Dr. Sohail wishes to study a series of prominent men ("prophets") who struggled for justice in the 20th century. He is interested in the inner lives of these men; he is fascinated by their unusual creativity and boldness. He is unwilling to accept the views of others about these prophets, so he insists on reading their works and drawing his own conclusions. He asks himself what set these men apart from others. He asks himself why some refused to engage in violence while others accepted it—reluctantly in most cases, but sometimes with enthusiasm. Deeply drawn to peace and nonviolence himself, Dr. Sohail nonetheless refuses to condemn all armed struggle. Instead he patiently works his way through the contradictions and ambiguities of the inner lives of his subjects. In doing so he helps us get beyond our own stereotypes and he assists us to release our own creativity. He encourages us to make our own choices as mature people facing the uncertainties of the 21st century

— Graeme MacQueen
Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University