What Every American Should Know About the Middle East

I found this to be a very well researched and engaging book. Loaded with good history and facts. Yes, Rossi is biased (who isn't-we all have opinions)and she has opinions on US Policies and actions we have taken in the Middle East. I got this book because I wanted to know more about the Middle East and fortunately her opinions were along the same lines as mine so I really enjoyed the book. If you are looking for a textbook that just gives you the facts then you might look elsewhere. But be aware that even textbooks are biased. Think about how different our high school textbooks would be if Native Americans wrote their version of History in them. Hmmm. All that aside, I learned a great deal about a very "lively" and interesting part of the world. I am off to read more of Rossi's books since I love her writing style and she has a wicked sense of humor.

This is the most readable book on the subject. Rossi has an excellent sense of humor and this book is thoroughly entertaining throughout. But that is not the only reason why I like it. I like it because it is quite comprehensive. Do not be fooled by the informal language. This book is very well researched and Rossi backs up her opinions with facts, figures and references. One thing that I found particularly impressive was how well Rossi understands the dynamics of the Shia/Sunni politics in the region and does an excellent job of explaining it.

While reading this book I found myself amazed at the amount of work the author did to provide such extensive and useful travel coverage for all of the Middle East, for every Middle Eastern country is so different from the others that each requires much time and energy. In fact, I had provided the author with some limited information on Saudi Arabia, which she graciously provided me credit for doing. I read the book entirely and somehow or another failed to see the political rants mentioned by other reviewers. I was looking for information on the various countries, the cultures, the people, the insider tip information, and found exactly what I was looking for. As someone who has traveled throughout the Middle East on many occasions, I thought the author hit the mark, and certainly on the information that will be important to the traveler. Well done, Melissa! Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

For the veracity of the information set forth in this book, or more information on the Palestine/Israel issue, read Bennie Morris, Tom Segev or Neve Gordon... all Israelis. Or check the CBS News story http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/23/60minutes/main4749723.shtml

I've struggled to find a basically non-biased book on Middle East history that is written in a casual style. Reading this book is like having a conversation with a friend. Overall, I found this book is a big help in understanding our current day politics. This book should not be your only source of information, but it is a nice place to start.