Middle East Books

For many Westerners, history is something that happened last year and this deliberate ignorance of the past gives rise to many false beliefs today. Chief among them would be the belief in the West that we have always been aggressors in the Levant and Islam is simply now fighting back. Even a cursury examination of history reveals the dangerous falsehood in that belief.

Niccolo Capponi's book on the Battle of Curzolaris (AKA Lepanto to many Americans)is well worth the time to read. Though he breaks no real new ground, his detail and love of subject (pre 16th century Med cultures, esp. Italy)shows. Copiously end noted with many charts comparing manpower, ships, armaments, losses etc (about 20% of the book), the book puts together an engrossing story of a world at war.

From the pre League political climate and the earlier attempts to forge a concerted Christian force to battle the Ottomans as they ravaged the shores of Europe, Mr. Capponi's book does an admirable job of illustrating the problems and weaknesses of Christian Europe at this time. He notes how the new Pope, Pius V would be the mover and true shaker of the enterprise. to do so, he had to overcome a relucant Spain, many suspicious Italian states, the crusading orders of St Stephen and Hospitallers, the machinations of France trying to aid its Ottoman allies(!), and everyone's suspicions of Venice. By devious use of subsidies and reminders of religious duty, Pius finally cobbles together his League.

Ironically it would be the Ottoman capture of Famagusta(Cyprus), a Venetian possession and the treatment of the garrison and inhabitants that would cause a creaky alliance to tun into a avenging force that went on to destroy the bulk of the Ottoman fleet. It is here that Capponi is strongest, his detailed knowledge of the people involved paints the battle in colorful detail. He highlights the bravery of both sides and gives credit where it is due to both Moslem and Christian bravery.

The battle itself is well treated but it is the prefacing of the battle and the aftermath (often surprising and sad at the same time) that is the best part. This time was not one of cleanly divided lines, politically or religously. Both sides had no problems with slavery or disrupting lives and livelihoods in the region. Alliances were often temporary and often surprising. Both sides were torn with factional infighting but for this once, the Christian side was less so. It can truly be said that this was one of the turning points of history....

Niccolò Capponi has written a fascinating and detailed history of Europe and the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century and the fractious relationships between the European states,the Venetian Republic,and the Papacy. Often more suspicious of each other than of the Turks, they finally merged into a shaky Christian coalition which faced down the Sultan's navy at the battle of Lepanto. Although full of historical and military detail, "Victory of the West" is a very readable book, laced with humor and compassion, and much attention to good storytelling. When the two naval forces finally face each other, I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down until the finish!

A good description of this so important battle events that lead to it and the main characters involved.

The description of the battle itself could be more extended, but I realize that without animation and modern resources it is hard to describe a 500 ship melee.
Maybe someone could design an adequate animation to complement a fine book like this one?

by far the best book I have read on this battle, full of information and ancedote

An excellent book that from now on (but just until I'll write my own narration of Lepanto ....) will be the unquestionable reference work on the subject. Almost one hundred years ago Alethea Wiel, in The Navy of Venice (London, 1910) wrote: "They (the six Venetian Galleasses positioned in front of the Christian fleet) bore so distinguished and important a part in the crushing defeat of the Turks at Lepanto as to have, it is said, secured the victory to Venice and her allies." This in one of the various points that Niccolò Capponi, leading Italian military historian, probed and researched in depth providing full evidence of what really happened the 7th of October 1571. Many errors, constantly repeated since the times of Jurien de la Gravière (and perhaps earlier) by almost all the authors, have been so eradicated with the help of an opulent amount of newly discovered archival documents.
Some inaccuracies: at page 187 the moschetto, a small piece of artillery was named after a bird, a special kind of falcon; at page 192 Antonio (and not Arturo) Surian, called the Armenian, was a very well known inventor and not a Master Gunner. This is all I have been able to discover so far but, being green with envy, I am sure that reading the book again I'll be able to uncover other crucial blunders of the same magnitude.
Summing up: a virtually flawless, superior level academic work that can be read with absolute ease and pleasure.

Originally intended for those taking a trip to Israel, Tom Wright dramatically and skillfully points out that the true Holy Land is wherever believers are. He points out that a trip to the Holy Land may be of some value but not as a matter of 'earning points' with the Lord. An example of how he relates his "tour" to personal life is when he is talking of visiting Jerusalem. Located at 3000 feet above sea level, It doesn't take much of a journey on either side of Jerusalem to find oneself in a wilderness. Just as one may feel 'on top of the world'
one moment and the next find oneself in a physical or emotional wilderness. We have all been there.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Once again Tom Wright proves he is one of the top theologians in the world, regardless of denomination or location.

As N.T. Wright notes, "It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you."

Wright's "It" is an unexpected encounter with Jesus Christ. Rarely do we see it coming. Wright makes this clear in the very first chapter of his wonderful book, "The Way of the Lord." He cites Saul of Tarsus' journey from Jerusalem to Damascus. It was no intentional pilgrimage. Yet by the time Paul reached the gates of Damascus, he was already embarked on a journey that would see him travel the world in service of his God.

And so it is for all who follow Christ. As Wright says: "One sort of pilgrimage ends, therefore, and a new sort of pilgrimage begins, with the empty tomb of Jesus." Though we may never travel further than ten miles from home, life in Christ is a pilgrimage. Wright's book illustrates this by comparing different facets of the spiritual journey with different areas Jesus traveled through in his sojourn here.

Each chapter Focuses on an individual area/spiritual facet of life. They are meant to be read sequentially, but I have gone back to several chapters since first reading them and each has its own lesson and can validly stand on its own. This makes this book an invaluable companion for anyone seeking to follow Jesus.

Life in Christ is a wonderful journey--it is truly life "to the full." "The Way of the Lord" is like a tour book of sorts. I give it my highest recommendation

This book starts out good and then just gets better and better with each new Pilgrimage. Wright takes the reader on a journey with such descriptive writing that one wonders if his degree is in literature, instead of theology and history. Wright deals with the idea of Pilgimage on the road to Damascus, at the Jordan, in the Wilderness, in Galilee where most of Jesus minsitry took place, in Jerusalem, on the mountain where God is experienced in transfigurative ways, Gethsemene, where the agony of purpose takes place, the Cross (the best chapter), the empty tomb and then reflections on current day Israel. This book will take you away and cause you to feel like you were on the mountain, at the Jordan and was a witness of the cross. Wright's reflections are insightful, powerful and moving. Get this book.

The Way of the Lord. Christian Pilgrimage Today. Tom Wright. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999.

On the face of it, pilgrimage would seem to be a venerable, natural practice. It is, in fact, highly controversial. To be sure, it has its advocates in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Torah required three pilgrimages a year, one on Passover, one during the Feast of Weeks, and one during the Feast of Tabernacles (De 16.16). And St. Jerome even interpreted some of the Psalms to be a command to make a pilgrimage. By contrast, however, Gregory of Nyssa went out of his way to criticize the practice, arguing that it is important to be close to God and one's neighbors and that pilgrimage made no contribution to accomplishing either imperative. And in more recent times, C. S. Lewis asserted, "The significance of the incarnation is not that God is a god of one place to the exclusion of others; it is that he is a god of all places, active in his world . . . God is to be found especially in people; namely those in need and in the gathered community of the Church . . . It follows that to set off on a journey to grow nearer to Christ is at best a complex matter. It might be that the true search is among those in need . . ." For the ardent pilgrim, Lewis commends the words of Matthew 28.6: "He is not here; he is risen." There is a certain logic to Lewis's position, but at the same time, it misses an important point. Pilgrimage is not about going to a particular place to find God. It is about putting ourselves in a particular place so that God can find us. For people who struggle with the concept of pilgrimage and who are inclined to side with Gregory or Lewis, Tom Wright's brief, readable work on pilgrimage will be a welcome guide. Former Dean of Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire, England, and the new Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey, Wright grew up in the evangelical tradition. He heard little or nothing about pilgrimage early in his life and his first exposure to the practice left him with doubts not unlike those expressed by Lewis. But much to his surprise, he discovered that "one can learn to discover the presence of God not only in the world, but through the world." This growing realization prompted him to write this sage little work that not only serves as an introduction to the practice of pilgrimage but is also, by design, "a refresher course, from an unusual angle, on what might be called `Christian basics'." Using locations in the Holy Land where Jesus walked, talked, and healed, Wright takes the reader on a virtual pilgrimage, combining biblical scholarship with catechesis and inspirational challenge. But Wright is never facile or dogmatic. His closing paragraph provides a taste of the rest: "We do not go on pilgrimage, then, because we have the answers and want to impose them. That would make us crusaders, not pilgrims; the world has had enough of that, and I dare say God has had enough of that. We go on the pilgrim way, we follow the way of the Lord, because he himself is the way - and, as he said himself, the truth and the life as well. We go to meet him afresh, to share his agony, and to pray and work for the victory he won on the cross to be implemented, and for his way to be followed, in Israel and Palestine, in our own countries and in the whole world."

This will be brief. It is simply a statement about my "hero" in a sphere for which he is often not known, especially in the States. This book is the heart of Tom Wright, the pastor. Written as a pastor to part of his flock going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, it breathes the spirit of pastoral concern. At the same time it reveals a real knowledge of the Land - its history, geography, culture, and current struggles. For those who think that they know NT Wright, whether as friend or foe, it reveals what I like about him most - an academic who left the daily world of academia for pastoral ministry. And what a pastor he must be to his flock - now in the diocese of Durham. I have been to the "Holy Land" forty times and have read dozens of books on Israel, past and present. I will treasure this one more than any of them. I am in the process of buying up all of the copies I can, since it appears to be out of print.
Read it as preparation for your physical and spiritual pilgrimages. It is a wonderful guide to both.

Aminah is an orphan and a beggar on the streets of the Arabian city where Aladdin lives with his wife, Princess Badr al-Budur. Although she lives in unimaginable poverty and filth, Aminah doesn't give up. Her desperate attempt to solicit sympathy and help from the heartless Princess Badr ends in disappointment...until Aminah unexpectedly finds herself the mistress of Aladdin's magic lamp.

Of course, the jinni of the lamp grants Aminah's wishes, which at first are typical desires that anyone might have: food, shelter, clothing...the necessities of life to a certain lavish extent. But soon, Aminah's wishes begin to take a turn that surprises even the seasoned jinni, who has seen many masters and heard countless wishes yet rarely experiences anything but the greedy, selfish side of human nature.

Aminah develops new friendships and puts the magic lamp to use, all the while knowing she must try to escape Princess Badr's wrath. As the Sultan's daughter, Badr al-Budur lives in resplendent wealth and luxury and enjoys virtually limitless power. But it isn't enough. Badr is determined to regain her husband's magic lamp -- for herself.

"Wishing Moon" pulls readers into its story as naturally and surely as rubbing a magic lamp draws a jinni out to grant wishes. Within its pages, we find an irresistible world of enchantment, discovery, adventure, and suspense where anything is possible.

Who can deny the lure of a magic lamp? "Wishing Moon" hooks readers with that universal appeal, and then quietly, almost imperceptibly entices us to ponder the unspoken question: What would you wish for if you had a magic lamp?

I borrowed this book from the library and couldn't put it down! It was great! Definitely worth reading.

I read this book in like 2 days, it was so good! I recomend it for anyone who likes fantasy or fairy tales!

I have never read anything quite like this book. And I mean that as a good thing. It is a new take on the Arabian Nights stories, and a very good one at that.

Aminah, a young beggar girl, goes to the princess to ask her for help. Their fathers knew eachother, so she has reason to hope. However, the princess scorns her and throws and old lamp at her, which later turns out to be Aladdin's lamp. (Aladdin is the princess's husband) Aminah gets three wishes every month. However, her Jinni likes to trick people, so she has to watch out what she wishes for.

Soon she is living like royalty, with her own cook and a boy named Idris that she picked up off the street living with her. However, she finds her wealth hollow. She now has an endless supply of money, so she uses her wishes to help other people in need. Meanwhile, the vengeful princess realizes what she cast away and is searching madly for Aminah.

Eventually, Aminah finds a young man in need of help. He turns out to be a man that had been kind to her once when she was poor. So Aminah is happy and her relationships with her cook (Barra), Idris, Jinni and Hassan (the kind baker) slowly develop. However, because of the way she acquired the lamp, she must hide her past from those she loves. But this takes a terrible toll. Idris runs off when he overhears something by accident. Will she ever find him again. And she loves them all, but who will she choose, Hassan, Idris or Jinni? And then the man she loves is captured by the princess and she must find a way to get them all out of the city.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very believable and well developed. Aminah was a likeable character and I literally cringed when she made a bad choice. However, it has a happy ending and a good moral. So I say, fantasy lovers, read it! Based on the two other reviews, this book isn't getting enough attention!

A throw back to good old-fashioned storytelling, WISHING MOON is a refreshing read--a step away from the rampant political correctness (the new didacticism) and/or the hard-edged problem scenarios so often rewarded in today's children's book world. It deserves the starred review given by Kirkus (see below), which sums up how I feel about this book.

Kirkus Reviews
starred review
In this captivating original sequel to Aladdin, the genie gets a real workout when its lamp falls into the hands of an orphaned street child. Fourteen-year-old Aminah's bleak future takes a wild turn for the better when an old lamp sails out of the palace window and hits her on the head. But rather than use her wishes to live in splendor or to punish enemies, Aminah flummoxes the genie by searching out decent-hearted people engaged in helping the poor and endowing them with magical abilities. Predictably, the petulant, mercurial genie-who tends to show anger by spitting snakes, or blowing up its own head-steals the show, but Aminah puts in a sturdy performance too, as an idealistic but not entirely naive do-gooder with a temper of her own, and plenty of gumption. Modern sounding dialogue-"I wish you'd settle down!"-and the genie's breezily cryptic references to pizza, New York, and other items from Aminah's future give the tale a contemporary tone without spoiling the Arabian Nights flavor. Tunnell adds suspense with a subplot involving the efforts of Aladdin's evil wife to recover the lamp, and closes with a perfectly executed twist. (Fiction. 11-15)

One of the prize possessions of this reviewer is an autographaed copy of Alfred M. Lilienthal's THE ZIONIST CONNECTION. Alfred M. Lilienthal has shown courage and toughness in refuting myths regarding the creation of the State of Israel and status of U.S.-Israeli relations beginning in 1948.

THE ZIONIST CONNECTION can be considered the final book of a trilogy that Lilienthal wrote. The other two books are titled THERE GOES THE MIDDLE EAST and ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN which are also instructive of events in Israel and Palestine.

Lilienthal begins THE ZIONIST CONNECTION by reciting some forgotten problems and history of zionism. He details the planned atrocities of some of the zionist units especially those of the Irgun and the Stern Gang. For example, Lilienthal cites the Deir Yessin Massacre in April in which old men, women, and children were massacred by Begin's "soliders" who wiped out the inhabitents. Lilienthal cites sources that the people of this village had just repulsed a Palestinian attempt to enlist their support against the zionist forces, and these people just wanted to be left alone in the midst of the war taking place. Readers may be surprised at other zionist outrages which occured.

Lilienthal also makes some procative remarks that some of the zionist leaders collaberated with some of the German authorities during World War. Lilienthal details the Kastner Affair whereby Kastner made deals with Adolf Eichmann in 1944 to leave poor Hungarian Jews their fate when they only had to walk three miles from Hungary to Soviet occupied Romania to avoid concentration camps. Kaster refused to alert these poor souls and left them to their fate by prior arrangement with Eichmann. When Kastner tried to file criminal charges against an Israeli journalist for making these allegations against Kastner, an Israeli exonerated the journalist, and Kastner was assassinate because of the political embarrassment this could cause. As an aside, Hannah Arendt has a good section of this event in her book titled EICHMANN IN JERUSALEM.

