The Life of Ibn Ḥanbal

Cooperson's translation is uncommonly deft. On the whole, this translation is a grand success. It will be valuable for teachers to illustrate early Islamic piety, early Islamic law, early Sunni theology, and everyday life in Baghdad. ~Christopher Melchert, Journal of Islamic Studies

Michael Cooperson's fluid translation is accompanied by substantial notes and a glossary of names and terms. ~Banipal Magazine

Gives readers a unique vantage point into the life and piety of the namesake of the Hanbali school of Sunni law...Ibn al-Jawzi, drawing on earlier reports, reconstructs the life and morality of his hero as a complex, earnest, and playful man; Coopersons dynamic and accessible translation brings this last quality to the surface to an extent that would surprise many modern readers with preconceptions about Hanbalism. ~Marginalia

Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in ḥadīth, history, theology, and law, and to anyone who appreciates a good read. ~Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt