Middle East Books

All stereotypes are broken with this unique view of a people and their eclectic influence on the American scene. The mostly black & white panoramic viewpoint maximizes the visual impact. The outstanding photo technique, large page size and strong composition make this a center piece of your home coffee table books to be enjoyed for years to come. I only wish several pages were devoted to the actual technical aspects of the shots

Remarkable images, extraordinary reproduction. Ironic that the publisher was put up for sale the day the book was published

This oversize coffee table book caught my eye in the bookstore. With a price of $67.50, its gotta be great to sell -- and it is. The photographs are truly outstanding and many outlandish. Jews on Harleys in front of a synogoge in Florida, Holocaust survivors visiting LA's holocaust museum, and a family of persian, jewish immigrants seated on a flying carpet in their neighborhood. The best part of this book is not that the photographer manages to capture the diversity of jews in the states but that each of the pictures he presents is stunning in its own right. Brenner managed to gain access to an unbeliveable number of private, Jewish forums, from Jewish Civil War buffs who get together in costume to re-enact period battles to Lesbian Jewish families, the collection is fresh, provocative, and rich

Surprising, moving, magical. Brenner's photographs speak volumes. I was most moved by a picture that includes not a single Jew. It features instead a panoramic shot of the main street of Billings, Montana, the citizens of which had filled the streets, each holding a menorah aloft in protest against a violent attack on a Jewish resident's home. A book that claims to, and succeeds at, framing the diversity of American Jewish experience also succeeded in reaffirming my faith in the decency of humankind.

Whether you have children or not, this book will help you plan your Israel travel. It lists many attractions, tourist sites, museums, national parks, etc., including hours of operation, phone and fax numbers, and whether there is a fee. As a professional travel planner specializing in Israel travel, I highly recommend this book to all my clients, even those traveling without children!

We used this book every day of our 2 week trip to Israel with 3 children aged 1-8. Our friends then borrowed the book for a 3 week trip with 5 children aged 6-16. The sections of the book are broken down by geography, with handy maps to assist you in setting up your schedule, whether your hotel is in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Tiberias or Eilat. The greatest benefits of the book include the phone numbers of the tourist sites as well as the hours which each location is open. The author even recommends ideal hotels and activities based on your children's ages.

This book is does an OK job describing activities for kids, but it is VERY outdated. Israel is changing rapidly and this book is in need of a new revised edition. It lists places like the Dolphinarium as a place to take kids. The Dolphinarium was turned in to a disco years ago.

You can use this book for some ideas, but double check everything before you go, the activity may no longer be there.

Barbara Sofer is one of the most knowledgable writers on everyday life in the land of Israel. In this outstanding guide she pays special attention to the attractions which will be especially appealing to families.
Israel is a small country extremely crowded with interesting sights and people.
This is an outstanding guidebook to a remarkable land.

As a collector of 100% natural dyed Turkish Kilims, my wife and I have now replaced this particular book over many within our library for information, data and usefulness in understanding and relating to the carpets (kilims) in and around the regions of Turkey... many of the regions and carpets, we are quite familiar with as we have are fortunate to have a 2nd home in Antalya.

Simply stated, this book is a must for anyone that desires to learn or begin the quest and addiction for kilims. We have actually discovered that one of the notable kilim dealers in Antalya uses this book as well and highly recommends it. One of the important keys to knowing and understanding kilims lies with "KNOWING THE COLORS".

Exceptional !!

This book is very informative. I wanted to become knowledgable about Kilims and this book has really helped me to become so. The photographes are very beautiful. I hope to become an advid collector and with the information from this book I am a confident buyer.

This is my favorite book on Flatweaves. It covers more than just kilims and is very comprehensive. If you are interested in any Flatweaves you should have this book. I use this book when I am trying to identify flatweaves and I find it a simple, user friendly, but comprehensive resource.

Gorgeous rugs. Gorgeous photographs. Lots of them. For people who love oriental rugs, especially funky tribal rugs, and for people who are demanding about the pleasure they expect from rug books--this book is a great find.

This is essential for understanding North Korea and how it relates to the world of today. To undestand North Korea you must understand it's founder Kim Il Sung. The book goes on to show how he created a Stalinist State and huge army to insure it's survival. It talks about the many attempts on the lives of south korean presidents and his unpredictable nature that he passed on to his son and successor. Understandin Kin Il Sung will help the reader understand why Noth Korea is today run more like a cult than a country and why it is the most secretive country in the world today and a failed society.