Lilienthal also refutes the nonsense that the "wicked Arabs" started the Six Day War in 1967. Lilienthal cites public sources such as journals and newpaper articles whereby Israeli generals and military advisors bluntly admitted that the Israelis started the Six Day and provoked the hostilities. There is nothing arcane in Lilienthal's report of this war.

Lilienthal indicates why many Americans are kept ignorant of events in the Middle East. Lilienthal cites the cowardly media types who are too timid or two biased to give an accurate assessement of events in Israel and Palestine. Yet, what disturbs these media cowards is the fact that some folks are not easily impressed with lying media accounts and have made significant contributions which have been embarrassing to political "experts" and media gurus who are easily refuted by honest research and writing.

Lilienthal does not have any political partisan ax to grind. He faults both Democrats and Republicans for their bad policies and timid responses to events involving Israel and Palestine. Lilienthal also offers scathing denounciations of the entertainment business for thier false protrayal of these tragic events.

Lilienthal's book may appear dated, but the book is still important. Lilienthal's THE ZIONIST CONNECTION lets the readers know how severely flawed American foreign policy has added to exponentially to the tragedies in the Middle East. Lilienthal writes well, and his research is solid. Readers should read THE ZIONIST CONNECTION and add Rabbi Elmer Berger's MEMOIRS OF AN ANTI-ZIONIST JEW to have a comprehensive view of events in the Middle East.

_The Zionist Connection_ is written from the perspective of an antiZionist Jew. The author takes a look at the situation in the Middle East, the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israeli Jews, and places the blame on the state of Israel. The book basically tries to show that support for Israel is contrary to America's best interest (as they were defined in 1978 when the book was written) and is also morally suspect. The author contends that a single special interest group, the Zionists, have wrapped America and its leaders in a stranglehold in their attempt to maintain an "Israel First" foreign policy. The author distinguishes Zionism from Judaism, and he views Zionism as an idolatrous usurper. By appealing to emotion and memories of the Holocaust and cries of "antiSemitism" this single group of Jews has basically forced the United States into this position. The author contends that much of the press is Zionist controlled and that it is by appealing to "Christian guilt" that these Jews have gained their position of prominence. The book concludes with a section on the wars between Israel and the Arabs, as well as a discussion of such events as the U.S.S. Liberty attack.

... The gory details of the brutal killing of a Palestinian child are spelled out in the chapter "Terror: The Double Standard", but the details of Palestinian terrorism are totally suppressed by the author. Nevertheless, the book is highly interesting and worth reading for the author's perspective on the Middle East, even if it is far too idealistic.

This book is of immense importance. Only a Jewish critic of Zionism could tell the terrible truth about America's blind support for Israel. It is astonishing, especially in the wake of the atrocity of September 11th, to find this book so hard to get hold of. The University of Oxford, with its great libraries, does not have a copy, so I was grateful to Amazon for enabling me to buy one for myself. A look at the copyright page suggests the explanation. Four editions were published by a small U.S. publisher, which went under in 1989. To produce an international paperback edition, Lilienthal had to go to publishers and printers based in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Even that failed to achieve a wide readership and, given the Zionists' capacity for suppressing the truth, as revealed by Lilienthal, I suspect that many copies were bought by them to be destroyed.
The fear of being labelled 'anti-Semite' is the main weapon used by Zionists to silence their critics, and many of the non-Jewish supporters of Israel are racists who want 'to send the Jews back where they belong'. I should therefore make it plain that, although not Jewish, I consider Judaism in many respects superior to Christianity. The greatest danger to the future of this venerable religion comes from Zionism, whose aim is the purely secular one of 'ingathering' a supposed 'homeless nation' on land seized from a defenceless people, who had always lived at peace with their Jewish neighbours. Everyone should learn to distinguish, with Lilienthal, between practising Jews, people with some Jewish ancestry (which probably includes most Palestinians), Israeli citizens (three million of whom are Arabic-speaking, and one million of them Muslims and Christians), Israeli governments and Zionists.

Alfred Lilienthal, a prominent Jewish critic of Zionism, has remarkably presented a candid picture of the dangers of equating Judaism, the world's oldest monotheistic faith, with Zionism, an essentially political movement emanating from largely socialist, secular European Jews in the nineteenth century. This work is well researched and documented to prevent any misunderstanding or misinterpretation of his thesis that the obstacles to a just solution to the Middle East conflict between Israelis and Palestinians arise from what he feels are the "racist" origins of Zionism and a consistent misuse of the word "anti'-Semitism " to stifle legitimate criticism of Israeli miltary actions against Palestinian civilians.

The text is not inflammatory or denunciatory towards any ethnic community, contrary to what the title may imply. Lilienthal reiterates throughout the text that his sole purpose is to make an attempt for Westerners to understand, so that current and future generations may contribute positively towards a just settlement of the Middle East conflict, a conflict that has shed the blood of thousands of Israeli and Palestinian lives over the past fifty years. I highly recommend this scholarly work to anyone interested in understanding the nature of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and the obstacles that are preventing a peaceful settlement.

