The Complete Idiot's Guide to Iraq

This book is a very comprehensive description of Iraq. Iraq shouldn't be a country and probably will never be from my current understanding. The British formed the country for their own convience and to control the Middle East so they could keep oil flowing. When they lost strength, the United States jumped in, again to keep oil flowing. The Americans have copied just about every mistake the British ever made, we just haven't pulled out yet. What a mess and I don't think anyone can get around the fact that the Kurds need a country. Very interesting book and it gave me room to understand and think!

I read the 2002 edition from the library which was obviously before the invasion and subsequent capture of Saddam Hussein. I found this a great book for a total novice. It explains the progress of events in Iraq in very simple terms and takes time to repeat the main points of interest many times, which I found useful in such a complex topic. Just because it presents the concepts in a simple manner does not mean it is simplistic - scholars of the subject might find it basic but I think even most well educated westerners would learn a lot from this text. The most important point for me was that it was very readable. My only criticism was that there were no way near enough maps and those that were in the book were pretty badly drawn and without detail. I would have liked many more maps, especially showing location of troops during the various battles, relationship of the arab states, location of shiite/sunni strongholds, arab/persian, kurdish strongholds. Overall well worth the effort of reading. I actually enjoyed the fact that this was written before the US invasion since it gave a great before the fact perspective on the situation and wasn't tainted by our the current sorry situation we all find ourselves in.

This book contains all the essential information on Iraq. What makes it really special is that it is easy and actually enjoyable to read. I've never bought any of the Idiot's Guides before, but this one tempts me to try a few others.

I read this book, and I think it's an excellent primer on Iraq, from Churchill's mistake at its creation to the present day. It's indipensable for putting the current conflict into perspective.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book--it provides a first-rate history of the country and details the rise to power of Saddam Hussein. Highly recommended!