Author:Karen Armstrong
‘Because "God" is infinite, nobody can have the last word’
What is this thing, religion, supposedly the cause of bloodshed and warring for centuries? What is ‘God’ and do we need ‘Him’ in our modern world? Karen Armstrong looks again at these questions in a refreshing and startling way. God is not to be ‘believed in’ as a child believes in Santa Claus; religion is not a story to be proven true or false, but a discipline akin to music or art that answers a deeply human need, and can teach us to discover new capacities of mind and heart.
Selected from A Case for God, Fields of Blood and The Lost Art of Scripture
VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS.
A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us human
Also in the Vintage Minis 'Great Ideas' series:
Art by Simon Schama
Science by Ian McEwan
They look good and read well. That’s win/win in our book
—— StylistLiterature for the Twitter generation
—— Big IssueFry's lively writing certainly conveys his lifelong passion for Greek myths . . . It's a rollicking good read
—— IndependentPerfect for the 21st Century. Ebullient, funny, Fry retells the Greek myths with elegance
—— The TimesLively, humorous and intimate, this retelling has real charm
—— GuardianA wondrous new immersion in ancient stories we only thought we knew. Brilliant, funny, erudite, inventive, surprising and enthralling
—— Richard North PattersonTragedy and passion abound as Fry retells the epic siege of Troy
—— MetroStephen Fry takes the reader into the heart of a story both mythical and grounded in history
—— Northern Life MagazineThis pacy, witty retelling is beautifully illustrated, with an epilogue explaining the myths and historical reality of Troy
—— Daily MailAstonishing . . . an excellent read
—— The OldieCurl up on your sofa as Stephen brings to life the legendary . . . passionate and powerful story of Troy
—— The ListFry is a genial guide to Greek mythology
—— Daily TelegraphFry's knowledge of the world - ancient and modern - bursts through at the seams . . . The reader will find themselves on a fun romp through the world's greatest story
—— Daily TelegraphFull of heroism, desire and drama
—— Eastern Daily PressFry really brings the tale to life, adding his own wry humour to the mix . . . Well worth a read
—— The Hunsbury HandbookA story thousands of years old, only Fry could rewrite this so captivating as ever
—— School HouseFry takes us from the founding myth of Troy, through its most famous inhabitants and the infamous war, to the razing of the city by the vengeful and victorious Achaeans
—— TimesSad, painful, warm, revelatory and utterly fascinating. I think we would live in a slightly kinder and better country if everyone read this book.
—— Mark Haddon , New StatesmanThis is a fiercely important book with a big beating heart-Mohsin Zaidi has delivered to us a deeply personal story that is an urgent manual for our times.
—— Tope Folarin, Author of 'A Particular Kind of Black Man'A Dutiful Boy is a must read that will undoubtedly move you
—— Gay Times[A] powerful read
—— Manisha Talagala , DESIblitzDeeply affecting and often funny, A Dutiful Boy is an honest picture of what it is like to grow up day and Muslim in twenty-first-century Britain
—— Sarah Jilani , Times Literary SupplementA beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming.
—— Jeremy VineOne of the most eloquent and inspiring memoirs of recent years... A Dutiful Boy is real-life storytelling at its finest
—— Mr Porter, *Summer Reads of 2021*Mohsin Zaidi...in a compassionate, compelling and humorous way, tells his story of seeking acceptance within the gay community, and within the Muslim community in which he grew up
—— Gilllian Carty , Scottish Legal NewsA powerful portrayal of being able to live authentically despite all the odds
—— Mike Findlay , ScotsmanZaidi's affecting memoir recounts his journey growing up in east London in a devout Muslim household. He has a secret, one he cannot share with anyone - he is gay. When he moves away to study at Oxford he finds, for the first time, the possibility of living his life authentically. The dissonance this causes in him - of finding a way to accept himself while knowing his family will not do the same - is so sensitively depicted. One of the most moving chapters includes him coming home to a witch doctor, who his family has summoned to "cure" him. This is an incredibly important read, full of hope.
—— Jyoti Patel, The GuardianA beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming
—— Jeremy VineZaidi's account is raw, honest and at times quite painful to read. It's so vivid that it feels almost tangible, as though you're living the experiences of the author himself.
—— VogueThis heartfelt and honest book is beautifully written and full of hope
—— The New ArabWe're obsessed with Emily Maitlis in this house
—— Nick GrimshawEmily Maitlis is a particular hero of mine . . . I know I'm in for a treat with Airhead
—— Gaby Huddart, Editor-in-chief, Good HousekeepingEmily Maitlis is one of my favourite interviewers and I want to read her tales of interviewing people such as Donald Trump, Theresa May and Simon Cowell
—— Catriona Shearer, Sunday MailA fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into modern television news
—— Time & Leisure MagazineIt's a brilliant, often funny, behind-the-scenes account of her working life, written by one of Britain's best television broadcasters. It proves she's far from an airhead!
—— John CravenShe gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most engaging interviews she's conducted in recent years - with all the wrangling, arguing, pleading and last-minute script writing they involved. Insightful, funny and engrossing, we love it.
—— SheerLuxe