Just over a sixth of the world's population subscribes to the Muslim belief that `there is no god but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger'. Michael Cook gives an incisive account of the man who inspired this faith, drawing on the traditional Muslim sources to describe Muhammad's life and teaching. He also attempts to stand back from this traditional picture to question how far it is historically justified.

The Koran has constituted a remarkably strong core of identity and continuity for a religious tradition that is now in its fifteenth century. This Very Short Introduction explores the significance of the Koran both in the modern world and in traditional Muslim culture. Michael Cook provides a lucid and direct account of the Koran as codex, as scripture, as liturgy, and as the embodiment of truth, and examines its means of formation and dissemination. He also discusses issues of interpretation for certain key verses, demonstrating that fecundity of the text for readers throughout the world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

"Enthralling....If so compact a book can be magisterial, [this] is it.--Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World... "A smart, literate survey of human life from paleolithic times until 9/11."--Edward Rothstein, The New York Times

Wanyama, Fredrick; Poulton, Colin; Markelova, Helen; Dutilly-Diane, Celine; Hendrikse, George; Bijman, Jos; Francesconi, Gian Nicola; Bernard, Tanguy; Cook, Michael; Badiane, Ousmane and Wouterse, Fleur Stephanie. 2014. Collective action among african smallholders: Trends and lessons for future development strategies. WCAO Thematic Research Note 5. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

This study analyses the spatial dimensions of deprivation in Ireland. Despite the economic boom in the Republic of Ireland, the number of poor people has remained high. There is a danger that the ongoing hype about the Celtic Tiger could serve to distract from the urgency of the situation. The high average prosperity masks massive internal inequality. This raises important questions about the nature and causes of poverty and social deprivation; in particular, there is a need for a greater understanding of the geographical dimensions of poverty and deprivation. The main aim of this report is to undertake a detailed analysis of socio-economic indicators at small-area level for all of Ireland, adopting a common methodology for both North and South.

As with most postwar British sports cars, a large portion of the Triumphs produced in the 1950s and 1960s were exported to the United States. As a result, the demands of U.S. customers essentially defined what a Triumph sports car would be. This automotive history tells the colorful tale of Triumph's successes in the United States, how the marque was established, its dealer network, promotional and marketing efforts, racing ventures that starred legendary drivers like Stirling Moss and Bob Tulius, profiles of U.S.-exclusive models, and, finally, Triumph's sad defeat under the umbrella of British Leyland. A huge collection of black-and-white photography, much of it archival and not seen in print for decades, imparts a sense of this British marque's jolly good run in the United States.