Even-handed books about Muhammad - Guillaume?

[icehorse]

I just got a copy of Guillaume's translation of Ibn Ishaq's book on Muhammad.

It's quite the heavy tome. It will take a lot of persistence on my part to read this book.

What do people think of this book? Do the Muslims here at RF think this is a fair book? If not, what would be a fairer one? Are there any fair books that aren't so long and dense?

 

[beenie]

These are also quite good:

Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong

Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources: Martin Lings: 9781594771538: Amazon.com: Books

 

[icehorse]

Thanks!

Which one would you read first? Or, put another way, if a person was going to read only one, which would you recommend?

 

[beenie]

Thanks!

Which one would you read first? Or, put another way, if a person was going to read only one, which would you recommend?

I would probably read the one by Karen Armstrong first; it's a little faster read and not so "deep".