In 2001 I visited North Korea and found this book very helpful because our guides would only give us the official version of their history. The book is packed full of information and the only one I have found that explains how Kim Il Sung gained and kept power. Dae-Sook Sue has put a great deal of reseach into the book and let's hope he writes another book on North Korea covering Kim Jong Il present reign and the future of the country. There is no other county like North Korea so I recommend reading the book then visiting the country.

This book is advanced but very good. It is complicated at times but in the long run it is good for reports or projects. It is very interesting. Kim Il Sungs career is much more interesting than Lenin's or Stalins. Very Good!

Ever wonder why North Korea is such a ... arrogant little country? This book will tell you exactly why. Guerrilla leaders scarred by years of eating rats, living in the hills, and butchering Japanese invaders do not necessarily possess the skills needed to run a country! This book is a must for anybody interested in the current standoff between America and Pyongyang, which North Korea seems to believe will end with the Korean peninsula being devoured by a sea of fire. Kim Il Sung's early days as a revolutionary and guerrilla fighter are given much attention, as are the purges he carried out in order to become the supreme leader. If you're looking for a play-by-play account of the Korean War, look elsewhere though- this book sweeps quickly through that period. The author focuses primarily on Kim's tight-rope act between the Soviet Union (which gave him the job in the first place), China (which saved his butt from the American-led U.N. forces), and the U.S. (which has refrained from crushing lil' Kim's summer camp of starvation in the name of East Asian harmony). Other topics addressed by the author include: Kim's frustration at not being acknowledged as the Emperor of the Third World, Kim's frustration at not being able to feed his population while spending 99.99% of his country's slight earnings on military hardware, Kim's frustration that the rest of the world didn't care much about the Korean problem (until now, of course), and Kim's frustration at not receiving a THIRD honorary degree from some university in Africa or Southeast Asia (naw, just kidding...but you get the point). The only complaint I have is this: the avalanche of names and details that sometimes disrupts the narrative. Perhaps a little too scholarly for anybody not specifically interested in the history of the North Korean Communist Party from 1946-1980's. Still, if you can get past this, the book is rewarding, and one will walk away knowing who Kim Il Sung was, how his son maneuvered into power, and why North Korea is a country with a Napoleonic complex.

I've scrutinized a bunch of guide books about Istanbul and Turkey, but I can easily say that I've never met that kind of detailed and well-pictured book on Istanbul. Especially the historical (Ottomans, their architecture) pictures are awesome. The only negative critic about the book for me is the out-of-date photos. For example, the Turkish policemen do not wear those uniforms and most of the bills (banknotes) that were shown inside the book are out of circulation.

This is the most brilliant book on Istanbul in it's cathegory. Very coplexed and detailed on sites, historical monuments, museums and daily life. A must see before visiting Istanbul and Turkey.

I personally do not review many products unless they are really bad, or in this case exceptional.

This book is awesome! Maybe it is because I am new to using guide books, but I can't image a better book. I read a number of reviews prior to my purchase and my 2 week trip to Istanbul which lead me to this one. I have to say that its small size and wonderful insight makes it a must. I am not much for reading history and thought that the book was a bit dry until I landed in Turkey to experience it for myself. I began with the introduction and history, but used the book to help me locate key locations.

Here is how I found the most useful way to use this guide:
1.) Skim through it looking for points of interest as well as other locations near by. This is great to do the night before or the morning of so that you can plan your day of tourism.
2.) Go there and don't forget the book.
3.) Since the best way to travel in Istanbul is by public transportation there is also a change to read while traveling to your locations.
4.) Explore the locations using the approach from the guide or just wing it (personally I found it best to use it as a guide and then explore on my own).
5.) Once you have finished your day and settled in it was wonderful to go back to the guide and read more about the locations I visited. This gave me a chance to bring into context what I saw.
6.) After reviewing where you had been, why not pick you next locations for the following day.

I am not much for history as a study, but when it comes to living history you can't beat the experience as well as the help this guide brings! I would say that with the guide my trip was at least 10 times as pleasurable and insightful. There may be better, but this was so good it does not leave you wanting.

