War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History, Revised and Updated

To an outside observer the Middle East seems to be a very irrational region that is occupied with conflicts of unexplainable driving forces. To people involved in these conflicts, however, the whole world's attitude towards them seems to be either prejudiced or odd to say the least. Thus, it is a rare opportunity to run into anyone who is able to dig out the factors that influence the region and explain them rationally, which... Read Full Review

Avi Shlaim's incisive comprehension of Near Eastern geopolitics is evident in this short yet compelling critique of what has been wrong with America's involvement in the Mid-East. Shlaim points out that America's outlook has been warped by seeing a Soviet threat in every corner rather than simply confronting it where it actually existed (such as in Afghanistan). For this reason, Shlaim's contends, America has had a two-pronged... Read Full Review

Very honestly and fairly written. A breathe of fresh air from the biased 'history' of other authors. Shlaim tells the truth and conveys a true understanding of the Arab-Israeli problem. Another critic of this book,Mr. Pipes, seems to not want to face the truth of the conflict. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Mid East conflict and America's role in the situation. Kudos to Mr. Shlaim.

Mr. Shlaim does an excellent job of clearly defining the reasons for recent troubles in the Middle East. He focuses on the period since World War I, and on three conflicts: The Arab-Israeli conflict, the Iran-Iraq war, and the Persian Gulf War. He is fair and objective, though that often means being critical of U.S and British involvemnet in the region. However, no party escapes deserved criticism. This book is short and... Read Full Review