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William Shakespeare has a strong claim to be the most influential writer of all time. But whose works influenced him? And how? Robert S Miola discusses the breadth of Shakespeare’s reading, the vexed question of how we can reconstruct what he read, and the staggeringly innovative ways that Shakespeare shaped his sources

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Recent Reader Lists

Our aim is to make Five Books the place to go to on the web for book recommendations, arranged by topic. Help us achieve our goal by making a reading list on a subject you know a lot about. These lists have been created by our readers using our new interactive tool. Browse them all, or make your own.

Get started in Islamic History, recommended by joewbradford

The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Islamic World (Cambridge Illustrated Histories)
by Francis Robinson

Islam: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles)
by Karen Armstrong

A History of Islamic Societies
by Ira M. Lapidus

Islamic Central Asia: An Anthology of Historical Sources
by Scott C. Levi

A History of Islam in America: From the New World to the New World Order
by Kambiz GhaneaBassiri

5 books on Empathic Leadership, recommended by Natasha Zolotareva

Emotional GRIT: 8 Steps to Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Thoughts & Change Your World PRE
by Dr Neeta F Bhushan

What Are Your Blind Spots? Conquering the 5 Misconceptions that Hold Leaders Back
by Jim Haudan & Rich Berens

Leadership Lessons Inspired By A 6 Year Old
by Mr Joseph D McGee

Live Big: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Passion, Practicality, and Purpose
by Ajit Nawalkha

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
by Brené Brown

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