The Middle East and North Africa: A Political Primer

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding primer for novice...reference for expert
Review: The average Westerner has far too little knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa and the author offers a superb and timely analysis of this area. His style of posing questions, both geographical and cultural/political, then answering them in detail gives the reader, both novice and expert, information rarely seen in one tome. Dr. Weatherby's description of the ancient history of the area and how it relates to the present is brought to life by his photography and the detailed maps.

It's hard to imagine a more readable and informative text on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding primer for novice...reference for expert
Review: The average Westerner has far too little knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa and the author offers a superb and timely analysis of this area. His style of posing questions, both geographical and cultural/political, then answering them in detail gives the reader, both novice and expert, information rarely seen in one tome. Dr. Weatherby's description of the ancient history of the area and how it relates to the present is brought to life by his photography and the detailed maps.

It's hard to imagine a more readable and informative text on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling and Pertinent
Review: This is the first book I have found that explains the politics, religions, and cultures of this region in language that I can understand. The writing is vivid and clear. The book uses a historical perspective, which really helps the current events make sense. I gained a new perspective on terrorism. The importance of western colonialism is well covered. Good maps are used effectively. Interesting pictures are included, most of which were taken by the author. Another noteworthy feature is a chapter containing capsules about each of the more than 20 countries covered. This is a handy reference when reading about world events. The book is a good primer for an ordinary person wanting to understand factors affecting world affairs.