One last piece of advice...I found that without having someone who knows Turkish with you it is not the easiest tourist destination. There are ways to get by, but knowing the language provides so much more opportunity. You will also find that everything costs more if you are not with someone who is native.

Have fun and happy travels!

This book is in the same genre as 'Eyewitness' with lush illustrations and colour. Possibly more detailed in historical information. Arranged thematically. An excellent armchair companion guide for before or after a trip. I would take 'Eyewitness' with me for the practical information (pictures of bus tickets; how to pay a dolmus driver; what to say to alight from a dolmus). But I am so pleased I purchased this book as well. Will tuck it into my bag next time, space permitting.

This book is so far the best book about the Kurdish history that I have come across. It is a very detailed and superbly written book. However, the author would benefit the world even moreif he produced a 'bigger and heavier' updated version.

This book is the ultimate reference when it comes to the Kurds and all aspects of their life. The analysis is deep, academic, and far from biased. Although some of the historical facts Professor Izady provides need to be prooved, the historical research seems very miticulous. Although this book serves its purpose perfectly, such a small handbook isn't enough to eliminate the numerous common misconceptions and fallacies about the Kurds and their history. We need a far more detailed book with more proofs about what it states, and I hope that Izady's next book will be like that. Anyway, despite being a bit outdated, this is the finest refernce on the Kurds available so far. Highly Recommended!!

Although 8 years old, this still remains the best book I have ever read about the Kurds. We Armenians know very little, and that also so biased, when it comes to our neighbors the Kurds. I think this book should be made a mandatory reading in all the Armenian schools.

The book is like an encyclopedia and the author is successful in not taking any political side. He is also respectful to the Armenians and their Genocide in which as Izady writes, the Kurdish tribal leaders took part with the Turks. His treatment of the Kurdish culture, art and history is as fascinating as his coverage of politics, religion, langauge and demography. It is an excellent resource.

It is a pitty that this book is not more widely known or available in the Armenian language. I wished the publishers of the book would consider translating and publishing this into other languages too and not just English.

The author covers every aspect of Kurdish life, especially religion quite well. The book is a good approximation of the country studies available from the library of congress on the various recognized independent states.

Since Kurdistan is not recognized as an independent state, it does not have a library of congress handbook. As a replacement, Izady's book is a good substitute.

There are a few difficulties and inaccuracies in the book, but given its size and its attempt to cover such a long span of history, these mistakes can be forgiven. For example, the claim that Armenian King Tigranes II The Great was of Kurdish origin is at best very debatable. The King is a central figure in Armenian history, and Izady's initial words seemed to be aimed at attacking Armenian history. But he quickly repairs this potential point of contention and clearly points out that the King probably regarded himself as an Armenian whatever his origins may have been.

In addition to bringing to life history that is treated as a taboo subject in Turkey, Iraq and other Middle Eastern and even some Western states. Izady does a great deal to shatter the image of religious conformity in the region. We learn of the Yazidis, the Cult of angels, the Alevis, the Syrian Arab Alawites (Nusayris), and other groups including Kurdish Christians.

This book is a must-read for every United States Middle Eastern policy maker, because it draws a clear, accurate flesh and blood picture of a people long-maligned, massacred and misunderstood. Every American analyst interested in learning more about the Kurds, their life, survival, tragedies and triumphs should read this book as a introduction to this remarkable nation.

All too often nonfiction authors spin a captivating tale based on poorly researched nonsense, relying on secondary sources with an occasional dip into a primary source composed in the only language of which the author has full command. Ronald Florence is not such an author. He is a skilled historian with a talent for painting lush portrayals of great personalities while capturing fine details that surprise the reader. In "Lawrence and Aaronsohn," one of our heroes is a young and romantic scholar-soldier whose over-confidence drives him across the desert to victory in Damascus and personal suffering and humiliation in Deraa. The other is an ornery genius who, anxious over the fate of the starving Jews at the hands of the Turks, abandons science for espionage opening the doors of the Middle East to Great Britain while sealing the fate of his sister Sarah. Florence's narrative will not only entertain you but may also offer you some insight into the seeds of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

