The Genius of Islam
Thursday, June 2, 2011
THE GENIUS OF ISLAM
A special presentation, discussion & book signing with acclaimed author Bryn Barnard
The discussion will begin at 6:00PM and run until 8:00PMIn this one-hour PowerPoint talk, author and artist Bryn Barnard illustrates the many ways in which the Muslim world has been bridge between East and West and an innovative civilization whose ideas made modernity possible. Muslims synthesized the knowledge of the Classical world with ideas from India, Persia and China, adding their own crucial contributions to philosophy, medicine, optics, architecture, art, music, mathematics,engineering, botany, agronomy, astronomy and navigation. From orange juice, to books, to paper, algorithms, to skyscrapers, to the football halftime show, The Genius of Islam is full of surprising connections between the Islamic past and the American present.
Barnard’s talk is based on his new book The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World, published by Knopf, which grew out of a series of talks he delivered to schools and businesses near Seattle in the wake of 9/11. In this important book, Bryn Barnard uses short, engaging text and gorgeous full-color artwork to bring Islam’s contributions gloriously to life. Chock full of information and pictures, and eminently browse-able, The Genius of Islam is the definitive guide to a fascinating topic. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the talk.
