Middle East Books

I've been studying the life of Lawrence nearly all of my own 50 years, since I was thirteen. I've read and reread all I could find about him, especially his own Seven Pillars of Wisdom. How refreshing it was to read Professor Mack's excellent book which covers so much more than I'd ever found before and with surprisingly brilliant insight. A fresh look at this enigmatic figure with modern eyes and a richer understanding. A great read.

I have now read several books both on T.E. Lawrence, the Middle East, World War I and English governmental history. This is by far the best biography on T.E. Lawrence and the situation in the Middle East that I have read. John Mack did an outstanding job of researching Lawrence for this book. One of the most interesting sections of the book was reading the endnotes. They provide even more information about Mack's research as well as to clarify some previous misstatements about Lawrence.

Although Lawrence suffered greatly from depression and other disorders he was a truly great man. That he was able to be an outstanding friend to so many people while enduring personal suffering is amazing. John Mack portrays Lawrence in an honest light which actually makes Lawrence and his achievements all the more spectacular because of his personal struggles.

John Mack's biography shows us that great people are not perfect nor does their greatness make them happy. He also shows that people who, if truth were know, live outside of societies norms can do world changing things and be loved by society. Lawrence seemed to have been very accepting of all people, other than himself.

To call Lawrence's life tragic in some way diminishes his accomplishments. Was Lawrence a great man because of his problems or in spite of his problems? I think that Lawrence was capable of being a legend because of his problems. The psychological struggles he endured were who he was. Society is so quick to discount a person because of psychological problems, whether they are great people or not. If society were honest with itself, it would realize that everyone has some problem or other. Some, as Lawrence was, are open (relatively) and honest about their problems while most choose to act as if they don't exist.

Winston Churchill, a contemporary of Lawrence's, also suffered greatly from depression and probably some other things as well. Churchill was also hero and a legend and was largely responsible for keeping the world free from Nazi Germany when few noticed the threat or appropriately dealt with it.

It appears to me, that the greater the leader and the more astounding his or her abilities, the more "different" they are from what society believes is normal. A good thought to ponder.

John Mack does an excellent job of providing a well-documented biography of T.E. Lawrence as well as an outline of his psychological makeup. Mack does not claim to understand Lawrence or to explain every behavior. I had expected to read more of a detailed psychological report and was, at first, a bit disappointed. However, the longer I read the more apparent it was that Mack was portraying Lawrence's personality through an accurate telling of his story rather than trying to lecture on "who Lawrence really was" and "why he did everything he did". John Mack also did not fall into the overly Freudian theory that Lawrence did everything because of sex. Sex obviously played a role in his psychology but did not appear to be the overriding theme.

For years, I have studied the life and works of T. E. Lawrence. My research has lead me across the pages of hundreds of books including his own Seven Pillars of Wisdom, but the best biography and analysis of Lawrence I have yet encountered is A Prince of Our Disorder.

Dr. Mack's thorough examination and explanation of the effect of Lawrence's childhood on his adult life and mentality is brilliant. Instead of merely stating his opinions, he touches on those of other biographers as well and then proceeds to state how and why he feels they are accurate or inaccurate, providing quotes from military reports, other Lawrence books, interviews with Lawrence's relatives and friends, and Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

If you read A Prince of Our Disorder, I can almost 100% gaurantee that you will have a better understanding of Lawrence's personal role in the Hejaz Campaign and the lasting effects of his experiences in Arabia on him physically and psychologically. Thankfully, it is beautifully written, and not at all confusing.

From the moment Mack "introduces" you to Lawrence you will have a desire to learn more about him, and as Mack walks you through his troubled life, you will feel pity and awe for this untouchable man.

I think that A Prince of Our Disorder clarifies the line between the legend of the indestructable, hero-Lawrence and the lost, soul-searching man Lawrence really was.

Dr. John Mack's study of Lawrence is one of the most absorbing reads I've ever enjoyed in my lifetime. As Irving Howe wrote, "What finally draws one to Lawrence, making him not merely an exceptional figure, but a representative man of our century, is his courage and vulnerability in bearing the burden of consciousness." The impact that the trial by fire in Arabia appears to have had on his post-war life is shocking, and teaches us once again not to envy our great heroes. Lawrence wrote of General Allenby that great men cannot be judged by ordinary standards, anymore than the sharpness of the bow of an ocean liner can be judged by the sharpness of a razor. After reading "A Prince of Our Disorder," I recognize now that Lawrence was probably thinking of himself while writing those kind words about his former master, asking that he not be be judged by his hidden afflictions, torments, and self-doubts, all the while laying out those same imperfections for all the world to read. Lawrence warned us,"The documents are liars ... No man ever yet tried to write down the entire truth of any action in which he has been engaged." No man is truly capable of understanding his own subconscious motivations, but I doubt that anyone has ever struggled harder than Lawrence to achieve self-understanding. We will have to try to read between the lines, learn what we can, and apply that knowledge to enrich our own poor lives.

