Rating: 
Summary: I highly recommend this book.
Review: To the reader who like myself, who has no religious, cultural or familial links to the middle east, but has an insatiable curiosity driving a desire to understand the riddle that is the middle east, this book is an excellent starting point.If you wonder about the never ending peace process, if you wonder what exactly is driving terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden, if you wonder why there is such hatred for the USA in Arab Muslim nations, then I highly recommend that you make the effort to complete this book. I first heard Yosef Bodansky speak on national TV during the period after Sept 11, 2001. Mr. Bodansky was the one middle east expert that actually seemed to understand all the players and the issues. When I heard he had completed a book, which he had begun well before 9/11, I was most interested. Now having made the effort to read the book, I feel that I truly have the fundamental knowledge necessary to understand the news coming out the middle east. I suggest to any reader who has the time and the desire that you do a little online research first about the creation of Israel and get yourself a current map of the Greater Middle East region and put it up on your wall as I did. You will then be set for a fascinating journey. Many thanks to Mr. Bodansky for the effort he made to create this book - it is truly an outstanding work. I finished reading this book March 29, 2004.
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