This book, out of all books on the Middle-East conflict goes beyond the Orient and examines the Zionist Web that has Entangled the American beauracracy, Media, etc.. Lilienthal proves a very significant fact, and that is the Holocaust is being exploited for political purposes, being used as a justification for the existence of Israel. when its clear, as he points out, that Zionists did nothing to help their fellow Jews in the genocide. This and other significant issues are discussed in detail in this most comprehensive book. It is strongly recommended for evereyone with a keen interest in the Mid-East conflict and even in U.S. politics and the Israeli lobby group. I'am grateful for Mr Alfred Lilienthal, that as a Jew, he had the courage to expose the reality that has been hidden to Westerners away from them. Blinded by the Holocaust from seeing that a traditionaly persecuted people (ie the Jews) are capable of becoming the chief persecutors...

The author was an intelligence officer of the US National Guard and served as a liaison to the French 6th Light Armored Division in the Gulf War. His writing style is excellent and so is his ability to watch the small things and the myriads of details around him, giving an impressive account of how the things were done at the extreme left flank of the great allied sweeping maneuver. The author had a good knowledge of the French language and also was a professor of history, having though a very good background to comprehend the general situation in the Persian Gulf. I especially enjoyed his description of the French MREs and the terrific elan of the troops employed by the French, such as the regiments of the Foreign Legion. The book contains some black and white photographs of rather bad quality and a few maps which give a decent picture of the campaign, althoygh they are simple computer sketches.

The important contribution of the Franch Army in the Gulf War has been largely overlooked in the English-speaking countries. Their "left hook" around Saddam's forces was a crucial element in the strategy of his defeat. Perhaps more important for the future, for the first time since World War Two, French and American troops stood side by side against a common enemy, rediscovering their common bonds and heritage in the process. Colonel Cooke, a French-fluent military intelligence and armor officer who teaches Middle Eastern history in civilian life, was uniquely qualified for liason with the "Division Daguet" (French 6th Light Armored Division), bringing to the task not only military expertise but a sensitive and informed understanding of these highly capable but prickly warriors. His book is an admirably clear and complete record of the Daguet operations, and has enough context to serve as a good one-volume history of the overall land conflict as well. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of being one of Dr. Cooke's students as an undergrad, which was my initial reason for picking up this book. For those who are expecting dry scholarship on a discrete subject, you would be wrong. Dr Cooke accomplishes in this book a feat he matches and builds upon in his other books- strong narrative--almost chatty-- combined with solid scholarship and research, making for a flawless, streamlined, easy read. This book read like a novel for me. I have heard that people prefer his WWI books but this one is my favorite of the bunch. A page-turner. Keep writing, General!

This reviewer deplores the mandatory requirement for rating "stars".

The important contribution of the Franch Army in the Gulf War has been largely overlooked in the English-speaking countries. Their "left hook" around Saddam's forces was a crucial element in the strategy of his defeat. Perhaps more important for the future, for the first time since World War Two, French and American troops stood side by side against a common enemy, rediscovering their common bonds and heritage in the process. Colonel Cooke, a French-fluent military intelligence and armor officer who teaches Middle Eastern history in civilian life, was uniquely qualified for liason with the "Division Daguet" (French 6th Light Armored Division), bringing to the task not only military expertise but a sensitive and informed understanding of these highly capable but prickly warriors. His book is an admirably clear and complete record of the Daguet operations, and has enough context to serve as a good one-volume history of the overall land conflict as well. Highly recommended.

Cramming in the full history of the rise and the fall of the Islamic Empire in one book is not an easy task. Peterson's nicely readable explanation includes even more: he starts with ancient Israel and their subjection to the Greek Seleucids and the Romans before Islam was established through Mohammed the prophet. Much of the history is uneventful for the non-scholarly read, so Peterson focuses on the events that have formed modern Islam and modern Judaism, even talking about the recent Near East developments. His whole point is that you need to understand where Muslims came from to understand their current strife and complicated (seemingly irrational) behavior. Islam is not a pagan religion, but a sister to Judaism and a cousin to Christianity. The very word Allah, translates to "one true God" in English. He explains the virtue of Mohammed and the wonder of the Empire he created. For centuries, Arabic was the intellectual language of the world, in which all science, philosophy and literature was conducted.

I chose to read this book because I heard Peterson give a lecture on Mohammed and Islam at BYU in early 2004. He was an articulate orator, and I was engaged within minutes. "If he is a good speaker, then he must be a good writer," I thought, and I purchased his book that week. Indeed, I remember certain phrases from his lecture that were nearly identical to his chapter on Mohammed.

Abraham Divided attempts to help westerners, particularly LDS ones, see Islam in a different light-appreciating and recognizing Muslims for the great contributions they made to western history. Peterson proves that the West is intellectually and technologically indebted to the Near East under Islamic rule. If LDS Westerners tried to understand Muslims without stereotyping, then they might try to understand us (and wouldn't the world be a happy place!). Actually, Peterson wisely declines to offer a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in Palestine, only recognizing that it is a very difficult and complicated situation.

The only thing that would make this book better would be an updated version. So much has happened since he wrote it that I would love to hear Prof. Peterson's interpretations.
It is an excellent resource and I refer to it often.

