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The Islamic University of Medina was established by the Saudi state
in 1961 to provide religious instruction primarily to foreign
students. Students would come to Medina for religious education and
were then expected to act as missionaries, promoting an
understanding of Islam in line with the core tenets of Wahhabism.
By the early 2000s, more than 11,000 young men from across the
globe had graduated from the Islamic University. Circuits of Faith
offers the first examination of the Islamic University and
considers the efforts undertaken by Saudi actors and institutions
to exert religious influence far beyond the kingdom's borders.
Michael Farquhar draws on Arabic sources, including biographical
materials, memoirs, syllabi, and back issues of the Islamic
University journal, as well as interviews with former staff and
students, to explore the institution's history and faculty, the
content and style of instruction, and the trajectories and
experiences of its students. Countering typical assumptions,
Farquhar argues that the project undertaken through the Islamic
University amounts to something more complex than just the one-way
"export" of Wahhabism. Through transnational networks of students
and faculty, this Saudi state-funded religious mission also relies
upon, and has in turn been influenced by, far-reaching circulations
of persons and ideas.
From Caligula's blood-soaked end to hotelier Steve Wynn's
unfortunate run-in with a priceless Picasso, Bad Days in History
delves into the past to present 365 delightfully told tales of
historically bad days.
We may say that honesty is the best policy, but history--to say
nothing of business, politics, and the media--suggests otherwise.
In this infinitely citable book, the author of two bestselling
treasuries of scandal recounts some of the greatest deceptions of
all time. With what forged document did the Vatican lay claim to
much of Europe? Who wrote Hitler's diaries? Why do millions still
believe the vague doggerel that Nostradamus passed off as prophecy?
Organizing his material by theme (con artists, the press, military
trickery, scientific fraud, imposters, great escapes, and more),
Michael Farquhar takes in everything from the hoodwinking of Hitler
to Vincent -the Chin- Gigante's thirty-year crazy act.A Treasury of
Deception is a zestful, gossipy expose--and celebration--of
mendacity.A Treasury of Deception also includes: Ten tricksters
from scriptureTen great liars in literatureTen egregious examples
of modern American doublespeakTen classic deceptions from Greek
mythology
Following on the heels of his national bestseller A Treasury of Royal Scandals, Michael Farquhar turns his attention to matters a little closer to home with A Treasury of Great American Scandals. From the unhappy family relationships of prominent Americans to the feuds, smear campaigns, duels, and infamous sex scandals that have punctuated our history, we see our founding fathers and other American heroes in the course of their all-too-human events. Ineffectual presidents, lazy generals, traitors; treacherous fathers, nagging mothers, ungrateful children, embarrassing siblings; and stories about insanity, death, and disturbing postmortems are all here, as are disagreeable marriages, vile habits, and, of course, sex: good sex, bad sex, and good-bad sex too. We can take comfort in the fact that we are no worse and no better than our forebears. But we do have better media coverage. Bonus educational material: -
A brief history of the United States, including scandals! -
The American Hall of Shame! -
A complete listing of presidential administrations!
From Nero's nagging mother (whom he found especially annoying after taking her as his lover) to Catherine's stable of studs (not of the equine variety), here is a wickedly delightful look at the most scandalous royal doings you never learned about in history class.
Gleeful, naughty, sometimes perverted-like so many of the crowned heads themselves-A Treasury of Royal Scandals presents the best (the worst?) of royal misbehavior through the ages. From ancient Rome to Edwardian England, from the lavish rooms of Versailles to the dankest corners of the Bastille, the great royals of Europe have excelled at savage parenting, deadly rivalry, pathological lust, and meeting death with the utmost indignity-or just very bad luck.
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