Karen Armstrong's "Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet" book
review  Karen Armstrong - Muhammad : A Biography of the Prophet
According to the introduction, Armstrong undertook this work to
write a fair and accurate biography which she doesn't feel has
been done before. The biographies of the past tended to be very
pro or very con Muhammad and Islam.  Armstrong begins by giving
the reader some background information on the time period and
culture in which Islam was given its birth. Then she discusses
Muhammad's life through the remainder of the book. In the final
chapter, after discussing the events surrounding his death, she
gives a brief overview of post-Muhammad Islam.  At times,
Armstrong almost seems like an apologist for Muhammad and Islam
although she doesn't leave out the bad (which is what apologists
tend to do). She attempts to give a framework for the killing
and thieving that went on to show that although unthinkable to
people of today, the actions weren't out of place or against the
customs of t