So sad for all of us that our leaders are not of the same introspective type. Dr. Mack comments in his introduction that "The destructive leader, and the eagerness of a large segment of the population to identify with him, comprise one of the central threats -- if not the greatest threat -- that faces human society. There is perhaps an increasing unwillingness to entrust our well-being and our lives to individuals and characters we do not understand and whose ultimate purposes we are ignorant of." Let's hope so.

Jeremy Wilson's massive biography "Lawrence of Arabia" may better satisfy military readers interested in extensive contemporary document citations, and includes much more detail on Lawrence's Cairo years. Wilson also has a better set of photographs. The 1922 Oxford full text of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson and available from Castle Hill Press in the UK, is most highly recommended to all who find "T.E.L." fascinating.

While searching for literature on the man in the movie `Lawrence of Arabia', otherwise unknown to me other than knowing him as the brother of D.H. Lawrence, I stumbled across this most authoritative biography on the man who David Lean so magnificently portrayed in his film. He is one of the men who could be placed in par with other great leaders of Britain during the early part of the 20th century.

While Lawrence's autobiography, `Seven Pillars of Wisdom' gives gory picture of his life in the desert and his adventurous war campaigns, Mack's book gives more insight into the man's psyche just as Judith Brown did on Gandhi in her book `Gandhi - A Prisoner of hope'. His many questionable traits (exhibitionism, homosexual tendancies, overemphasis of his achievements) are wonderfully analyzed with information gleaned from tons of historical materials. While the west looked at him as a great war commander (though some question his contributions during the great desert wars), the east, even the people who worked with him, do not consider him as a man who helped Arabs gain their freedom from Turks other than agreeing to the fact that he helped king Faisel in wars.

Lawrence's genius is considered twined with his behavioral disorder, a not so common association among people who have schizophrenic symptoms except may be for rare cases of autistic geniuses like Peter Guthrie (not the Scottish mathematician but a not so well-known artist). There have been debates during his later years as whether Lawrence was in fact an autistic. At any rate, as reflected in one of his most famous quotes, he was a `dangerous' daydreamer who dreamt with open eyes and made things happen unlike night dreamers who dream in their dusty recesses of their minds only to wake up in the morning to see they are vain.

T.E. Lawrence's life and his untimely death (by motorbike accident) left us with lot of questions as who was he and what was he doing in the middle east and what made him to completely depart from the politics of middle east and lead a secluded life of 23 years in the Royal Air Force (not forgetting his contributions to the invention of new types of speed boats). His appearances in Arab's traditional attire in Versailles during 1919 Paris Peace Conference with the King Faisel and with other western dignitaries draw a stark similarity with Gandhi's appearance in loin cloth and shawl during the Round Table Conference at London. Though Faisal trusted him as his benevolent, he did not entrust Lawrence completely as he always thought him as a British spy.

I would suggest anyone who is inquisitive of T.E. Lawrence, also see David Lean's much acclaimed epic motion picture `Lawrence of Arabia'. If the movie `Lawrence of Arabia' captivated me, Mack's biography enthralled me with its abundance of well researched information. As with any other great men, Lawrence's life also is worth researching into. And these biographers are the ones who make legends live and help sustain the new generations' interest on these great people. A great biographical work!

Mere coincidence or not, John E. Mack died of a car accident in New York in 2004.

"Scotch and Holy Water, by John D. Tumpane, is a charming account of the adventures of a fun-loving group of American ex-pats in Turkey in the late 1950s and 1960s.

John D was a graduate of Yale who went to Turkey with his family's engineering business. I grew up around John D, and he was always a positive influence on me and the other kids around him. John D adored life and travel and language and people. He traveled extensively around Turkey, learned to speak Turkish quite well, and seemed to rejoice in exploring the Turkish culture.

John D often wrote short stories and "Scotch and Holy Water" is the book that grew from his collection of hilarious stories. He wrote lovingly about both the Turks and the American ex-pats. His writing describes the uniquely Turkish spirit of hospitality and joy of life. When he writes about the Americans, he emphasizes the exploration and fun. John D doesn't cover up the foibles of the Americans there in Turkey, but he does treat them gently and with kindness. Having grown up in the places and times he describes, I can attest to both the accuracy and the gentleness in John D's writing.

