Reopening Muslim Minds

A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance

By: Mustafa Akyol

Narrated by: Neil Shah

In this book, Mustafa Akyol, senior fellow at the Cato Institute and opinion writer for The New York Times, both diagnoses “the crisis of Islam” in the modern world and offers a way forward. Diving deep into Islamic theology, and also sharing lessons from his own life story, he reveals how Muslims lost the universalism that made them a great civilization in their earlier centuries. He especially demonstrates how values often associated with Western Enlightenment - freedom, reason, tolerance, and an appreciation of science - had Islamic counterparts, which sadly were cast aside in favor of more dogmatic views, often for political ends.

Elucidating complex ideas with engaging prose and storytelling, Reopening Muslim Minds borrows lost visions from medieval Muslim thinkers, such as Ibn Rushd (aka Averroes), to offer a new Muslim worldview on a range of sensitive issues, including human rights, equality for women, and freedom of religion, or freedom from religion. While frankly acknowledging the problems in the world of Islam today, Akyol offers a clear and hopeful vision for its future.

©2021 Mustafa Akyol (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

like a light at the end of the Islamic tunnel

never have I come across such a compelling case for pragmatism and liberal values in the practice of islam. calling on previously unknown aspects of history, akyol successfully illustrates the manner in which literalist and conservative practices of Islam have come to dominate the social-- and more importantly-- geopolitical landscape of islam. if you are a person who is hopeful about the future of Islam and it's potential to thrive under enlightenment values, you will henceforth be equipped with some very good arguments that Islam at its very core really is a tolerant, peaceful, and rational faith. ultimately, the consolidation of power in various Islamic regimes was responsible for the disarray that we see today. understanding "the why" is the beginning of what one can only hope will be a new era of enlightened Islam.

Must read by all who need to learn about extremism in Islam

Really opens the mind and makes you question. Why so many Muslims are quiet when extremist have taken over our beautiful religion.

nice

Incredibly refreshing and entertaining anecdotes. well articulated and relevant. I would recommend to anyone interested in current muslim affairs.

Essential!

One of the best books I've ever listened to! It is an amazing journey along the paths of Islam since its birth until today's challenges. Akyol is a wise and keen interpreter of the islamic philosophy and tradition . He brings facts and freshness to the readers, inviting everyone to join in the essential act of reasoning, interpreting and enjoying this very existence. There is no way to feel bored listening to this work, quite on the contrary, one will probably feel deeply alive and welcomed to the world of free thinking and acting for the sake of paving human progress.

good book.

Excellent book with eye-opening ideas and interpretations and enjoyable narration. The themes are great and the vast knowledge of the author is displayed in an elegant way which doesn't come off a preachy. Highly recommend.