23 Books like Ibn Khaldun

What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam & Modernity in the Middle East

by Bernard Lewis • 2001

For centuries Islam led the world. Then, suddenly, it fell behind. A historian asks why.

3.55

4k+

🧭 Islamic Civilization 📜 Middle Eastern History 🏗️ Modernization Failure 📉 Civilizational Decline 🛡️ Cultural Resistance

What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam & Modernity in the Middle East Summary

What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam & Modernity in the Middle East 93%

For centuries Islam led the world. Then, suddenly, it fell behind. A historian asks why.

by Bernard Lewis 2001

3.55

4k+ ratings

🧭 Islamic Civilization 📜 Middle Eastern History 🏗️ Modernization Failure 📉 Civilizational Decline 🛡️ Cultural Resistance

بیست و سه سال

by علی دشتی • 1974

He denied performing miracles. A critical life of Mohammad and the politics that built Islam.

4.01

1k+

🏛️ Islamic History 🕌 Prophetic Biography 🔍 Historical Criticism 📜 Secular Biography ⚖️ Religion And Politics

بیست و سه سال 93%

He denied performing miracles. A critical life of Mohammad and the politics that built Islam.

by علی دشتی 1974

4.01

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Islamic History 🕌 Prophetic Biography 🔍 Historical Criticism 📜 Secular Biography ⚖️ Religion And Politics

The Arabs in History

by Bernard Lewis • 1950

The early Arab conquests expanded a nation, not a faith. The empire came a century later.

3.73

450

🕌 Middle Eastern History 🏛️ Arab Civilization ☪️ Early Islam ⚔️ Islamic Conquests 👑 Caliphate

The Arabs in History 93%

The early Arab conquests expanded a nation, not a faith. The empire came a century later.

by Bernard Lewis 1950

3.73

450 ratings

🕌 Middle Eastern History 🏛️ Arab Civilization ☪️ Early Islam ⚔️ Islamic Conquests 👑 Caliphate

Philosophy in the Islamic World

by Peter S. Adamson • 2015

A thousand years of philosophy across three continents, argued by Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

4.33

242

🕌 Islamic Philosophy 🏰 Medieval Philosophy 🤝 Interfaith Exchange 📜 Baghdad School 🧠 Rational Theology

Philosophy in the Islamic World 93%

A thousand years of philosophy across three continents, argued by Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

by Peter S. Adamson 2015

4.33

242 ratings

🕌 Islamic Philosophy 🏰 Medieval Philosophy 🤝 Interfaith Exchange 📜 Baghdad School 🧠 Rational Theology

A Study of History, abridged

by Arnold Joseph Toynbee • 1957

History's real units are civilizations, not nations. Their collapses conceal a spiritual purpose.

4.10

224

🏛️ Comparative History 📜 Philosophy Of History 🔄 Cyclical History 🌐 Macrohistory 🧱 Civilizational Analysis

A Study of History, abridged 92%

History's real units are civilizations, not nations. Their collapses conceal a spiritual purpose.

by Arnold Joseph Toynbee 1957

4.10

224 ratings

🏛️ Comparative History 📜 Philosophy Of History 🔄 Cyclical History 🌐 Macrohistory 🧱 Civilizational Analysis

Destiny Disrupted

by Tamim Ansary • 2009

For centuries, Muslim empires were the center of the world. Then the story got rewritten.

4.40

13k+

🕌 Islamic History 📖 Narrative History 🔄 Counter-Narrative ✨ Islamic Golden Age 🏛️ Colonialism And Empire

Destiny Disrupted 92%

For centuries, Muslim empires were the center of the world. Then the story got rewritten.

by Tamim Ansary 2009

4.40

13k+ ratings

🕌 Islamic History 📖 Narrative History 🔄 Counter-Narrative ✨ Islamic Golden Age 🏛️ Colonialism And Empire

Who Speaks for Islam?

by Dalia Mogahed • 2008

Gallup asked Muslims what they believe. The data upends most Western assumptions about Islam.

4.05

1k+

🕌 Muslim Societies 🌍 Islam And The West 📊 Empirical Sociology ⚠️ Political Radicalization 🏛️ Foreign Policy Critique

Who Speaks for Islam? 92%

Gallup asked Muslims what they believe. The data upends most Western assumptions about Islam.

by Dalia Mogahed 2008

4.05

1k+ ratings

🕌 Muslim Societies 🌍 Islam And The West 📊 Empirical Sociology ⚠️ Political Radicalization 🏛️ Foreign Policy Critique

A Study of History, Abridgement of Vols 1-6

by Arnold Joseph Toynbee • 1987

History's pattern: empires die, and their true heirs are the churches they tried to crush.