"Scotch and Holy Water" is full of good deep laughs from this earlier time of innocence.

THIS IS FOR ALL TURCOPHILES OUT THERE, OR ANY ONE INTERESTED IN A GREAT COUNTRY: TURKEY!

For perspective, I was 2 years old when John D met me and 12 years old the last time I saw him. As for the book, it's all true, and couldn't have been better said. I recall my father (Art) and mother (Mim) coming back from the evening excusions John D. and the others would go on and how the laughing never stopped. Like other readers comment, it all needs to be put in perspective. I recently loaned the book to an associate who just returned from Izmir...the book has yet to be returned. They're making another trip and have commented toward the value the book has offered in understanding the people and places. Like the many of us who endured there for over 10 years, as the book prefaces the subject, you begin to understand the people, like the people and land, and never want to leave...yearning periodically to consider a return trip.

I recommend the reading of this book...it's well worth the time...it'll make you laugh..consider, the literal interpretations that can only exist...

A must read for anyone who has lived or is living in Turkey. I laughed the whole way through and could relate to almost everything, even though it's 30 years later. The author captures the uniqueness, frustrations, and wonders of living in Turkey.

I am half american half turkish airforce military brat. I can vouch that the attitudes and ways in the book in the time it was written and even in general today are the turkish people.
It is a great way to understand the culture. I first read this book after finding it my fathers library when I was 18. I read it as almost his own stories from his stationing there earlier on.

How fortunate we are to have someone who is actually ABLE to go to the Middle Eastern countries and initiate candid dialogue with normal (under the circumstances) every day people. Reading this book with an open mind and heart can accomplish nothing but - GOOD - in a country so evidently full of evil, ignorance, chicanery, and greed. Would that this were required reading in every American school. Then perhaps those so blinded or tricked by corporate-based propaganda would open their eyes and see what is right in front of them. If the poor grammar, MISspelling, and illiteracy evidenced in the gutless, negative reviews herein are examples of the typical American - the world is in worse shape than I thought. Be VERY afraid. But at least our illustrious author - is NOT

Having worked with Arab and Arab Americans it seems that Samar through her interviews has portrayed the most realistic representation of Arab opinions I have seen from an American author. The diveristy of Arab perspectives, and the commonalities of American and Arab feelings have been very well covered. The idea of dialogue for understanding is so simple yet we still rely on our public leaders to do the learning for us. This book is a great first step for any American to begin understanding who this culture is, that we often times choose to call the enemy.

this book is insightful to all americans who wish to know how arabs view the american world and culture .this will make clear all the mis-judgements americans make of the arab world.its also important for arabs to read this book because it will help them know what questions americans have about the arab people,culture,politics and religion.

This author has been wrongfully slandred and acussed of many things that were all untrue. All pods have been attacked by one individual. If we do nothing our figures will continue to plummet. We must unite, with a retalitory strike, or we will never sell anothr copy. His MO is to write reviws using the authors name and make it look like someone else. The number one POD had to be removed because of this and any one of us could be next. His slandrs have gone from prank to criminl as he thretned
n authr with racsts remaks. I have written in code because Amazn blocks certain words from being reviwed. My name will reval the culprit, my quots will be my emal, please repli. He must be stpped or our boks will suffr.

A must-read. This book is very important for every American to read. I truly wish there was a follow-up book written since the last elections. This is a thoughtful and enlightening book.

Which do you prefer? A nonstop thriller you can't put down or beautifully-written literature with eloquent prose and rich language? Well, look no further! You get it all in Zubis Rises!! The main character, Bethany O'Brien, starts out as a journalist but it turns out she is actually the "Asima Uruk" whose role it is to destroy a genie named Zubis! Sounds unbelievable?! Well--Bethany would agree!!! That's what makes this story so believable! Bethany has no idea what she's in for! And neither do you...until you read Zubis Rises!! You're going to LOVE this book!!

"Zubis Rises" is an outstanding book that brilliantly blends the ancient and long hidden knowledge of the Djinn with the current religions, politics and world events of today. It is enlightening, entertaining and extremely thought provoking. It reads so smoothly and rings so truthfully that it is obvious to even the most casual reader that the author is extremely well versed in, and familiar with, the subject matter. It is book one of the Zubis trilogy and books two and three will be anxiously awaited.

K.F. Zuzulo has done the work for us. She has researched and synthesized for pleasurable consumption thousands of years of complex history from Ancient Mesopotamia to the Middle Eastern cultures as we know them today. Using the familiar image of a genie hovering expectantly above his vessel of imprisonment, she guides us through the less familiar territory of the man's interaction with smokeless spirits and with spiritual heros shared by the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Bethany O'Brien, a smart, young American journalist, steps into a role on the world stage that belies her years, her beliefs and her consciousness. Fortified by the teaching of Sister Marie from her early years in the orphanage, Bethany is uniquely suited to unite faiths and link supernatural forces to the human world.

The characters are rich and deeply rooted in religious and mythical lore. The story is sophisticated and relevant. Even the freedom and wealth of the modern Saudi State are put into perspective with the discovery of oil imposing the "shackles of prosperity."

The intrigue and sultry interactions of Bethany and Zubis, a djinn who haunts her dreams and seeks to lead her astray, keep us hooked. The reader is left needing more!

*Zubis Rises* is a great story; what's more, I found myself learning more than I expected to learn in the midst of a well-plotted thriller. The novel is meticulously research and deftly weaves fiction, fantasy, and fact in this tale of love and adventure. It is more than just a beach read, obviously!

This book is a real page turner! I usually like to read novels at a slow pace to take everything in, but I could not keep this book down. Every new chapter brought new excitement and I simply had to find out what would happen next! Can't wait for the second book in the trilogy!

I've never had the privilege of physically visiting the Holy Land, but after reading this book, I feel as though I've really been there.

The two authors have different specialties. Miriam Vamosh is a Jew passionate about Jewish history. But instead of writing long, boring essays, she writes as a gifted story-teller, and invites you to see and hear fascinating details and sometimes humorous tidbits about the significance of each place they visit. Like the symbolism behind the feeding of the 5,000, the mysteriously blackened stones on Mount Carmel - reminders of the Holy Fire of Heaven coming down to consume Elijah's offering, and the fact that Pelicans are an ancient symbol of the Eucharist.

Contrasting this, you have Eva Everson's "Reflections" sharing how God speaks to her through Miriam's stories and through her physical surroundings. You hear how God seems to take delight in revealing His heart to her, warming her heart towards Him, and she shares those revelations with us, drawing us in.

All in all, this has been a fascinating walk through the Holy Land, led by two amazing and delightful writers.

A definite "must savour" for all for whom the Holy Land holds a special place.


Darlene Hull
PraiseWalker.com

REFLECTIONS OF GOD'HOLY LAND: A JOURNEY THROUGH ISRAEL...I received my copy in the mail yesterday and started my tour last night... Could not stop travelling. Just a wonderful experience...the combination of knowledge and emotion is exactly right. I will be back with more about my trip in a few days, but just had to make a comment today.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book; although I am a very avid reader, non-fiction about the Bible, or really any of the Middle East is not normally something I would choose. However, I could not put this book down. The combination of full-color photographs from modern-day Israel alongside the Biblical passages talking about them, as well as the commentary from the authors, one Christian & one Jewish, was, surprisingly, captivating. I really almost felt like I had visited Israel after skimming through the book. I plan on leaving it out for display, it is a very high-quality book with fantastic pictures, and to really study more in-depth as time allows. I can't wait to share it in our homeschooling our children also. Highly recommend.

One of the desires of my heart is to journey to the Holy Land. The land where Jesus walked, taught, died, and rose again. There is just something about going there that my heart longs for.

Reflections of God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel by Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feinberg Vamosh is an amazing look at Israel. It is a very personal book for the authors. Eva Marie Everson is a Christian, Miriam Feinberg Vamosh is a Jew. They are friends and both share a love of God's Holy Land and the result of that love is this beautiful book. The book has some of the most beautiful photographs that I have ever seen. I kept looking through the book and soaking in the beautiful scenes of Beersheba, to Rachel's tomb, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem. Each chapter includes stunning photographs, and scripture. Also in each chapter is a section called "Did You Know?" written by Miriam Fienberg Vamosh that explores the stories of the places as well as her love of the landscape of each place. The chapter also includes a section called "Reflections" written by Eva Marie Everson that invokes the emotions of each place.

If you have ever wanted to travel the Holy Land and not had the chance then I suggest this book. It is a beautiful way to experience Israel through a book.

When I ordered a copy of Reflections on God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel, I didn't imagine the treasure I would receive.

I've never been blessed by a trip to Israel, of walking where Jesus walked, of seeing places spoken of in the Bible with my own eyes. But here is a book that has given me glimpses into the holy land. Written by a Jew and a Christian, each location covered by the book has a related Scripture followed by two pages of "landscape and lore" which are authored by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and called "Did You Know?" and then two pages of a a more personal nature authored by Eva Marie Everson and called "Reflections."

