This nonfiction title by an German-Egyptian academic has spent 21 weeks on the bestseller list in Germany. It examines stereotypes throughout history of the prophet Muhammad.
Book title: Mohamed. Eine Abrechnung (in English, Muhammad. A Reckoning)
First published by: German house Droemer Verlag (an imprint of Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur) in October 2015
Format: Hardcover
Author: Hamed Abdel-Samad was born near Cairo in 1972. He worked for USESCO, at the Institute for Islamic Culture at the University of Erfurt, and at the Institute for Jewish History and Culture at the University of Munich. Abdel-Samad is a member of the German Islam Conference and, according to his publisher, is “considered to be one of the most renowned Islam intellectuals in the German-speaking world.”
Acquiring Editor: Stefan Ulrich Meyer
How It’s Done: The book has spent 21 weeks on the bestseller list in Germany, at one point hitting #1. Rights have sold in the Czech Republic (to Euromedia); Hungary (Művelt Nép); Korea (Hans Media); and Sweden (Rosa Alba).
Why They Think It’s Working: Abdel-Samad has written other bestsellers and is known in Europe, as a vocal critic of Islam. This book, Meyer said, exemplifies his reputation as someone who writes "trenchant, sharply argumentative" assessments of the religion. Meyer also felt sales of the book benefited from the fact that it was released shortly before the terrorist attack in Paris. Ultimately, though, Meyer said he thinks readers appreciate the fact that Abdel-Samad delivers “taboo-free answers to pertinent questions” about Muhammad.
