The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades

Having just watched the "Kindom of Heaven", I was very interested in learning more about this periord of history. I found many books on the subject, but most were very dry and hard to get into. I picked up a copy of the Idiot's Guide to the Crusades and believe it or not, I could not put it down. This book is not a scholarly work but is very entertaining and well presented. The title of this book is deceiving. Few idiots would take on a subject matter like this. My only criticism is that it does not contain more maps and pictures. For the amount of people involved in the crusades, it's hard to keep track of who is who.

Although other critics on this page would bash Williams' creation for being shallow, I would like to help that critic understand that this is, as advertised, an overview for those that are interested in gaining a general understanding of the Crusades. Depth is not an option here. Additionally, understating the folly of those involved (on all 4 or 5 sides) should be considered humor and not self hatred.That said, this is a very entertaining look about a time that is incredibly confusing for those without a degree in Early Medieval European History. If you want to know what basically happened during the Crusades, don't want to read volume after volume on the matter, and want to laugh out loud at times doing so, buy this book!(Unless, of course, you cannot find the slightest thing funny about your own history. The recommendation then would be to make dinner reservations for one.)

If you have ever wanted to know anything or everything about "The Crusades", from the first and most successful,to the third and most famous, all the way down to the last and most tragic, this work is an absolutly wonderful way to satisfy that thirst for knowledge. Not only is it entertaining from cover to cover, but the two authors made it so reader friendly that it was hard for me to put it down......not a big deal....but when it was time for the bookstore to close, it was a big deal. I truly am delighted to have read this book and be the owner of a copy myself.

When I went to school, history began in 1492. If we regarded Europe at all, it was with the annoyed curiosity of a kid who finds a bow with no arrows. That's what Europe was without us - and it served them right for being so mean. No sitting around musty castles for us. Our history skipped over all the boring stuff. We'd jump right in with Columbus, following every nail-biting, cliff-hanging turn as he battled the raging seas.Because our history begins relatively late on the world's timeline, we have no knowledge of the crusades or most events that happened prior to Queen Isabella's reign. If you mention the crusades, most of us envision a knight in shining armor (or dirty tunic) rushing into battle. That's it. We can't elaborate, but we know it was a long, drawn out European something or other. All we know is that we shouldn't talk about it. (Remember the outcry when Bush called the war on terrorism a "crusade"?)The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades is EXCELLENT for those of us who like our history lessons full of action. I have little patience for history that is taught by forcing people to memorize names and dates. Instead, TCIG to the Crusades is very funny and smartly written. I finished it in two days and couldn't put it down, wanting to see what would happen next. It's inspired me to find out more about the Crusades and the history of Christian/Muslim relations. Please do yourself a favor and add this to your library.

Paul Williams has superbly highlighted the period of the eight Crusades (1095-1270) in 279 engrossing pages. This book is a must read for both the casual reader, as well as history buffs. The main actors, battles, and glimpses of social and cultural life of the time are accurately and wittingly portrayed. Excellent read!