In truth, the entire book is one you will want to reflect upon. It is filled with beautiful writing and wonderful photographs. I recommend making it part of your daily devotions and allowing God to speak to you through its pages.

It was great from the beginning... James takes you on a wonderful ride through the early years of Talon's life (I wont give it away) with a true adventure that kept me riveted to the book.

This is a great read, a wonderful trip through castles and landscape with cool persona's on a wild tale of survival.

A must read!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants excitement in a good read. I had trouble putting it down, would get chores done quickly so I could pick it up again and get lost in this amazing story.
Thank you Mr. Boschert, I look forward to reading more of your writings. Hurry, please!

Set in ancient Persia, the events of this historical novel could just as easily taken place in modern day Middle East. Mr. Boschert returns to the art of story-telling rarely permitted by contemporary publishers, weaving a tale of the indomitability and adaptability of human spirit even in the most desperate of times. Refusing to be compromised by page limits, this 700+ page novel is filled with rich and lush descriptions of Talon's adventures that take you on an emotional and action-packed roller coaster, leaving a cliff hanger that will have you stomping your feet for more. A trilogy in the making...

Fans of historical novels will love Talon. This well-researched, sweeping saga of 12th century Persia captivated my imagination, while simultaneously educating me about a region and culture I knew little about. It's also a compelling "page-turner;" difficult to put down once you become engrossed in the lives and adventures of the three main characters.

Some books are good to read, but you dont get involved, others like this one draw you into the story and you live it together with Talon, Rav'an and Reza. You read faster when the going gets tough and slow down to savour the good times. The end comes way to soon and leaves you wanting more. Just waiting for the next one and in the meantime I can always go back and relive the story and go back in time and space.
Frits

Detailed analysis of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia
American foreign policy exists simultaneously at several levels. Talk radio and TV pundits occupy the surface level, while foreign policy professionals understand increasingly deeper layers of information, history and interpretation. Rachel Bronson uses a scholarly approach for this in-depth discussion of America's complex relationship with Saudi Arabia. Linked by their animosity toward communism, and a fundamental supplier-customer relationship based on oil, the Saudis and Americans were allies throughout the Cold War. Then, they worked clandestinely to thwart the Soviets. But in the post-Cold War environment, conditions changed. The Saudis faced a major threat from other Islamic nations over their monarchy and their close relations with the U.S. Bronson densely packs her book with historical events in diplomatic, military, religious and cultural frameworks. Much of this material was classified and unavailable previously, so Bronson has fresh information. We consider this essential reading for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the vital, evolving relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Rachel Bronson, who works at a prestigious New York City think tank dedicated to Foreign Affairs, has written an excellent book on the history of the relationship between the governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The thesis of her book is that contrary to what some say, this friendship has been based on more than oil, that is also on shared antagonisms of Communism and Colonialism, and mutual strategic benefits. If you're a diplomat or political scientist, this well researched and meticulously documented book, which includes little tidbits that are rarely discussed, such as Mussolini's bombing the Dhahran oil installations at the beginning of the Second World War, will prove immensely useful to you.

But if you approach this history as a history buff, sociologist, or interested citizen, Bronson's almost pedantic focus on the political aspects of this long relationship and her emphasis on brevity are such that this book probably won't meet your needs. In distilling the history of this relationship to its bare bones, Bronson elides fascinating historical details that greatly help to understand the history. Bronson, for example, mentions that after they had helped him conquer his kingdom, King Abdul Aziz fell out with his Islamic shock-troops, the Ikhwan, who were only subdued with British help. Had she written that one of the straws that broke the camel's back was King Abdul Aziz's use of the radio, which the Ikhwan took as proof of that their King was an "idolater" and hence illegitimate, and the British Royal Air Force had to be called in to restore order, this book would have more local color.

I agree completely with Bronson that the Saudis were rightfully wary of allying themselves with the British, who at the time wielded an inordinate amount of influence in the region, and that an alliance with the Soviet Union was inconceivable; hence the alliance with the US. But I think she omits one of the reasons why this partnership worked so well for so long: strong cultural similarities between many of the Americans who worked in Saudi Arabia and the Saudis themselves. Texas was one of the hubs, if not the hub, of the American oil industry, and a disproportionate number of the American expatriates in Saudi Arabia were Texan. The Texas of the 1940s shared much more history, topography and culture with Saudi Arabia than Britain or any other European country keen on good relations with Saudi Arabia: many Texan preachers and Saudi mullahs were equally fond of alcohol and (often) intellectuals; both societies had had large populations with a nomadic tradition, Bedouins and Cowboys, a history of gunfights, a patriarchal and clan-based culture, a history of racial inequality (Saudi Arabia outlawed slavery at about the same time the United States ditched their Jim Crow laws, etc.) Neither Odessa, Texas nor large swathes of Saudi Arabia are quite as verdant and lush as the Garden of Eden was.

