Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2019 - Humanities — Art & Architecture — Environmental Studies

The "How to Read" series uses examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection to introduce particular traditions to a wide audience. This volume, like others in the series (e.g., Joan Mertens's How to Read Greek Vases,CH, Jun'11, 48-5481), is handsomely produced and clearly written. Using 42 examples from the 8th to the 21st centuries, the book opens with a fine introduction by Ekhtiar (Metropolitan Museum of Art), in which she offers a concise discussion of Arabic language and script and the varying forms of script used in different contexts. One need not be a reader of Arabic to learn from and enjoy the descriptions of the objects. Many of the examples are from manuscript books, from early Qur'an manuscripts to pictures of a galleon and a portrait of the prophet through script, but there are examples on ceramics, some on sculptures (especially in fine metalwork), and even a talismanic shirt with the full Qur'an text. Each example is illustrated with at least one excellent color plate, often accompanied by details and/or comparisons. The associated texts are concise and accessible. This is an inviting introduction to a wonderful body of material that deserves to be known beyond specialists.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.