As in a number of new books such as Jerusalem 1913: The Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict this book seeks to examine the 'seeds' of the Arab-Israeli conflict. But the approach here is quite original, in a dual biography of a leading Zionist and Arabist the roots of the conflict are drawn by those actors who worked to create the facts on the ground after the First World War. T.E. Lawrence was one of the most celebrated figures of the war who helped lead an irregular force of Arabs under the Sharif of Mecca, the Hussein family, to victory in Damascus. But Lawrence was more than a British officer, he was a lover of the Arabs and adopted their cause as his own. He drew maps granting them new countries and wanted to decide the future of the Middle East based on his Bedouin friends. But time was against him as Ibn Saud conquered Arabia and Faisal and Abdullah were ejected, eventually pushed from Damascus they found themselves in Iraq and Jordan. Only in Jordan would the legacy of Lawrence find root in a Bedouin state and a new Lawrence, Sir John Bagot Glubb, would help lead Jordan to a partial victory over Israel in 1948.

Juxtaposed with Lawrence is Aaron Aaronsohn, a Palestinian born Jew, he was a leading agronomist who desired to build a new Jewish state in Palestine. He worked to develop land purchased for Jewish pioneers. Aaronsohn saw in the British key allies of the Jews and as victors they would be the ones to help guide the Jews to statehood and safety.

The book is a series of vignettes of these two men as they lobby England to support their two causes and although originally the causes are mutually beneficial(King Faisal supported the Zionists in Palestine), eventually they become antagonistic by the 1920s.

The biggest drawback of this book is that these men are in-comparable. Aaronsohn is a Jew from a backward province, T.E Lawrence an Englishmen from the greatest power of the day. Instead the book could have compared Lawrence with Richard Mienertzhagen or Orde Wingate, both of whome were pro-Zionists and were like a T.E Lawrence for the Jews of Palestine.
Nevertheless this is a well written and interesting book.

Seth J. Frantzman

Through careful research and telling, Florence tracks T. E. Lawrence as he seeks to help the Arabs (whom he has romanticized since childhood) help the British in WWI. Similarly, he tracks Aaron Aaronsohn, who bravely and methodically parleys his agricultural research station's observation capability into war intelligence for the British. Both men see war participation as a stragegy to advance their skeptical consitituencies in the aftermath of war. Both have to work to get the ear of the British bureaucracy.

One of Florence's theses is that in the work of Lawrence and Aaronsohn we can see the beginnings of the Arab Israeli conflict. The other is that while Lawrence is better known, Aaronson's work is more lasting.

I was particularly drawn to the childhoods of the two men. Lawrence's was a 99% guarantee that he'd be eccentric. Aaronsohn's brought to life the early days of Israeli settlers, how they came to the Middle East and how they contended with both European patrons and Ottoman overseers. There are many well written episodes, besides those of the childhoods these include tense moments in spying, Sarah Aaronsohn's ultimate sacrifice and descriptions of some of the Arab operations.

The text devoted to Lawrence's loss of his manuscript and Aaronsohn's death is short in relation to their respective impact, but both are followed by a very good analysis of the impact of the men's lives on the future.

Allow me to begin with a summary and then indulge me a bit more time to discuss Lawrence. This volume is a wonderful read and I much enjoy dual biographies that develop a time and place as well as intersect events. Florence's book is most entertaining and enlightening with the emphasis placed mainly on the story of Aaron Aaronsohn and his sister Sarah. Lawrence (yes, Lawrence of Arabia) is somewhat short changed and summarized to quickly. I think Ronald Florence's objective was to market the hook to those who have interest in Lawrence literature only to introduce us to the amazing Aaronsohn family. Their support for Zionism through science and spying on behalf of the British against the Turks in WWI is simply an incredible story. I very highly recommend the book. Now let me digress for a while to say that I am a collector of T.E. Lawrence literature and purchased this book as part of that collection. My recommendation to those who want to explore Lawrence more deeply is to read two other great biographies. The first won the Pulitzer price and is A PRINCE OF OUR DISORDER, THE LIFE OF T E LAWRENCE by John E. Mack (1976) and the second by Jeremy Wilson, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF T E LAWRENCE. I noted that Ronald Florence referenced that Jeremy Wilson reviewed his text and made comments. Also, of note is that Jeremy Wilson and his wife Nicole own a private publishing house in England called Castle Hill Press. They have a web page and have printed several limited editions of Lawrence books, most notably the complete 1922 text of SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM which Florence mentions is his source reference. I recommend that you visit their web site and also pick up these two other volumes to really cover Lawrence in great detail. But a good place to begin is with Ronald Florences creative and well written LAWRENCE AND AARONSHOHN. (I notice that Amazon.com has this title now at bargin price which is even all the more reason to pick it up.)

