The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World

...I have not gone through the whole book yet, however what I have seen so far has been great and wonderful, highly recommended to anyone who loves travel or just for general interest, beautiful pictures, authors did an awsome job in writing this book, very knowledgable, comprehensive worth every penny...

I checked this out of the library, and when I get back from Syria and Lebanon, am going to buy it. An entirely different perspective from anything I've ever seen. Even if it does omit anything about the ongoing conflicts of the region, we already know all of that. This tells us and shows us something we don't know. When I'm walking through the bazaars in Damascus and Aleppo, I will be carrying this book in my head and seeing everything differently because of it.

I have traveled extensively in the Middle East and North Africa, and my favorite places are the suqs, or bazaars of each city. I have actually visited half of the bazaars featured in this book, and therefore I can attest to the accuracy of the information provided. This book captures the variety, texture, and atmosphere of the bazaar. The only aspects missing are the sounds and the aromas. Of special interest and value are the maps of each bazaar, for wandering through a suq can be an overpowering experience. Nowhere else have I come upon this type of information. The photos are well done, showing both the people and their surroundings accurately, but beautifully. This book makes me want to pay a return visit to a bazaar, soon.