Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib is one of the most revered and respected figures in Islamic history. His words are enshrined everywhere from works of religious scholarship to publications of the United Nations. Early in the 11th century, the Muslim scholar Al-Shareef Al-Radi collected the sermons, sayings, and letters of Imam Ali and published them in the book The Peak of Eloquence. Ayatollah Chamseddine's work -The Course of History: A Study in the Peak of Eloquence - is a study of Imam Ali's method and discourse. The book takes a look into Imam Ali's brilliant use of history in his engagement with society, as a statesman, spiritual leader, and private citizen.