God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215

It was quite enjoyable getting to read a side by side of West East and Middle east developement in the Early Middle ages. Usually the books are just one of the many possible lines of developent, without the connection to where they happen in the larger picture. Perhaps I just like time lines. I found the writing style to be easy to read. I also like the extensive biboliography at the end of the book, though I would have liked to see real foot notes on the page of the citing rather than having to flip to the back of the book to find them. I recomend it. Gordon Redthorn.

Levering-Lewis is a great storyteller. After reading Reza Aslan's No God But God, I wanted to understand how the conflict between the West and the East developed to the point where we are today. God's Crucible is an easy read, and full of fascinating details on the history of our two cultures. It also provides a very good understanding of Western Culture between Constantine and the Middle Ages, an area that I personally felt undereducated. I recommend this book whole-heartedly.

Very little reliable history has been written about this period. Lewis brings the period to life and in doing so shows how Europe was influenced by Muslim Spain and how the parallel histories advanced along different paths which still affect our lives today.