Customer Reviews

The Iraq War Reader: History, Documents, Opinions

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I just bought a copy of the "Iraq War Reader," edited by Micah Sifry and Christopher Cerf, and I must say, I found it fascinating and very revealing. The articles in this anthology cover past, present and even future issues plaguing Iraq and the Middle East. What an education the reader receives! With all the media attention the Iraq war has generated, I was shocked (and awed...) at how little I knew about the history and problems of the region. I could not put this book down!
Of particular relevance and interest were the articles by Tim Judah, who gives a compelling on the scene account of the struggles the Kurds have endured (he was reporting from Kurdistan) and Frank Smyth, who predicts the Shi'ite demand for power. There are also articles by Al Gore, Christopher Hitchens, Nicholas Lemann and even John lé Carre. The endless list of world-class contributors is amazing!
This book is not only for those interested in gaining a better understanding of the Middle East conflict, but also for anyone who enjoys reading extremely articulate pieces by some of the world's most well-known opinion makers and authors. I've passed the book on to a friend and can't wait to discuss and argue its contents.

This book was an excellent read. Both sides of the current Iraq War issue are well represented, with excellent footnotes for factual claims. Easy to differentiate between opinion and information. Each piece is from 2 to 8 pages. If you are willing to hear both sides of the story, this book is for you. But beware, I believe that the vast majority who read this with an open mind will develop serious doubts about what America is doing. For those who started out with doubts, this will give you some well-referenced factual support for your doubts. Enjoy!

I've purchased and read many books on Iraq since it's what I'm studying at grad school right now, and this book is among the best I've read. There are so many different points of view offered here ranging from Noam Chomsky, Ann Coulter, and everyone in between. Even though Coulter's horribly titled (and written) article "Why we hate them" is a testament to how horrible a person she is, it's good to know all sides of the debate.

As the title suggests, in this book you'll find opinion pieces, articles from government officials, and government documents. The editors do a wonderful job at compiling a vast amount of relevant information. This is a good place to start if you'd like to familiarize yourself with the conflict, but most pieces are short and do not provide in-depth analysis of the topic.

This book provides an interesting and insightful look at Iraq and The Middle East situation. I was especially impressed with the list of contributors, the exceptional writing and the different perspectives presented. A must read, once you start, you can't put this book down.

this is a great book on a complicated subject. goes beyond the headlines, written by the people who make the headlines. you can't go wrong with chris cerf's brilliant iraq war reader. another great read by cerf is "the experts speak", a chapter of which is excerpted in the current book.

This is one of the best written books I have read. It is rife with history and filled with facts. It is an enjoyable and friendly read. This belongs on my bookshelf forever! This is one of the best books I have read!

If you enjoyed this book in order to gain a braoder persective on the war in Iraq I would recommend Women as Weapons of War: Iraq, Sex and the Media by well known author Kelly Oliver.

I was impressed by how well this book is balanced. Although the editorial comments are on the whole skewed to the left, there is very little editorializing in the book. Many of the articles are historical documents, speeches or other matters of public record, while most are opinion pieces excerpted from books or periodicals. The reader is left to himself to make a decision on the politics of the situation. Regardless of your politics, nobody will be able to read this book without better grasping the complexity of the Iraq situation.