The Essential Koran
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
THOMAS CLEARY is the pre-eminent translator of Buddhist and Taoist texts, including 'The Essential Tao', 'The Essential Confucius', 'The Secret of the Golden Flower', and the best-selling 'The Art of... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0785809023
ISBN13:9780785809029
Release Date:January 1998
Publisher:Booksales
Length:203 Pages
Weight:0.99 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 5.8" x 8.6"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Essential Reading
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
If you want to look behind today's headlines, read this powerful translation of the Qur'an by a sensitive, spiritually-musical, artistic translator. His commentaries are especially helpful (he provides linguistic insights and compares passages with similar themes in other scriptures), which is why this book is helpful despite the fact that he now has a translation of the complete Qur'an available.
A very poetic translation
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
At a little over two hundred ages this isn't meant to be a whole translation of the Quran. Selected surahs are translated and Cleary provides notes on them in the back of the book. As he also translates eastern religious texts many times he will provides parables from Buddhism within the notes. He has a very poetic and simple way of translating the surahs.
A Great Introduction to the Quran
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Thomas Cleary's "Essential Koran" is a great introduction to those who are vaguely familiar with the Quran. Cleary attempts to give the translation a poetic quality which is the essence of the original Arabic. Undoubtedly, the correct way to understand the essence of Quran is to learn Quranic Arabic.Every translation has its shortcomings. However, Cleary's effort to simplify the translation of the Quran for the lay non-Muslim or lay Muslim is appreciated.
Muslim approval
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I am a Muslim who has read several different English translations of the Qur'an; I find this one unmatched in articulation, beauty, and accessibility.Cleary departs from the standard of English translations written in some funky Olde English style, and attempts to capture the rythms and eloquent poetic descriptions found only in the original Arabic. The Qur'an is an extraordinary literary masterpiece; I have never seen an English translation even attempt to hint at revealing that essential appealing style.The introduction to the book is thorough and a pleasure to read. If you are tired of incomprehensible translations, I highly recommend this one.
The most successful translation of the Quran I've read...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
The most successful English translation of the Quran I have read so far. While any translation inevitably weakens the powerful imagery of an original language, Cleary's deep understanding of the Quran's language has allowed him to retain much more of the original Quran's meaning. I wish he'd translate the entire book!
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
