Okay, I've read about 100 books on Islam (and I'm still learning), and I would rank this one near the top -- as far as it being a very informative introduction in understanding not only the basic tenants of Islam, but also its customs. Even if you have read "The Koran for Dummies" or "Understanding Everything About Islam" or the "Idiot's Guide to Islam", etc., this hardback-book's 496 pages still plows new grounds -- a true "keeper." (Hopefully some day its publisher will list the book's table of contents for your review.) It covers just about everything of interest regarding Mohammad (pbuh) and Islam, its religious practices, its history, and what I found of particular value: its customs (in many Islamic countries); such as "greetings and sayings" (shake hands, kiss or nod), "clothing and adornment", "Beliefs and Practices Concerning the Body" (hair, cleanliness), "the Evil Eye, Amulets, and Charms", "the Life Cycle and Conversion" (male & female circumcision, puberty, marriage, death), "symbols" (moon, Kaba), "animals", "dance", the numerous holidays or days of observance, the saints and their festivals, a nice bibliography that is broken down by chapter topics (rather than all just combined aphabetically as is typically done), and a list of websites. Not a whole lot of depth (most topics discussed within one page), but very expansive in the number of topics and subjects. Nothing here really about militant-jihad or extreme "fundamentalism", and it overlooks the "controversial" anti-Jewish or anti-Christian and pro-slavery stuff as revealed by Allah (rst) in the Quran (see Ibn Warraq books for that). While it has many nice photographs relevant to its topics, it's not like a typical "photo book" of Islamic stuff. Heavy on social customs, but not really controversial nor a skeptical or analytical look at Islam. Suited for a college-level class introductory book on Islam, but easily understood for high-school use also.