Islam, the faith of millions, is easily misunderstood in the west. We, for example, often see terrorists justifying their brutality in the name of Islam. This book, written by an LDS scholar on the Middle East, paints a very sympathetic but even-handed picture of this important faith. I learned a lot that I now value knowing. It is a good read too.

The author writes very well, and has a lot to say -- with humor and a light touch. I've had a few Muslim friends read the book, and they have all, thus far, come away from it impressed by the author's fairness and by how much he knew and understood about their faith.

As a former student of Political Science and a strict follower of the events of Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion and most recently, the post-9/11 era, I have tried to read the works written about my country and the agony of its people. I believe no nation in the course of history shed its blood so generously in defense of her identity, liberty, and faith. The book researched and written by Dr. Misdaq throws light on many unseen, dark corners of Afghanistan such as unmasking many of its false war heroes. It is well-written, well-researched, and I would like to add, thoroughly well done. For those scholars who want to know more and find unbiased facts about Afghanistan, I strongly recommend "Political Fraility and Foreign Interference." I wish Dr. Misdaq much success in this endeavor.

-Hafiz Karzai
An Afghan

Dr. Misdaq presents a finely written discourse on a breadth of Afghan history and its current state. A compelling backdrop is set in an effort to describe the formation and continuous reformation of an Afghan identity with each foreign interference and civil uprising. He speaks from a sociological and anthropological perspective, one which allows the reader to understand concepts and traditions, such as the tribal codes and the Pasthunwali code of honor, which are so integral to understanding Afghan people, life, and culture.

There is a thorough narrative of the political history and characters involved, of course, but I feel the most interesting parts of the book are the Appendices which explore particular ideas or events in more depth. From topics such as comparing tribal traditions to Islamic traditions, resisting modernization from the West, to the impetus behind the Durand Agreement and the disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Dr. Misdaq gently allows the reader to see just how resilient Afghans have truly been in the past two and a half centuries - almost as if they've had the ability to change without changing.

I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to know Afghanistan in depth, or wants to understand key events and issues in Afghan culture and history, past and present.

Every so often a book comes along that makes a significant contribution to the corpus of available Afghanistan literature. This is such a book.

Crafted with the skilled eye of a BBC foreign affairs journalist for more than a decade, and with training as an anthropologist and historian, Dr Nabi Misdaq guides and challenges readers through the tumult and mosaic that is Afghanistan. Beginning with a multitude of dynastic invaders, our narrative curiousity is nourished with an encyclopedic treatise on the rich history, culture, tradition and political landscape of Afghanistan.

Our journey culminates with an objective appraisal of the devastating effect that the "war on terror" has had on the people of Afghanistan while dispelling many of the myths that persist.

In this book, the reader will find none of the "file-copy" so prevalent in the media and among many books on Afghanistan. Our eminently qualified author and narrator challenges many of the sterotypical images crafted by those with superficial knowledge and or a political orientation who are often posed as media experts.

With courage and candor, Dr. Misdaq reveals the many untruths surrounding certain Afghan personalities masquerading as patriots, but in truth, were and in some cases are, collaborators. Exhaustively researched with copius end-notes, Dr. Misdaq's book will educate, enlighten and enthrall the reader, be they student, historian or policy maker yet who also harbor a desire to understand the complexity and mosaic of a nation poised at the gates of the fiercely competitive, energy-rich Central Asian and Caspian deposits. Currently the focus of Russia, Iran, China and the United States who seek an alternative to the dwindling, traditional Middle East energy sources. It can be argued therefore that Afghanistan is a victim of its geography as the contentious Trans-Afghan-Pipeline negotiations between The U.S. and Taliban through the Summer of 2001 will attest.

This and much, much more can be found in this remarkable and compelling historical work by Dr. Misdaq. I can therefore recommend without reservation "Afghanistan, Political Fraility and External Interference."

Bruce G. Richardson
Author: "Afghanistan, Ending the Reign of Soviet Terror."

The following academic reviews are offered on the inside cover of the book and should be of interest:

"Nabi Misdaq has a rare blend of skills. As an anthropologist he studied contemporary Afghan society and then worked for many years as a journalist with the BBC's Overseas Service in which capacity he met and interviewed most of Afghanistan's leading politicians. Combining these skills with a profound knowledge of Afghan history, he has produced an enthralling study which reveals the fundamental problems encountered by generations of Afghan rulers in attempting to create a legitimate, centralised Afghan state, problems which, as Misdaq also shows, still confront Afghanistan's present-day leadership."
- Ralph Grillo, Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology,
University of Sussex

"'Afghanistan: Political Frailty and External Interference' is a timely book. At a time when the focus of the world is on the region, it is one of the few anthropological commentaries by a well-known native. Nabi Misdaq's book is detailed and insightful. He has established himself as an authority on Afghanistan. I strongly recommend the book."
- Dr Akbar S. Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies,
American University, Washington DC

"Dr Nabi Misdaq has described in this book how the Afghans defended their identity and country, Afghanistan, in odd conditions throughout history, with a special focus on the last 300 years. The publication of this book, considering the current conditions in Afghanistan, is by itself an example of such defense. This is a thoroughly researched and compassionately argued work. I will recommend this book as a must for all those who have an interest in the geo-politics of Afghanistan."
- Dr Farouq Azam, former Afghan Minister of Education

Alexander III of Macedonia - brilliant, intuitive, decisive, driven was chief, amongst many things, an outstanding commander in chief of arguably the premier military force of the ancient world. It is little wonder that Brassey included Alexander in their series (Dennis Showalter, series editor) of Military Profiles.

