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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've never found a book that gives an overview of the ME that I thought was any good, and believe me, I've tried!  The region is just too vast and complicated.  I prefer to go country by country.[/quote]

Agree with this. And they are usually biased for a particular side or cause. It's best to read several.

The Arab Predicament by Fouad Ajami is a pretty good overview of the different factions and political issues going on historically. It's old, though.

I loved Inside Egypt by John R. Bradley. It really sets the stage for Egypt's revolution.

Orientalism by Edward Said, but it has some justified criticisms.

I also like biographies from the region to help understand some of the culture.

Between Two Worlds by Zainab Salmi is a great look from the inside at the sadism of Saddam Hussein and how strangled people were in their actions, words, for fear of facing death (or worse, like rape, etc.).

I am Nujood, Age 10 and divorced, is about child marriage in Yemen.

Reading Lolita in Tehran, of course.

Lipstick jihad, about Iran as well.

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