While reading this book, I vacillated between rating it a 3, 4, or 5. Upon finishing the book, including the last chapter and prologue, I could not rate it any less than 5. The author addresses very complex issues and history in an understandable way. I thought there was too much redundancy in the third quarter of the book, however I was brought out of that when I read the last of the book. Everything came together.
Religious and cultural tolerance and intolerance exist simultaneously among one race. Ones' beliefs become who one is and is a vital part of self- and community-identity. This is a complexity with which humans have dealt for eternity. To find one place where the essence of tolerance lived in-between eras of intolerance then expand upon its origins and demise is to the author's credit. That she is able to present it in an easy to read framework reflects her genius.
I have not yet read Decameron or Don Quixote, but will do so now with a much greater understanding of the books' contexts than if I had read them prior to reading this wonderful book. ( )

History of a period/place I knew little about. The tolerance was reasonably patchy and more of the form “we mostly went to war against coreligionists/alliances were not divided on religious lines,” but it was still interesting. ( )

Never realised that the Moors in Spain were so long settled. I assumed it was just prior to the First Crusade, but it’s more 8th century until 15th century. But at the time of the Vikings, their culture was rich, inclusive and tolerant. The book is interesting with new information and its treatise is that it was wiped out by fractions within Islam as well as by the increasing dogmatism of the Christian world. ( )

This is a delightful romp through almost a thousand years of the Spanish history. It doesn't attempt to be comprehensive, but instead is a series of snapshots, with enough connections sketched in to keep the story coherent. The main theme is the notion of a first-class mind, from F. Scott Fitzgerald, applied here to cultures. There are four streams entangled - the three Abrahamic faiths along with the Greeks, mostly Aristotle.

I've seen references to the richness of Andalusian culture. This was a splendid way to dive in a little deeper. It leaves me with too many threads to follow! Never to be bored!

It was a strange enough coincidence that this book was written just before the attacks of 9/11/2001. That we seem to be getting trapped more tightly in battles over ideological purity is really sad. ( )

Maria Rosa Menocal, of Blessed Memory, added a crucial work to the body of community cooperation literature which should be read by all.

One of her comments which I found distressing (17 June, 2013, which was MEOW Date Saturday, June 16, 12,013 H.E.) was that "most people died alone" of the Black Plague. How aweful to see how readily our affections and ties to one another are abandoned.

But she also shows a culture of cooperation in her book which we can emulate today.
Peace,
ShiraD. ( )