These similarities and tensions even played off of each other. Abdullah Al-Tariki, a Saudi petroleum minister, studied at the University of Texas, and was said to have left Austin with a chip on his shoulder because as a student he had been denied entry into some Austin bars by bouncers who thought he was of Mexican origin. When he returned to Saudi Arabia, he set out to found a Saudi equivalent of the Texas Railroad Commission, which the world came to know as OPEC.

To sum up, as a concise and heavily documented summary of the relationship between the American and Saudi governments this book is easily worth five stars. It is not, nor was it meant to be, a deeper, wider, and more thoughtful look at the shared history between these two nations.

The painstaking research undertaken by Rachel Bronson is formidable. She remained objective, except for the conclusions drawn at the book's end. There was a point at which everything finally seemed clear. I eagerly await her next endeavor.

Rachel Bronson's book is an exceptional accomplishment. She uses a vast number of authoritative sources and weaves a compelling and readable account of complex geopolitical relationships. Marshall Lilly's recent (August 6, 2006) review is right on target. Thomas G. O'Brien III, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

I honestly find this book very hard to criticize and give "only" a 4 star rating to. As far as a work of history goes this is pretty impressive. The author clearly researched the living heck out of her subject and has more than ample footnotes to prove it. There's no reason to doubt any of her facts as anything but 100% true, and mostly comprehensive. She has a dispassionate writing style letting the facts she has uncovered speak for themselves, untempered by either leftist or rightist interpretation. And although her topic itself can be a bit dry at times, she writes quite well and the book is not a chore to finish. All of these things are like rare sparkling gems in most works of history geared towards popular audiences (i.e. as opposed to textbooks . . . in which case the above traits would probably be even more precious.)

You will learn some good information in this book. It has a brief review of Saudi Arabia's history, but the focus of the book is really on the relationship between the US government and the Saudi government so it doesn't really start until the '20's or '30's where America first begins exploring for oil in the peninsula, and doesn't get meaty until the '40's when official government relations are upgraded to embassy level and FDR and Abdel Aziz met onboard the USS Quincy. True to her title the US Saudi relationship has been about more than oil, and has taken on an air of surprising friendship in many cases, where both sides really are genuinely helping themselves out by helping out each other. On the oil front Saudi Arabia has used it as a weapon against America far less so than it's neighbors and other OPEC nations, being a reliable source to counterbalance what OPEC is doing, and covertly supplying the US military even during periods of embargo. On the geographic front they are key to American access to the gulf, and have generally been more reliable than is reported in allowing military operations from or through their territory. On the economic front Saudi Arabia has invested largely in America, and on the political front we were true allies in fighting communism. However, with the end of the Cold War this anti-communist bond dissolved, and as many know the infrastructure built to channel radical islamist fighters into Afghanistan didn't, setting much of the stage for 9/11 and our current war on terror. The info in this book regarding these events is very good.

Where this book falls short is that it seems to be missing the forest for the trees. It's so focused on the intergovernmental relationships and on presenting mostly a chronolog of what's happened, that as you read you feel there's an 800 lb guerilla in the room that no one's talking about: mainly Saudi society and the population at large. Because much of this book is sort of chronolog, there's very little satisfying analysis of why the things she's reporting are happening, and little attempt to understand this. A happens, then B happens, then C happens, and that's about it. Many would argue this is a good thing since it lets the reader make up their minds, but I would counterargue that because Saudi society (as well as practically any mention of American society) is mostly left out there's not enough comprehensive information for readers to make a truly well grounded opinion. Much allusion is made to the house of Saud's fear of being deposed and that it can't alienate its population too much, but what really IS the Saudi population like? What are the major camps of political and religious thought? Just how radical or pragmatic are they? What do they believe? How educated are they? How much grassroots support for terror is there, and how much can the government really feasibly curtail local "charitable" giving? Unfortunately you won't get much on the above type of questions.

