Drawn from his masterful presentation of Islam in the bestselling The World's Religions, Huston Smith offers a highly readable and incisive guide to the heart of a tradition with more than 1 billion adherents worldwide. Dispelling narrow and distorted notions about the nature of Islam, Smith shows the rich history, culture, and values that sustain this vibrant tradition. As Huston points out, Islam itself means primarily "peace," and its full connotation is "the peace that comes when one's life is surrendered to God." Featuring a new introduction for these troubled times, the book covers not only the history and teachings, but also such timely issues as the true meaning ofjihad, the role of women in Islamic societies, and the remarkable growth of Islam in America. This book will stand apart as the least expensive and most concise, timely, and reliable introduction available today.