Customer Reviews

What's Really Wrong With The Middle East

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I read this book with interest and anticipation. I admire Brian Whitaker for his initiative to start a discussion going. I live in the ME and I appreciate what Brian is trying to achieve. The ME will have to find a way to free itself from that part of their culture that keeps them tethered to the past, and discussion is the only way forward.

I found this book at a time when I was describing the education systems here in the Middle East, and the first chapter takes a look at traditions here from an educational perspective. I was immediatly hooked and found what the author to be writing quite accurate from what I hear, and have experienced. It is good, for us educators, to get snapshots of the past which says something about the inertia of current trends. Interesting to note that just years ago a nation like Saudi Arabia only allowed 25% of the student polulation to be female - but in current times the number of females in education was outnumbering the male polulation.

If you are in the Middle East, like to read about the Middle East, or are interested in learning of different regions of the word this may be a good choice for you. Soft and east to read based on a range of sources. Hope you enjoy.

The book answers the question the title poses. Towards the very end the book becomes politically correct, perhaps at the publisher's bidding? This, however, does not diminish the importance of the book.