Middle East Books

he's my history teacher...i have to like it...i need an

This is the nastiest book i have ever read. Doc Freiberger is a genius. One of the best writers of our time. The pulitzer is not enough for him. He needs the nobel prize. Great book written by a nasty history teacher. Two nasty thumbs up!!!

Steven Z. Freiberger is one of those writers that comes along once in a generation. Dawn over Suez is the epitome of good history writing, in which Freiberger argues that the United States actually took over the British government for a period of time. A wonderful, compelling, fascinating read. How this got passed over for the Pulitzer is beyond me.

Some people today argue that the causes of the Palestinian refugee problem are "controversial" or up for debate. Some would question whether there was a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing. Revisionist historians with Zionist sympathies deny that key events ever took place. However, for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had to endure that period in 1948, there is no controversy. What happened was a part of their own personal lives - a traumatic part of their lives. Jamil Toubbeh is one of those Palestinians, a Christian, and his autobiography is an eloquent description of what happened in 1948 and how it affected his life forever. Since the author is a Palestinian American, his autobiography contrasts his life in America with his life in Palestine, so it is very interesting from that perspective. "Day of the Long Night" also compares the Palestinian issue with the author's first-hand experience in Native American Affairs. "Day of the Long Night" is a very well-written, thoughtful, and evocative book, that kept me up for several nights in a row. A friend of mine once reviewed this book and said that the only flaw in this beautiful autobiography is that the author addresses some political issues in the second half of the book. When I read it, though, I found this criticism to miss the point. If anything, this book shows that Palestinian lives cannot be divorced from politics - external politics manipulate ones life and affect their destiny in so many ways that it becomes impossible to write an Palestinian biography without touching on politics. "Day of the Long Night" is recommended reading for anyone curious (and brave) enough to want to see faces behind the headlines. I dare you to read it!

Also recommended: "I saw Ramallah", by Mourid Barghuthi.

"Day of the Long Night" seems a perfect title in reference to experiencing first hand, upon reading the book, the referenced Nakba (catastrophe). We experience this both through the author's teenaged perspective and through the lens of his subsequent 50 years of accumulated wisdom, eloquently expressed with insight and humor.

This book is a "must-read" for those seeking to better understand the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or the personal affect of oppression, in general. The author is a Palestinian who shares poignant personal stories of what it means to be Palestinian, while interweaving insightful political and policy comments concerning Israel, Zionism, and U.S. foreign policy. Toubbeh tells his story powerfully, with sensitivity, honesty and at times,scathing humor, and stinging sarcasm. Additionally, this is a well-researched, well-documented informative offering.

A must for those who like arab literature. It is an autobiographical text of one of the most important Egyptian writers of the 20th century, who was blind and managed to succeed in his studies and his carreer. He was the first Egyptian to be granted a PhD from France and the founder of the Faculty of Greek and Latin Philosophy at the University of Cairo. The text itself is at some parts sad, at others funny, at others full of agony for the future... All these written with the unique style of Taha Hussein. I recommend it!

Like Helen Keller, Taha Hussain overcame the challenges of his blindness to be an inspiration to everyone who knew him. Born in 1889 in a small village in Egypt, the 7th of 13 children, and blinded in his early childhood by a mistake of the local barber (and village surgeon!), one would expect Taha Hussein to become just another statistic. Instead, his brilliant mind led him to receive the highest levels of education in Egypt, followed by a PhD from the Sorbonne University in France, and achieve wide recognition and honors as a writer, faculty member, dean, minister of education, and a Nobel prize nominee in literature. There are few human beings who overcome adversity of such magnitude. Taha Hussein's autobiography is unique and sometimes controversial, but certainly an inspiration to anyone who reads it. This edition, which includes all 3 parts of his biography now joined in one book, is well worth it and a must read.

This is a must read for those interested in Egypt and Egyptian culture. It is an absolute classic, wonderfully written and well translated. The story of a poor blind boy with incomparable talent and motivation, It is also a beautiful love story, cross cultural marriage, conflict between civilizations and the push and pull between the sacred and the secular. Taha Hussien rose from very poor and humble origin to the heights of Egyptian society.

Each of the three parts of this book was translated by a different person, as a result it takes a bit of time to get adjusted to the new style as well as a new phase of the life of Taha Hussien.