Using extensive documentation, including documents unreleased by the British government when earlier, more speculative biographies were written, Jeremy Wilson produced a phenomenal work of great scope and power. The book may be too exhaustive for casual readers, who will find the reams of speculative nonsense written about Lawrence more to their liking. Wilson also carefully deconstructs many precious Lawrence myths: that Lawrence was homosexual, for instance, is unproven (there's no evidence that he was sexual at all); that he made up large portions of his adventures is also proven untrue -- though in his later writings he sometimes shaped a story to sound better and certainly he had to dance around descriptions of his intelligence work. But these are both side issues. Lawrence lived a life of tremendous accomplishment in the First World War, but in other fields, such as archaeology and literature. Wilson is fair, and corrects Lawrence's own accounts when necessary. This is not a work of hagiography. It is the most well-documented biography of Lawrence, and Wilson quotes primary documentation extensively -- perhaps too extensively. It's a must for the library of any Lawrence fan, and the only necessary secondary reference work for anyone who wants the truth about Lawrence. Those who require something more nonsensical and speculative in their diet may add Knights "Secret Lives of Lawrence of Arabia".

I had previously read the Robert Graves book on Lawrence. This was far more superior. It was engrossing, detailed and made me want to know more about this incredible man. There didn't seem to be any bias for or against Lawrence by the author. It moved quickly. It's apparent that he did a very detailed job of researching Lawrence. I am know looking for other books that might uncover even more information. Enjoy!

I read this because of my great love of the movie. Interesting enough, this is the first time that the real life was far more interesting than the myth. What happened in Arabia might have been his coup de grace of achievements, but hardly the only aspect that makes him a ledgend. He was an archeologist, thinker, writer, humanitarian, culturalist, adventurist, and only a military genious by circumstance. This book makes it all clear and vivid.

I have read biographies before, but none that held on to my imagination so tightly while still using the historical records. I am only sorry that it has the unfortunate sub-title as authorized biography because many who think it will be a dry "whitewashed" examination of his life will miss a wonderful book. I can't heap praise on this book, and the life of T.E. Lawrence, enough. There might be books with far different and valid interpretations, but hardly as fun and interesting to read. The size of the book at nearly a thousand pages is worth every bit of paper printed on it. I guess I should congradulate the author for a fine presentation of a wonderful character.

This 128 page paperback version may be a good read. I don't know, haven't read it. My copy is the 946 page hardcover edition. It is thorough, balanced and an excellent read. If you can find that version, get it!

The Legend of the wandering King is certainly a treat for the senses. The story amply describes the life of a very conceited and self-confident prince name Walid, who proceeds to hold a poetry contest at the command of his father when he wishes to go to Ukaz to express his love of poetry through these means. He is beaten by a man named Hammad, whose poetry greatly overcomes Walid and swaying the crowd and judges with his poetry. The prince holds the contest two more times before finally giving up and appoints Hammad master of the archives. His first task is to put the vast archives back into order. From there `King' Walid grows angry at the news that Hammad has completed his task in reorganizing the archives. In another way to make Hammad suffer, he orders the now older man to create a carpet containing the entire human race. From there Walid's world crumbles around him as he begins to regret the atrocious deeds against Hammad. The book is quiet short but gives out plentiful description of Walid's life after the fall of his kingdom and his exploits through the desert as he strives to regain the carpet Hammad created.




The storyline is well thought out, as you try to figure out Walid's true purpose every time he meets Hammad's sons with every detour he makes. The characters, were at first hard to relate with seeing that; Walid was very vain and full of himself. But as the story progresses Walid begins to become more of a likable character, and you relate with his turmoil and regrets for his past deeds.