Ultimately the author believes, and says so early on in the book, that the world is practically driven by government policies and the world's problems can thus be solved with government policies. Thus the nearly singular focus on governmental relationships without delving into the makeup of Saudi Arabian society seems natural, but just as much to be tragically missing the overall big picture. Last her "solutions" to the strains on current Saudi-US interactions sound like a UN debate on what to do about Darfur, and about as effective. We need a more "nuanced" this to "promote stability", a "smarter" policy that to "reduce radicalism", a "laser-like focus" on this issue. But it's all very non-specific and general, with little analysis on whether a US governmental change of tract can actually change Saudi popular behavoir. When she does mention specifics of policies they're incredibly weak. She lauds, for example, how great a $100,000 grant is to a Women's university in Jeddah is to help them work with Duke university, and how this was some huge public relations victory in the kingdom. But I highly doubt anyone in the kingdom even knows about the program, or in what appears to be a very fundamentalist Islamic nation barely cares even if they did hear. WTO membership is another one of her big solutions. Again I find it hard to believe that those supporting the terrorist (who rarely seem to be in it for economic gain as far as I can tell) will throw in the towel when they see that the US has paved the way for Saudi participation in a complicated worldwide uber-bureaucratic entity which may or may not make the general Sauid population a little bit richer.

There's good info in here, its meticulously researched and completely fair, it just seems a bit too myopic to be as useful as it could have been.

Jane Geniesse has painted an intriguing portrait of a fascinatingly complex woman. Whether a tyrant or saint, Anna Spafford's Christian Zionism and her devotees won the admiration of Jews and Muslims even as she scandalized mainstream Christians and the US State Department with her unorthodox practices and beliefs. There was no room in her "American colony" for boundaries of national, racial, religious or social attachment that might limit its good works. The "colony" became a model of energetic competence and non-proselytizing Christian universalism, even running hospitals for the Turks in war when America was fighting on the other side. A thought-provoking primer on what makes a difference in relations with the "other."

John W. Kiser ("The Monks of Tibhirine," "Commander of the Faithful: the Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader")

This a very unusual story with serious implications. Full of surprises, it is the work of an experienced historian who can really write. Enjoy the story and gain a better understanding of why America behaves as it does in the Middle East.

Jane Geniesse tells a fast-moving, rigorously reseaarched tale of a Chicago society woman who loses her children in a cross-Atlantic shipwreck, later accompanies her deadbeat husband, wiped out in the Chicago fire, to Jerusalem at the head of a group of evangelical believers in the imminence of Armageddon. Her husband dies and she becomes the leader of the group, which persists in the Holy Land for decades through many adventures and leaves behind the American Colony hotel, still a Jerusalem landmark.

Here is an extraordinary story about an international group of people who immigrated to Jerusalem to await the Second Coming led by Anna and Horatio Spafford beginning in 1881. The American Colony as they were known settled in a compound situated in the Old City in the Arab Quarter between the Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate. Jane Geniesse writes with fairness about the leader, charismatic Anna Spafford, who was appalling in many ways but also the positive force in developing welcome and lasting social services for any of the local people in need. (Of course much can be accomplished with mostly unpaid workers who are dependent on their leader for food, shelter and salvation.)
This was like reading three books: Immigration to America, tough times in Chicago and Protestant Evangelism (and dipping into the till); The growth of The American Colony with its vague religious ideas; and The Middle East spanning the two world wars. Her research on the Spaffords, their descendents,the civil, military and religious personalities who lived through the political turmoil of the region resulted in a broad portrait of that era.
The American Colony Hotel on the grounds of the compound continues to be a favored setting for celebrities,spies, diplomats,journalists, tourists and politicians. Until her death in June, 2008, Valentine Vesper, the granddaughter-in-law of the Spaffords and proprietor, lived there. Be sure to go on-line to tour this beautiful hotel.

Adding to Furman Baldwin's commentary on "American Priestess" by Jane Fletcher Geniesse, I too am a 3rd generation descendant of the first wave of members who joined Anna Spaford's American Colony in Jerusalem. Our fathers, Furman and Norman,were sons of Reverend Edward F. Baldwin who with four of his children became early members. Also my mother was 9 years old when her parent and siblings from Nas, Sweden joined the "Overcomers" in 1891.

Like cousin Furman,I learned more about our family background from the book than from our parents and all who knew them, combined.

The story at times shocking, is meticulously researched as to characters and covers decades of fascinating social, economic and historic background from the mid 1800's to modern times. The author's deft use of language is a refreshing force to expand one's vocabulary.

Without sharing much credit for many positive accomplishments of the American Colony, founder/leader Anna kept tight reins on the colonists by revealing to them her divine guidance undergirded by faith, ego and nepotism. The saga is a revealation of the depth and breadth of human potential for good and evil.