The first part of the book, specially with the third person style can get a bit tedious but if you perceiver through that you will get the double reward of enjoying the book and learning more about this truly unique man.

The first book I have ever read where I feel compelled to write a review so that others could share in the experience that I have had. Deployed is a powerful read that has managed to capture the feelings and stories of reservists struggling to cope with homegrown responsibilities while simultaneously trying to fulfill their military commitment. The interviews, written in first person, definitely put you in the heads of the reservists and have given me new perspective on what motivates these individuals to make these sacrifices.

In Deployed, Musheno and Ross connect the reader to the oft-neglected impact the war in Iraq on our citizen-soldiers. This portrayal of the men and women in America's reserves provides the average American with a vivid picture of the reality of war and the effects of deployment on both the citizen-soldiers and their families.

Authors interviewed citizen-soldiers in an Army Reserve Unit trained as military police. Reservists came from many walks of life with different motivations for serving and with differing reactions to deployment. Musheno and Ross delved into effects of deployment both state-side and in a prison camp in Iraq, relations with family at home, hopes for the future, perspectives on the war, and the role of citizen-soldiers. Some reservists were more soldier than citizen and found the experience empowering while others viewed themselves as more citizen than soldier. The conflicts and effects of extended and repeated deployments emerge as different for "citizen-SOLDIERS" and "CITIZEN-soldiers."

Authors contextualize the experience of today's citizen by providing a historical review of the role of reservists in previous generations. Readers are left to ponder whether today's reservists are subject to conscription as they are deployed more often and for longer periods of service.

Deployed is a powerful book that enlightens, challenges stereotypical views, and connects the reader to what it means to serve one's country.

The authors compile some moving and human stories in this important book, providing a much needed tribute to the stories of reservists all too often neglected by the news media. The book is well written and is compelling reading. Recommended for those who want to understand what their loved ones are going through, as well as for those desiring to understand the true costs of this war.

In the Gulf War the full technical advances in the gathering of electronic and signals intelligence were so impressive that Allied Governments were led to believe, that machines and satilites alone could do the job of man. This book proves that such assumptions were incorrect. What has been made plain in "Desert Storms" was that for certain tasks in most places of the world, there is still no substitute for the human intelligence agent. A good read.

"Desert Storms" is a haunting and original story woven about two very different traditions, moving from opulent palacial rooms of financial diplomacy to private clubs. Where Emir's and King's patiently and effectively transform their enormous wealth and natural resources into political and military power. The ultimate participant in the story finds himself suddenly involved as a covert warrior among Middle Eastern strife. Told with historical accuracy, "Desert Storms" is cast in a nostalgic glow and, is the result of a massive research project and investigative journal. It would be hard to find another book as comprehensive and meaningful.

World leaders should have the wit to learn that all wars teach lessons. If they do not have the sight to do so, they were faught for naught and those who have died in them did so in vain. What this author made plain was that for special tasks in unusual places, there is still no substitute for the world's oldest information gathering device: the "humant". The author's product (secretly gathered intelligence) should be highly regarded.

For anyone who wishes to study islam and secularism (especially in Ottoman Turkey) this is a "must read" book. Portions of this book was serialized in Dogan Avci's weekly "Yon" magazine in the 1960s. Berkes was deadly accurate in his political forecast....and it is a huge loss for humanity that he died in London and not in Turkey where he had wished to retire. Despite his warnings, look where Turkey is today.

This book is all about the struggle given in Turkey towards modernization or Westernization, starts with 1750 and ends with modern Turkey. Very comprehensive, covering political,educational, religious and economical changes and birth of Turkish nationalism. A refresher book for the Turks and an exampler for other nations to learn from experiences. There are too many personages to know who they were, many similar names to follow in two hunder years of struggle towards modernization but author has provided clear cut phases in every part of the revolution. This book clearly shows the obstacle mollahs put on the way of modernization.When Einstein was putting a finishing touches to his theories, finally science was allowed being thought in the schools, all the story in this book.

