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The Middle East For Dummies Paperback – January 1, 2003

by Craig S. Davis (Author)

4.1 132 ratings

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Demystifies the area's culture, politics, and religions

Explore Middle Eastern history from ancient to modern times

Looking to better understand the Middle East? This plain-English guide explains the importance of the region, especially in light of recent events. You'll meet its people and their leaders, discover the differences and similarities between Arab and Western mindsets, and examine the wars and conflicts - including the Israeli-Palestinian turmoil - that led up to the current political situation.

The Dummies Way
* Explanations in plain English
* "Get in, get out" information
* Icons and other navigational aids
* Tear-out cheat sheet
* Top ten lists
* A dash of humor and fun

From the Inside Flap

Demystifies the areas culture, politics, and religions

Explore Middle Eastern history from ancient to modern times

Looking to better understand the Middle East? This plain-English guide explains the importance of the region, especially in light of recent events. Youll meet its people and their leaders, discover the differences and similarities between Arab and Western mindsets, and examine the wars and conflicts including the Israeli-Palestinian turmoil that led up to the current political situation.

The Dummies Way

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

From the Back Cover

Demystifies the areas culture, politics, and religions

Explore Middle Eastern history from ancient to modern times

Looking to better understand the Middle East? This plain-English guide explains the importance of the region, especially in light of recent events. Youll meet its people and their leaders, discover the differences and similarities between Arab and Western mindsets, and examine the wars and conflicts including the Israeli-Palestinian turmoil that led up to the current political situation.

The Dummies Way

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

About the Author

Craig S. Davis received a dual PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and Religious Studies from Indiana University. His teaching competencies include Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

For Dummies
Publication date

January 1, 2003
Dimensions

7.4 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
ISBN-10

0764554832
ISBN-13

978-0764554834
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ For Dummies; 1st edition (January 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764554832
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764554834
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.4 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #143,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #157 in History of Education
- #189 in Middle Eastern Politics
- #261 in Israel & Palestine History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 132 ratings

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4.1 out of 5

132 global ratings

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Tracy R

Informative overview of the entire Middle East

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2006

Verified Purchase

The Middle East for Dummies gives a fairly even-handed overview of the Middle East region - its people, history, traditions as well as political and religious conflicts. The writer has actually travelled to the region and spent time with many ordinary people there. Reading this book really made me think about the fact that people are just people everywhere. I learned a lot about the diversity of cultures and people within the Middle East and got a solid understanding of how the political conflict in the region developed. The writer gives both sides of the story, which is really refreshing for such a charged up subject. If you want to really learn something, this is a great book. I'd also beware of other reviewers here; look at their profiles and see how biased they are. I normally don't write reviews, but when I saw the quality of reviews on books on this subject, I really felt I should write something.

36 people found this helpful

Helpful

D. Krstulovich

Difficult!

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2010

Verified Purchase

For someone who is as poorly informed as me, I can see that there is a lot that is valuable inside this book, but gosh, about halfway through, it just got overwhelming.

SO MUCH is unfamiliar, I might as well be reading about life on another planet.

Making it thru all the difficult names and locations (whose names are always changing) and geography and passions and movements and goals and perspectives and history is HARD!

Not to mention the fact that there is constantly so much violence and I have very, very little understanding of the social and political structures around which these many, many events take place.

Before I finished, I looked for a CHILDREN'S BOOK to start me off with a more BASIC understanding of day-to-day life in the Middle East.

So far, I've been very disappointed to discover that there really aren't any.

I'm sure that's going to change, one day.

Meanwhile, I'll retain this book as a reference and maybe I'll go back and try to re-read some of it again.

And yes, it did explain some things that I really didn't understand at all. But I can only barely remember what they are, at the moment.

It's a good book by a knowlegeable author but I'm (hopefully) looking forward to an even better (and SIMPLER) one.

(sometimes 'dummies' really are 'dummies', y'know)

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Andrea N. Morgan

Used book

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023

Verified Purchase

I thought I was ordering a new, current book. It was used (my mistake for not paying attention) and many years old. The history is relevant, but does not cover more current issues.