4.11

543

🏛️ Philosophy Of History 🌐 Comparative History 🔄 Cyclical History 🤝 Cultural Encounters 🏰 Imperial Legacies

A Study of History, Abridgement of Vols 1-6 Summary

A Study of History, Abridgement of Vols 1-6 92%

History's pattern: empires die, and their true heirs are the churches they tried to crush.

by Arnold Joseph Toynbee 1987

4.11

543 ratings

🏛️ Philosophy Of History 🌐 Comparative History 🔄 Cyclical History 🤝 Cultural Encounters 🏰 Imperial Legacies

The Voice of Human Justice

by George Jordac • 2008

Ali governed with a justice so radical that fourteen centuries later, no state has matched it.

4.36

128

🕌 Islamic Governance 📜 Early Islamic History ⚖️ Justice Philosophy 💚 Compassionate Leadership ✊ Resistance To Tyranny

The Voice of Human Justice 91%

Ali governed with a justice so radical that fourteen centuries later, no state has matched it.

by George Jordac 2008

4.36

128 ratings

🕌 Islamic Governance 📜 Early Islamic History ⚖️ Justice Philosophy 💚 Compassionate Leadership ✊ Resistance To Tyranny

Islam and Democracy

by Fatema Mernissi • 1992

The Arab world resists democracy not over scripture but over a deeper terror: the free individual.

3.83

210

🕌 Political Islam 👩 Islamic Feminism 🌍 Arab Modernity 📚 Postcolonial Theory 👤 Women And Islam

Islam and Democracy 91%

The Arab world resists democracy not over scripture but over a deeper terror: the free individual.

by Fatema Mernissi 1992

3.83

210 ratings

🕌 Political Islam 👩 Islamic Feminism 🌍 Arab Modernity 📚 Postcolonial Theory 👤 Women And Islam

Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism

by John Calvert • 2009

How a shy literary critic in Cairo forged the ideology that fuels global jihad.

4.01

132

🧭 Political Islam 🤝 Muslim Brotherhood 🇪🇬 Modern Egyptian History 📖 Intellectual Biography ⚠️ Radicalization Studies

Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism Summary

Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism 91%

How a shy literary critic in Cairo forged the ideology that fuels global jihad.

by John Calvert 2009

4.01

132 ratings

🧭 Political Islam 🤝 Muslim Brotherhood 🇪🇬 Modern Egyptian History 📖 Intellectual Biography ⚠️ Radicalization Studies

Muhammad

by Karen Armstrong • 1993

Traces Islam's violence to its founder: an orphan who built a cult, not just a religion.

4.18

7k+

🕌 Religious Biography 📜 Islamic History 🧠 Psychological Biography 🔍 Cult Analysis 👤 Charismatic Leadership

Muhammad 91%

Traces Islam's violence to its founder: an orphan who built a cult, not just a religion.

by Karen Armstrong 1993

4.18

7k+ ratings

🕌 Religious Biography 📜 Islamic History 🧠 Psychological Biography 🔍 Cult Analysis 👤 Charismatic Leadership

The Truth About Muhammad

by Robert Spencer • 2006

Jihadists follow a Muhammad who conquered through fear. Islam's canonical texts agree.

3.88

2k+

🕌 Islamic History 📝 Critique Of Islam 📖 Quranic Studies 🏛️ Political Islam ⚔️ Religious Violence

The Truth About Muhammad 91%

Jihadists follow a Muhammad who conquered through fear. Islam's canonical texts agree.

by Robert Spencer 2006

3.88

2k+ ratings

🕌 Islamic History 📝 Critique Of Islam 📖 Quranic Studies 🏛️ Political Islam ⚔️ Religious Violence

Great World Religions

by John L. Esposito • 2003

Islam's core beliefs unite 1.2 billion people. Its internal debates will define the next century.

3.72

378

🕌 Islamic Studies 🌍 World Religions 🏛️ Islamic Civilization 📖 Quranic Studies 🔄 Islamic Reform

Great World Religions 91%

Islam's core beliefs unite 1.2 billion people. Its internal debates will define the next century.

by John L. Esposito 2003

3.72

378 ratings

🕌 Islamic Studies 🌍 World Religions 🏛️ Islamic Civilization 📖 Quranic Studies 🔄 Islamic Reform

Sufi Political Thought

by Milad Milani • 2019

Sufi mystics were never removed from power. They built it, legitimized it, and sometimes seized it.

🕌 Mystical Islam 🌀 Sufi Orders 🏛️ Political Islam 👑 Religious Authority 🤝 Interfaith Dialogue

Sufi Political Thought 91%

Sufi mystics were never removed from power. They built it, legitimized it, and sometimes seized it.

by Milad Milani 2019

🕌 Mystical Islam 🌀 Sufi Orders 🏛️ Political Islam 👑 Religious Authority 🤝 Interfaith Dialogue

Muhammad

by Karen Armstrong • 2006

The prophet as peacemaker: how Muhammad's greatest victories were the wars he refused to fight.