The description of each world Walid enters under his alias is beautiful, you can picture it clearly in your mind. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good fantasy that's earth bound. Sure there's little or no poetry but this shouldn't bother anyone looking for a story and not poetry. (February 3d 2006)

The Legend of the Wandering King, by Laura Gallego Garcia, is a great story that is set in Arabia in the past. Walid ibn Hujr is the main character and he is a king that is bad tempered and seeks vengeance against Hakim whole stole the king's carpet which contained the entire history and future of the human race. The king meets a beautiful girl named Zahrah who is the daughter of a sheik and she is a bandit. She also helps Walid on his journey in the desert. The message I got from the story is that you should follow your dreams and don't quit. I liked the story because it is filled with suspense, mystery, action, love and it also has a sadness about it. Many things about it will keep you captivated by this story.

THE LEGEND OF THE WANDERING KING by Laura Gallego Garcia and translated into English by Dan Bellm is simply one of the best books that I've read this year. Set in pre-Islamic Arabia (5th to 6th century C.E.) it follows the adventure quest and life journey of a young Arabian prince, Walid ibn Hujr. Walid has always dreamed of being great-great man, great poet, great ruler-yet when he lets human emotions (particularly jealousy, fear, and revenge) reign over him, embittering him, he realizes that he is anything but great. And then comes a remarkable chance to redeem himself: a magic carpet has been stolen...there begins Walid's lifelong quest to find and return the carpet to its rightful owner...no matter what it costs him.

THE LEGEND OF THE WANDERING KING reads like a fairy tale; it is a tale of mythological proportions.

I am a children's librarian who was enthralled with this book. It is a neatly-worked-out fable that explores jealousy and desire, inspiration, and how a man can redeem a life in which he destroyed others through arrogance and envy.

I believe some previous reviewers have been too harsh. The characters are flat because this is the working out af a folk tale, not meant to be a modern novel. The book is populated by characters which are "types" and includes some unbelievable coincidences precisely because the plot supersedes the characterization and setting. Great works such as "Everyman" and "Pilgrim's Progress" are similarly constructed.

I would encourage readers to give this one a try--I think they will be pleasantly surprised.

Less Than A Shadow is a suspenseful murder mystery by David Chacko. It begins with the murder of a prominent journalist in Istanbul and escalates into a drama involving the Turkish Mafia, a lethal hidden secret, and a terrible threat about to change the Middle East forever at a terrible blood price. An exciting novel that combines action with a labyrinth of motives and deadly perpetrators, Less Than A Shadow is very highly recommended reading for mystery/suspense enthusiasts and documents David Chacko as a gifted author who pays particular attention to background detail and character development making both his stories and his characters come alive in the "mind's eye" imagination of the reader.

LESS THAN A SHADOW is a carefully made story of the present day Middle East and the city of Istanbul. What seems to be a simple murder mystery that must be solved by Jason Ender, a State Department investigator, becomes the shadowy trail that leads to the Mafia and beyond. The death of one American reporter spreads like oil in water, coloring all the things it touches. In the end, only Ender stands between complete chaos and all the things he loves.

LESS THAN A SHADOW is a great adventure that is well-written too. If you don't think that espionage is back, you'll find out when this one lures you into a dark world and takes you by the throat. The streets of Istanbul--the byways of a dead reporter's beat--are the ways that will lead you to know the people and places of a fascinating land.

LESS THAN A SHADOW

by David Chacko

When a high-living journalist, Al Rydell, turns up dead in Turkey, Jason Ender is dispatched by the American State Dept. to investigate the murder. Ender learns that Rydell had travelled to Turkey to interview a mullah for his book. But when Ender searches Rydell's apartment, the manuscript is gone. Ender then begins a dangerous escapade of investigation by pulling a string in a Turkish tapestry of drugs, terrorists, and political intrigue.

Ender follows his leads from the list of informants, thugs and suspicious characters that made up Rydell's nefarious associations - and the other kind, including Rydell's beautiful, high-paid companion. His equally beautiful artist-sister, Veronica, becomes Ender's lover and partner in solving Al's murder as they travel a maze of misdirection and mayhem. At the end of the trail, Ender fingers Rydell's murderer. Should he turn the killer over to authorities or is there another means of poetic justice?

LESS THAN A SHADOW is a classic, yet contemporary whodunit with a narrative so tight that it squeaks, dialogue so realistic you'll look around you to see who said what you just read, and a story line that will engage you from beginning to end. ***