character. He offers a glimpse into the joys and struggles that farmers incur while planting and harvesting a crop, which run parallel to the delights and challenges that parents encounter while raising a family. Warren also details the endearing essence of small-town life and reveals the moral fiber of rural people. Farm folks, rural residents, and urban dwellers alike will laugh and cry and, in the end, see the raw beauty of this View From the Edge.

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We live in reality in the moments and interactions of the day-to-day. We have faith in reality, because without it, there is no meaning and no truth. What is reality, though? Is it defined by the senses taste, touch, smell, sight or is it a state of mind? Does it only exist within the human brain, and if so, can one person's reality be in direct opposition to that of another? A View of the Edge of the World is a collection of stories that escapes the realm of our known reality and delves into the extraordinary. An obese child struggles to find meaning with the help of a supernatural stranger. A disillusioned soldier on the verge of insanity wrestles against time to save his mind, while strangers trapped in an all-night diner fight to solve a murder and save their lives. Each story takes a trip to the edge of the world, whether that edge is physical, psychological, or spiritual. Each story questions the truth of our reality. From the depths of space to the horrors created by one man's imagination, ask yourself: do you have the strength to step to the edge and look over? Or will the view leave you questioning your own sense of reality and possibly your sanity?

These essays were written by colleagues and former students of Richard Bulliet, the preeminent Middle East scholar whose "most important contribution remains his extraordinary imagination in the service of history." The hallmark of the book, then, is innovative scholarship in all periods of Islamic history. Its authors share a commitment to asking original historiographical questions, with an overall orientation toward issues in social history.

"[This book is] an ... examination of how we can respond to suffering, live our fullest lives, and remain open to the full spectrum of our human experience"--Amazon.com.

12-16 yrs.