Admittedly a biography of Alexander as a military man, Tsouras opens by showing us the forces and experiences that instructed, equipped and empowered Alexander to become a successful leader of military forces. As he does, Tsouras includes most of the standard stories told about Alexander and puts them into their historical perspective.

The bulk of the book follows Alexander's exploits leading the Macedonian army as they secured their home base, conquered Persia and marched on into India and Afghanistan. Tsouras details battles and spends time detailing the ways in which Alexander managed his troops on and off the battle field. He presents in detail and with illustrations the tactics Alexander used in two significant battles. These were illustrative of Alexander's skill in leadership on the battlefield.

This is a short book, easy to read and understandable. I found it well worth the time and effort spent. As a lay person to military tactics I was able to comprehend the material presented.

I did find however, that many questions about Alexander, his life and times, were raised. But the answers to these belong to other books.

This slim, 107-page book is superbly written and obviously based on a lifetime devoted to the study of Alexander. Yet, this in-depth understanding of the man and his accomplishments does not slow down the pace of the book. Peter is able to keep the fruits of his exaustive research in a supporting role, never letting it impeed or slow the velocity of Alexander's story, which is fitting. Peter provides just enough detail to explain the importance of each of Alexander's actions and how they were achieved. This is important because I really didn't believe so much insight could be packed into such a small book. Another point, Peter firmly roots Alexander in Macedonia, with its history, politics, traditions and expectations of leadership. Quickly, the reader comes to view the situation as a Macedonian, not a Greek. This distinction is important in understanding Alexander in context of his historical period and cultural background. Given Peter's preparation, the reader will understand that Alexander could become a god in the eyes of his contemporaries, given his unsurpassed military and political accomplishments. I will leave the superlatives to Peter. Within twenty pages you will know in detail that Alexander was superbly prepared for greatness. In another twenty, how Alexander turned his excellent preparation into an unmatched string of victories. Never once does the author loose sight of the man himself. If Alexander seems unapproachable and on a pedestal, it is because he deserves to be there. Peter's genious is to avoid the inclination to dislodge Alexander. Instead, Peter tries to bring us up to Alexander's level and into his world.
This could possibly be the only book on Alexander the historian or student of military art ever needs.

This concise, vivid retelling of Alexander's life is simply without equal. As both an accomplished historian and a military man (and, for that matter, a Greek-American), Tsouras is uniquely qualified to write on the subject; as a result, he's produced an analytical military biography to rank alongside the work of J.F.C. Fuller. Yet, for all the insight, there isn't a dry page in this book. In less than a hundred pages, the author catches the color and fire of a lost world, reminding us why Alexander remains a mythical presence in remote parts where American soldiers are fighting today. One of those sudden geniuses whose appearance changes the world, Alexander has long fascinated a wide range of intellects (beginning with his teacher, Aristotle), and it would seem that nothing new could be added to the library of works that exist on the subject. What Tsouras adds to the Alexandrine story is clarity. Writing for a series that might be called "brief military lives" forced authorial selectivity on the work. The result is not only the most lucid biography available of Alexander the Great, but one of the clearest, most readable biographies of any of the figures of antiquity. The writers of the classical age, from playwrights down to Plutarch, understood the art of capturing the total character in the gesture or the sculpted sentence. Tsouras has produced a highly readable biography that needs not one additional word, but couldn't spare one he included. It's a fine read, more relevant than one might at first think. And, if nothing else, with a big-budget Hollywood "sword-and-sandal" bio-pic of Alexander on the way, it's worth the while of any intelligent reader/viewer to learn about the man himself before settling down with the popcorn. Finally, I have to add that I've been a fan of Tsouras's broad body of work for years. I make no pretense of being anything less than a great admirer of his books--and only wish I could persuade still more readers to give him a try. His biography of Alexander is a great place to start.

I'm a hardcore Alexandrophile (having read nearly 3 dozen books about this remarkable historic figure) and I can say that this work by Peter G. Tsouras is the best concise biography of the man I've read to date. Considering that it's part of a Military Profiles series, I expected the book to be a rather dry military academia that strictly focused on Alexander's military achievements. While it's true that the focus is on the military aspects of Alexander's extraordinary life and career, I was pleasantly surprised by the broad range of Alexander's life that Tsouras covered with such clear prose and lucid writing style.

Tsouras takes a very balanced view of Alexander in light of today's mudslinging between the extreme pro-Alexandrian and anti-Alexander schools of thought. Overall, Tsouras comes to a fairly positive outlook and conclusion when it comes to Alexander's achievements and legacy after having thoroughly examined both sides of the story. I also have a very positive view although I am very well aware of the mistakes Alexander had made during his life. I just do not think it's Alexander's fault that the latter day imitators who followed in his footsteps didn't realize that they didn't have his immense talents and noble intentions and only focused on his military successes of vanquishing his enemies and enjoying the spoils of the victories. Tsouras is very well aware of this as he points out that many have tried to equal or surpass Alexander but fell woefully short and simply committed atrocities on a huge scale.

