Dreams From My Father- Barack Obama

Politics aside, this book is beautifully written and touches you to the core, particularly if you are a minority. This is a memoir by Obama written over 10 years ago when publishers wanted to hear what his story was after he became the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review.

I listened to the book on CD so it was narrated by Obama, so to hear him tell his story is an experience unlike any other because what he is saying hits doubly hard to hear him say it himself. His insight into life really is point on, and its the sort of book you want to go back to read again and again, filling it with notes and highlights in the margin.

Muhammad, by: Karen Armstrong

This is a good book that explains the life of Prophet Muhammad and also traces the hatred and the prejudice over the years after the passing of the Prophet. She also traces fanaticism over religion through history as well. You can tell her book is an attempt to both portray a historical image of the Prophet and also to dispel popular misconceptions about him as well. Those who are Islamaphobic will think she is being too sympathetic or too kind about the Prophet. But to answer that you must read her book "The spiral staircase" Where she says to understand the religion of another you must learn it from their perspective which is not harsh and criticising. She does just that and provides a very balanced perspective. There are things in the book that hurt me, and Im not happy with but I I dont know if its inaccuracy or the truth of a time long ago that I simply can't grasp. (i.e. ghazu/raids of traveling caravans)

The book jumps around quite a bit but if you make it through to the end you will be glad you did.