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2009

Verified Purchase

Whether it was just my burning desire to learn more about the Middle East or not, this is probably THE best 'For Dummies' or 'Idiot's Guides' out today. Highly recommended if you need to make sense of what's going on and how it got there. I can't praise it enough. I only wished that the area map illustrations had been of a better quality---a great buy at a great price, nonetheless. Get it.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

John Bales

A good first read for those interested in the history and issues of the Middle East

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

A good starting point for those that want to gain a little more understanding of the cultures of the Middle East, their history, and the issues involved that are generating so much of the conflict we see in this area of the world. I found the material well written and easy to understand.

Helpful

jeff vose

FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2014

Verified Purchase

I have always been interested in the middle east but listing to rumors and e-mails gave me the wrong picture. centuries ago the big power hungery countries over throw the weaker ones. Even today we see powerful countries domanating the smaller and weaker ones. Usa, England, France and a few others try to help the weaker countries from being over run. Religion is the one big factor in the middle east that people continue to give their life for. If all the Countries would work for the same goal of Pease and forgiveness.
No one should go wih out the bare necessities. Practice love not hate. Only God can do this for the world.
Thank You Craig S. Davis for a very einlighting book.

Helpful

lisa lentini

Gotta love these books for dummies!

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

I love to learn more about people and places I know little about. These "books for dummies" allow the reader to gain enough knowledge to at least have an intelligent conversation about a subject previously not possible.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Lee Oberg

Partially successful, but flawed and out of date.

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2010

Verified Purchase

I usually read topics like this with great enthusiasm. This book is a long hard forced march through very rough terrain, often going in circles. It reads like forty years wandering in the wilderness (no maps, no GPS, no pillars of fire or smoke).

Pros: Minimal editorializing and bias. Seems mostly fact based. Does a fair job of covering the history and modern day tensions of such a large and volatile region. I did come away more informed. It did provide a fair baseline of knowledge I can build on. I expect it will make a better reference manual than text.

Cons:
Published in 2003, it is disappointingly out of date. I missed this when I purchased.
Poorly organized. I had to create my own cast list, scorecard and timeline to keep track of the players. The publisher should have included these study aids. Yes, it is very complex, but the way it is delivered is more confusing than clarifying.
The author seems to know his stuff, but his editor let him leave in some very infantile attempts at clever word play..."Kurds in the way"... "adding the "bubbles" to Syria's Baath" ... "A painful route canal (Suez,that is)" ... give the reader a break. I guess that's why they call the series, "for Dummies."

Somewhat disappointing and frustrating. I wish I had shopped around more.

15 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Dale Cooper

A great book that need to be updated.

Reviewed in Italy on December 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

As a passionate of Middle East, as well as a student of Political Science and International Relations, I bought this book to deepen my knowledge about a such complicated geopolitical context.
I have to say that this book has proven to be a wonderful source for useful informations that helped me to have a better idea about a large number of events related to that area.
Very captivating, detailed and well designed, it is a "must" for all those who need to know more about Middle East.
Unfortunately it was written in... 2003! Since then, tons of thing happened in Middle East and geopolitical situation is now signficantly different.
I think it is time to update (this word is "reductive") a such useful book.
Please... do it! It is necessary.

David Garratt

Answered my questions!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

If like me, your history knowledge from school days means you can remember old country names like Mesopotamia and Babylon but can't remember why, then this book is ideal. It's great for answering questions about the history behind current Middle East conflicts and you can dive in and out as required. Very pleased with the information contained in the book. Didn't realise how much influence the outcome of the Second World War had on how land was divided.

2 people found this helpful

Ton Van Haeren

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

Thank you!

Lance Grundy

A comprehensive guide to Middle Eastern history, politics and culture

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

Whether you’re planning a trip to the Middle East or just trying to make sense of events you’ve seen on the TV news or have read about in the papers, you’ll find this book to be a valuable source of information. Although more background reading than in-depth study, it’s still a great reference book for those who want to gain a basic understanding of this troubled region and the forces tearing it apart. While its American style can be a little irritating and at 13 years old it badly needs bringing up to date, as a single point of reference for all things Middle Eastern, it’s probably hard to beat.

One person found this helpful

Saskatchewan Girl

Keeping it simple. That's what this book does.

Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

Keeping it simple. That's what this book does.

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The Middle East For Dummies Paperback – January 1, 2003

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