This is an insightful book that is chock full of interesting information and is easy to read. If you have time for only one concise biography of the greatest conqueror the world has ever known, this is the one to get. It's real history but isn't dry or overbearing with esoteric academia as so many classical history books tend to be. Tsouras also lays out the military aspects of Alexander's career in a manner both military buff and the layman can easily digest and learn from. There has never been a leader and military commander quite like Alexander the Great. Tsouras shows you why in a clear and lucid manner. I ended up finishing this book over a weekend but I expect to come back to it over and over again in the future. It's highly recommended to both serious Alexandrophiles and novices alike.

This book is topical and beautfully illustrated. It is an excellent book to introduce children to the war in Iraq in a nonpolitical way and to break some stereotypes: I appreciated the strong but caring Muslim woman and the men who helped her. Adults will enjoy reading this book with their children, too, because of the good story and the wonderful drawings. (I am a child psychology professor).

This is a true story about saving books. It takes place in Basra, Iraq, in 2003. Yes, that Basra. It's in the news all the time. At the beginning of the book, "Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq," there is no war in Basra. But Alia Muhammad Baker, chief librarian of Basra Central Library, knows it is only a matter of time.

As a girl, Alia had read about the Mongol invasion of Iraq and the burning of the Baghdad Library. She equates the burning of a library and its books with the destruction of the culture of her country. Burn a library and you burn a collective recorded memory. Alia singlehandedly assumes the responsibility for saving the 40,000 volumes in her library. How? She stuffs her purse and loads her arms under her shawl and walks out, loads her car, returns for another load. City and military officials who now occupy the library, daring the enemy to bomb their library, pay her no heed. She fills her car.

Night after night she comes home with a car full of books. Her husband, bless him, unloads them into a closet, then guest room, then into other rooms. (I'm a librarian and understand her distress and need to save the books!). Then neighbors and friends, and those who hear about the effort, and then many other people help rescue the books. The only books intentionally ignored are those about Saddam Hussein.

After England invades, a fire finally destroys the library and 10,000 volumes. Currently, plans are underway to rebuild as soon as the war is over.

"Alia's Mission" is told in graphic panel form and will appeal to all ages. It is a great teaching tool for parents and teachers to explain the Iraqi Conflict, Saddam Hussein, libraries and why it is important to preserve them and their books, and most definitely the fact that one person can make a difference performing a simple heroic act and becoming the impetus to drive others. What a magnificent lesson from an Iraqi librarian wearing the Islamic head covering. Certainly, the love of books is a universal language that crosses all barriers and opens doors to future reconciliations.

When the war is over, let us find a way to help Alia Muhammad Baker to rebuild the Basra Central Library.

I've struggled for a while with how to introduce my 7-year-old to the reality of war, and this book provided the opening I was looking for. The focus is on the non-political actions of a strong, intelligent, middle-aged Muslim woman (headscarf and all) whose commitment to knowledge and history causes three-quarters of the books in the Basra library to be saved from destruction. Yet the unavoidable backdrop is the current war. The book does a good job of not explicitly naming names/ countries -- the only political figure specifically named is Saddam, who is described as a highly unpopular tyrant. But it led my child to ask questions -- why is the war happening? who started it? why do people loot? who dropped the bombs? etc. -- that led to difficult answers. But I was glad to have an opportunity to open this discussion with her at her pace, and to give her a positive figure/ action to focus on at the same time as she considers the tragedies of war.

If you are teaching about the war in Iraq at any grade level this is a book you must have. Written in comic book format it is edgy enough to engage high school students and simple enough for upper elementary students to understand. It raises very fundamental questions about what we value and offers rich potential for classroom discussion. It has been reprinted in Arabic. Does Amazon have access to the Arabic version?

Always Faithful: A Memoir Of The Gulf War is the profound and moving testimony of John Hartnett, a U.S. Marine who survived the ground assault during the 1991 Gulf War. A very illuminating, vividly written account, Always Faithful tells of a deadly test of skill and courage where survival is the ultimate success. Always Faithful is very strongly recommended for Military History collections in general, and Gulf War Studies in particular.

The author presents a touching account of his own story. Overall, it is neither a swashbuckling story of fighting nor is it a detailed account of war operations, even though both adventure and some military detail are included. Rather, the author presents himself, an intelligent, philosophical American who struggles with the everyday issues of life. Some parts could have used more detail, but it's brevity does not detract from the overall impact of the book. One gains understanding of military reserve officers who out of their loyalty, sacrifice their lives but out of their humanity, struggle with moral issues of war. The book is a very human story that includes humor, sadness, fear, and wonder.

This is a wonderful story of real conflict that one marine faced in the First Gulf War. The reader is struck at once by the realization that soldiers are found and mobilized at a precise moment in their private lives and delivered to the battlefield with all that they have gained, lost, or struggled for at home. In "Always Faithful" the stark landscape of the desert and the critical job at hand compels the author to contemplate conflicting commitments he has made to his family, his men, and his country.

"Always Faithful" is a timely book that helped me understand what every soldier must indeed face in times of war.

The author takes us through his personal inner struggle versus professional duty. He pulls no punches in facing his human-ness, sins, fears, and conquests of each. This highly readable memoir is written with honesty, humor, bitterness, and forgiveness. It represents Mr. Average Joe in his daily struggles. John Hartnett's daughter is one lucky girl to have a father who is not afraid to share his feelings.