Nasr, a professor at George Washington University and a living legend in Islamic studies, was commissioned
by Harper San Francisco to write this book after the attacks of September 11. Presented as "an explanation
of the authentic teachings of Islam anew in light of the challenges of the present-day situation," this is
an adequate and accurate reference tool, particularly for comparisons of the text of the holy books of the
three major, monotheistic Western religions. Further, Nasr's ability to perceive profound spiritual meaning
from Islamic theory, though exploited only a few times in this book, has no rival. The writing is best when
he's discussing his own life. He also succeeds when taking on current critics of Islam, especially his
persuasive counter-arguments to the "What Went Wrong?" school of thought. However, Nasr's fans, and those
seeking to improve their understanding of Islam, will be disappointed. In aiming to discuss each value that
is significant in Islam, Nasr has created an unfocused, sometimes dull book. He discusses the importance of
values like justice and community and distinguishes between true Islam and local, tribal culture, but the
absence of a guiding thesis alienates the reader. Though his purpose is to counter negativity about Islam
in the post-9/11 era, Nasr instead rambles on about esoteric, irrelevant points. This is an unengaging read
that fails to illuminate the titular "heart" of Islam.

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