Anonymous wrote:I am a fan of Reza Aslan: http://rezaaslan.com/books/

+1

Super smart guy. Young enough that he doesn't write too academically though. He's always incredibly humorous and intelligent in interviews.

I am a fan of Reza Aslan: http://rezaaslan.com/books/

Read Leila Ahmed's memoir.

http://www.amazon.com/Border-Passage-America--A-Womans-Journey/dp/0143121928/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1386548172&sr=8-3&keywords=leila+ahmed

"Guests of the Ayatollah" was a good book about the hostage crisis in Iran.

Another good book that focuses on Iran is "All the Shah's Men", which describes the US-backed coup against Prime Minister Mossadeq.

Good on you for wanting to expand your knowledge of the region.

"Reading Lolita in Tehran" is a terrible, sensationalistic book.

I recommend "The Modern Middle East" 3rd Edition, James Gelvin. It is an overview but will give you enough info to decide if you want to do more in depth reading. It is a fascinating region

Read the CIA country fact book. It'll give you a basic background. But your question is a bit absurd when, do you know of one for American history? America has only been around for how long? At the very least you'll have to start with the book of Genisis and move on through the new testament, (no need to read anything envolving later day saints) through in some Egyptians (but they weren't called that) some Romans, add a few crusades, divisions in the Christian church and Islam, colonialism, two world wars and then maybe you'll have a very basic understanding. You'll also want to study Arabic because the language is very important as well. Good luck'

Anonymous wrote:Ajami has a bit of an agenda, and Said's book is a bit of a snore (and usually on the required reading for Intro to Arab studies classes)

They all have an agenda.

Ajami has a bit of an agenda, and Said's book is a bit of a snore (and usually on the required reading for Intro to Arab studies classes)

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

I'd still go with the news articles, e.g., http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/your-cheat-sheet-to-the-syrian-conflict.html

For books, try ones by William Cleveland. With any source, you're going to have bias, but he's pretty neutral.

I'd read online articles from the Christian Science Monitor (not religious) or the Economist to get an overview of the current conflist

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21572198-sectarian-divisions-deepen-war-changing-country-beyond-recognition-country

OP here. OK, how about just a great book explaining the origins of conflict in a particular country in the ME?

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.

Is there an easy-to-digest historical overview about the middle east? I feel like Syria and Hezbollah is always in the news and I'm sadly ignorant about the reasons why the middle east is as big of a tinderbox that it is. I understand that Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia are all in the news all the time. I just want to understand why. Thanks in advance!