4.08

3k+

🕌 Prophetic Biography 📜 Early Islamic History ☪️ Interfaith Dialogue ✨ Religious Reform 🕊️ Peacebuilding

Muhammad 91%

The prophet as peacemaker: how Muhammad's greatest victories were the wars he refused to fight.

by Karen Armstrong 2006

4.08

3k+ ratings

🕌 Prophetic Biography 📜 Early Islamic History ☪️ Interfaith Dialogue ✨ Religious Reform 🕊️ Peacebuilding

A History of Islam in 21 Women

by Hossein Kamaly • 2021

Islam's history included women who led, judged, and built empires. The standard version erased them.

3.38

501

🕌 Islamic History 🧕 Women In Islam 🔍 Hidden History 📚 Collective Biography 👑 Women Rulers

A History of Islam in 21 Women 91%

Islam's history included women who led, judged, and built empires. The standard version erased them.

by Hossein Kamaly 2021

3.38

501 ratings

🕌 Islamic History 🧕 Women In Islam 🔍 Hidden History 📚 Collective Biography 👑 Women Rulers

Babylon

by Paul Kriwaczek • 2010

Mesopotamia spans half of recorded history. Its rise and fall echo our own.

3.89

3k+

🏛️ Ancient Near East 🏙️ Urban Origins 👑 Imperial Expansion 🏗️ State Formation 💰 Economic Systems

Babylon 91%

Mesopotamia spans half of recorded history. Its rise and fall echo our own.

by Paul Kriwaczek 2010

3.89

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Ancient Near East 🏙️ Urban Origins 👑 Imperial Expansion 🏗️ State Formation 💰 Economic Systems

The Ottomans

by Marc David Baer • 2021

Six centuries, three continents, one dynasty: the European empire the West wrote out of its history.

3.94

2k+

🏛️ Ottoman History 🕌 Islamic Empires 🤝 Religious Tolerance ⚔️ Military Innovation 🏳️‍🌈 Sexual Cultures

The Ottomans 91%

Six centuries, three continents, one dynasty: the European empire the West wrote out of its history.

by Marc David Baer 2021

3.94

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Ottoman History 🕌 Islamic Empires 🤝 Religious Tolerance ⚔️ Military Innovation 🏳️‍🌈 Sexual Cultures

The First Muslim

by Lesley Hazleton • 2013

Exiled at fifty, died triumphant at sixty-two. The human Muhammad between the revelations.

3.99

5k+

🕌 Religious Biography 📜 Early Islamic History 🌅 Spiritual Awakening ⚖️ Religious Reform 🔍 Secular Biography

The First Muslim 91%

Exiled at fifty, died triumphant at sixty-two. The human Muhammad between the revelations.

by Lesley Hazleton 2013

3.99

5k+ ratings

🕌 Religious Biography 📜 Early Islamic History 🌅 Spiritual Awakening ⚖️ Religious Reform 🔍 Secular Biography

The Fourth Turning Is Here

by Neil Howe • 2023

An 80-year cycle pushes America toward a 2030 crisis. The last two ended in total war.

3.93

3k+

🌀 Cyclical History 🧬 Generational Theory ⚠️ Crisis Cycles 🔮 Social Forecasting 🇺🇸 American Crisis

The Fourth Turning Is Here 91%

An 80-year cycle pushes America toward a 2030 crisis. The last two ended in total war.

by Neil Howe 2023

3.93

3k+ ratings

🌀 Cyclical History 🧬 Generational Theory ⚠️ Crisis Cycles 🔮 Social Forecasting 🇺🇸 American Crisis

The Fourth Turning

by William Strauss • 1996

America's history runs on an 80-year cycle of four social seasons. The crisis season has begun.

3.87

8k+

🕰️ Cyclical History 👥 Generational Dynamics ⚠️ Crisis Forecasting 🏚️ Institutional Decay 🌋 Cultural Upheaval

The Fourth Turning 91%

America's history runs on an 80-year cycle of four social seasons. The crisis season has begun.

by William Strauss 1996

3.87

8k+ ratings

🕰️ Cyclical History 👥 Generational Dynamics ⚠️ Crisis Forecasting 🏚️ Institutional Decay 🌋 Cultural Upheaval

It IS About Islam

by Glenn Beck • 2015

Islamic terrorism isn't a misreading. The text commands, the history records, and the polls confirm.

4.06

2k+

📜 Islamic Fundamentalism 🌐 Islam And The West 🏛️ Political Islam 💣 Religious Terrorism ⚖️ Sharia Law

It IS About Islam 91%

Islamic terrorism isn't a misreading. The text commands, the history records, and the polls confirm.

by Glenn Beck 2015

4.06

2k+ ratings

📜 Islamic Fundamentalism 🌐 Islam And The West 🏛️ Political Islam 💣 Religious Terrorism ⚖️ Sharia Law

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M