This book needs to be read especially now by all muslims of the world. Obviously, the muslim world has to change, strip itself from Islamic zealotry which interferes with every aspect of life, from education to justice. The first attempt to do this occured in the Ottoman Empire. The book is the story of the first modernization movement in the moslem world: its challenges, obstructions and results.
The reformists in the empire realize that religion and social institutions have to be separated since this was what Westerners had done. The reformists want to teach contemporary science in schools but here the challenge comes. No! everything is in Kur'an so we don't need to know that so-called science. Reformists attempt to outlaw polygamy but the same challenge comes. No! It accords with Islam. By and large, from the 18th century to the 20th modernization movement in Turkey faced this kind of challenges by clergy. Islam has been a religion that interferes with every aspects of life, every social institution so that it was necessary to separate religion and social institutions (secularism). Defeats of the empire to Russians and the West necessiated these reforms and despite the challenges, inch by inch Turkish instituions were secularized.
Today's Turkey, despite its flaws in democracy and economy, stands out as the most democratic and industrialized muslim country and a serious regional power. There are lessons to be taken from the Turkish experience of secularization and modernization for all muslim countries. And this book is an excellent start off.

In this book, more than one hundred American Jews reflect on what Israel means to them. It's fascinating.

I'll mention a very few of the points made by some of the contributors. Alvin Rosenfeld says that "six decades after the founding of their state, the Jews of Israel should not have to argue for their national existence. They are at home in their land by a long-established right, and they can take justifiable pride in their country's history and achievements." And he says that the least any decent person can do is join them in affirming this.

Thane Rosenbaum mentions the fact that many people who have never been to Israel derive great pleasure from knowing that it exists. But, on the other hand, many people who have no intention of ever visiting Israel are extremely animated by "intense animus over its very existence," as if Israel were a nation on some sort of probation "awaiting final global approval that will never come."

Danny Siegel writes poetically that he'd "rather drive a taxi in Jerusalem than be the King of all of South Dakota." Ariel Beery says that "we Jews are not just a spiritual community - we are a people, one that will only fulfill its collective potential with a state in which we can hammer out the details." Richard Friedman says that "Israel must be now what it has stood for from the very beginning: a people seeking to bring blessing to every family on earth."

There are some historical perspectives as well. We see Stephen Wise, in 1948, say that "organized gifts to the Arabs" (meaning to those who fled their homes in 1947 and 1948) would seem to him to be "acknowledgement of wrong" when in fact it is the Jews who have been wronged. As he explains, "the Arab states took part in the Partition discussion for weeks and weeks preceding the Partition decision of November 29. Immediately thereafter, they began to war upon Israel." Albert Einstein wrote in 1919 that "one can be an internationalist without being indifferent to the members of one's tribe. The Zionist cause is very close to my heart.... I am glad that there should be a little patch of earth on which our kindred brethren are not considered aliens."

Lillian Hellman is quoted as saying "historically, the Zionists turned out to be right. What are they saying? That Europe is doomed for the Jews. Liberal democracy won't save us. The Socialists won't save us. The Communists won't save us. Whatever else may be wrong with the Zionists, on that fundamental insight, they were absolutely right." And Marie Syrkin, in a 1983 interview said that "Jewish self-haters, without taking the trouble to look into Zionist history, subscribe to the most outrageous statements. I think this willful ignorance and the readiness to accept the worst interpretation - that Jews were the aggressors from the first moment, they kicked out all the Arabs, etc, etc. - the acceptance of the libels, the readiness to perceive the rights of every group except one's own, which is characteristic of a great many Jews, is a form of Jewish self-hatred."

At the end of the book, we see a few pages constituting "Zionism, a Centenary Platform," which was adopted by the Central Conference of American Rabbis at its annual convention in 1997. It shows the Reform movement's "unquestioning and unfading commitment to Israel."

I recommend this book.

I had the great pleasure of reading Rabbi Salkin's newest book. He is one of the most thoughtful and creative rabbinic voices in America today. He has done the American Jewish community an invaluable service by collecting and editing this marvelous collection of articles--both old and new and previously unpublished--on why Israel matters to American Jews. Hopefully this invaluable book will stimulate conversation and will move a younger, often disconnected generation, closer to Israel. Thanks to Rabbi Salkin for beginning the conversation.

Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, one of the leading authors, thinkers and teachers on the scene of American Jewry today has captured, in his latest book "A Dream of Zion", a myriad of feeling about what Israel means to many Americans. He has approached the impossible goal of portraying the range of reasons about why Israel is important in the emotions and even the lives of so many Americans. Complete understanding of these reasons is impossible because he is asking a question," Why Israel matters to them", to which the answer is unknown to many of the respondents. And yet, it is obvious that it does. When one reads the range of responses that this small new country has been able to engender in American Jews, one can't escape asking why and how. While being able to cite their personal history and experiences, in some cases going back to before Israel existed, many respondents admit their inability to rationally present answers to Rabbi Salkin's question. The range of individuals, young and old, living and dead, teachers and students, professionals and lay people, business people involved in Israel, and tourists serve as a tribute to both Rabbi Salkin and the importance of the question. Even though most of the writers admit their inability to verbalize their feelings, there is no question about the value that is placed upon Israel and its continued existence. Even so, there is no one author who has been able to present an adequate amalgamation that might be seen as representative of the range of responses. Perhaps they can best be represented by someone who did not appear in the book, my wife Sandi. She says that her feet feel completely at home walking the streets of Jerusalem. Julius J. Nessel.

One of my favorite collections of the Persian Sufi poets, some you may have heard of and others who may be new to you: Jami, Attar, Hamadani, Iraqi, Hafez, Ibn Arabi, Sanai, and many others. If you like Sufi poetry, this is a book you should have.

When I brought this book, I was not that interested in poetry, I convinced myself that since I liked Peter L Wilson, that this would be a good place to start. This book introduces the reader to some of the greatest persian sufi poets in the world. The chapters are set out in a way that progresses from, to name a few, leaving this world behind, awakening, separation and sadness, love and the lover to joy and Union. That I'm not a sufi, presented little difficulty for me in enjoying the perenial wisdom and heartfelt message thats presented, because as they says in the introduction, "we decided to produce this book because we realised that, for most english-speaking readers of poetry, the sufi literiture of persia is indeed locked away behind massive doors of unfamiliar substance" and that "what is needed is a guide, an attempt to explain how to read sufi poetry. Thus this book". Beautifully translated with an excelent introduction thats sure to change many peoples views about poetry. There's also a very helpful part in the book called Bio-bibliographies, which has a short introduction to each poet and some recomended translations of there work. The essential Rumi-translated by coleman barks is also a great book.

An excellent selection from some of the greatest Persian masters of Sufi poetry including Rumi , Jami, Shabestari, Nasimi, Eraqi, Attar and more. Exquisitely translated. The commentary by Peter Lamborn Wilson and Nasrollah Pourjavady is also top notch.

"You must take these poems as mirrors; for you know that the mirror has no form of itself, but rather reflects the face of anyone who looks in it. Just so a poem has no one particular meaning of itself , but presents to each reader his state of the moment and the completeness of his case." Ayn al-Qazat Hamadani

Dubai is changing so fast that it is important to get the most current edition. Selling this edition that was published in 1999 for $89.00 is a ripoff. The book is only worth the money if you get the 2005 edition.

The best thing since sliced bread ! The Dubai Explorer has it all, from info on your visa or driving license to where to get the best margaritas in town. A very easy to use guide which comes in handy when you want to try out a new restaurant,the guide is being updated anually which ensures that you never mis out on the latest that is going on in Dubai, even for the long time residents The Dubai Explorer is a must.

Very informative and up-to-date guide - useful for visitors and expats alike. Split into 8 broad sections the guide starts with the usual general help - including cultural and practical information. Particularly liked the summary boxes and top tips - saves a lot of time ! The hotels listing may be disappointing for visitors (just a contact list) but the guide more than makes up for this by the great Eating Out/On the Town sections, with price guide and pretty accurate reviews of restaurants and the varied nightlife. The New Residents section is essential reading for expats or potential expats - great practical information. The 'Exploring', 'Pleasure and Leisure' and 'Sporting activities' sections contain all a reader needs to know about what to do in the Emirates - without this book a visitor could miss out on many of the delights offered in this part of the world. Since shopping is a major pastime in Dubai this section of the guide is an excellent timesaving guide to the malls and the huge range of goods to buy.

Extensive index and the simple, practical layout of the guide make it easy to use. The aerial maps at the back of the book are stunning ! Dubai is a rapidly developing place and a current guide is essential - this guide contains much more up-to-date information than many other guidebooks and is thoroughly recommended for expats and visitors alike !

Great photos and great commentary. I bought one for each one of my family...

I really enjoyed this book because it told me a lot about East Orange and I really loved the pictures.

Having been the fifth generation Purdue to grow up in East Orange, Bill Harts book truly shows how grand and proud East Orange once was.