If after reading the book, I'd be pleased to hear from any other descendants of the colonists with new informatioin to add. Norman T. Baldwin (baljunor@aol.com).

I can't stop flipping through the pages of this book. Each page sparks a different memory from Iraq. The recipes are so easy to follow and turn out so well. The best cook book EVER.

My wife is a first class Chef and needed information abiout Iraqi Cooking
to prepare and serve at Master classes
On the WWW there was only 11 recipies
So doing a search on AMazon.com walla a book. The book has many recipies and information about Iraqi Culture it is easily to read and is very informative, it is pity that the Americans went in on a false premise and are surely destroying a vibrant culture.

A great cookbook. Easy to follow for those not familiar with Arabic/Middle Eastern Cooking. Good back stories and illustrations. A true one of a kind work. Be sure to buy this treasure before it goes out of print. A delight as the title suggests.

Thanks to Nawal for writting this excellent cookbook which includes almost all the iraqi recipes in such nice order.

As a kurd I found many recipes that brought back memories from my childhood, even the terms/words used!

I looked through the whole book briefly, the recipes look easy and well written, not many pictures but I doubt they are needed. Can't wait to try more recipes.

I know I will treasure this book for life..

I received this cookbook as a birthday gift two years ago. When I opened it, I was excited to find a Middle Eastern cookbook, but was not expecting it to 'measure up' to the 10 or so Middle Eastern/North African cookbooks in my collection, as the author is not well known as are the authors of many of the other books. After all this time, I have made quite a few recipes from this book, and all were fantastic. That being said, I feel that I haven't even scratched the surface of this book. The number of good recipes in the book is astounding, and the history portion of the book is very interesting. I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in learning more about cooking Middle Eastern food, and learning about its roots.

Of the several guidebooks I've bought in three trips to Istanbul, this is the one that stays with me at all times when I'm finding my way around that most fascinating city in the world. The maps of the Old City and Taksim are the best and most accurate I've seen, and the bird's eye view cutaway shots of places such as the covered bazaar are extremely helpful. If you get only one Istanbul guide, let it be this one.

This book made my trip to Istanbul much more enjoyable than it would otherwise have been. Very well organized and jam-packed with helpful information. You'll still need a bigger street map of the city when you get there, but that's true about any destination.

Even my native Turkish friend, who is originally from Istanbul and whom I visited this past spring (with this book in hand), was fascinated by this book! He was really impressed with the layout, all the detailed and pertinent (and sometimes unique/unusual) information, the photos/drawings, the maps, etc. It also has good info about places outside the city.

I accidentally left the book behind after I put it down to pay for some things in a photo shop and didn't realize it was missing until a few hours later (I was with my own personal "tour guide," after all ;-)...my Turkish friend made his way back to the shop just to retrieve it for me (and thankfully the shop owner had kept it safe in hopes of the owner returning for it...and even he had looked through it and commented how good it looked)!

Going to Istanbul? GET THIS BOOK!

I just got back from Istanbul and I can say that this book was one of the things that made this a memorable vacation. The information is complete and (mostly) up to date (visa costs had been increased) but otherwise I found it easy to use and informative. The only other book I would recommend is "Imperial Istanbul" for the true history buff traveler.

This is THE BOOK to get for your travels to Istanbul - or Constantinople to us Greek Orthodox :-) I used this book when I was there five years ago, and let me be frank: it got me around every street, every landmark, every side alleyway, every bus route, every boat ride. The City is covered from head to toe in this book, with tons of useful information about hours of operation of mosques, churches, museums, and restaurants, plus great maps of the City and its surrounding neighborhoods, with detailed bus and tram schedules. In the back, it offers all the up to date information on hotels and hostels, plus important addressess and phone numbers for police, tourist bureaus, airports, and bus stations.

My personal favorite aspect of this book are the detailed pictoral discriptions of some of the great landmarks of the City: Hagia Sophia, St. Saviour in Chora, the Blue Mosque, Suleymanie Camii, Topkapi Palace to some of the more "off the beaten path" locations, such as the Church of Pammakaristos, the Basilica Cisterns, the Church of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus (Kuckuk Aya Sofya), and the residence of the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church. Rather than other guides such as Fodors simply writing it all down, Eyewitness literally "shows" you the information, so it's not only a great book to help you navigate the City, it's great to help you navigate the locations!

I carried this book with my at all times when I was in Turkey. I cannot recommend this book more than Amazon allows, but I'd give this book 10 stars if I could. It is the absolute best travel guide on the market today! I hope it will also serve you as well as it did for me!