Reviews (13)

Powerful
This is the most moving autobiography that I have read in a long time. It is brave, haunting, inspiring, and illuminating. It gave me an intimate look at a life I could have never have imagined. More than any textbook or news cast, it helped me to understand what life is like for people in a cruel dictatorship.Salbi has transformed the evil she endured and created an amazing organization that helps women around the world. I feel privileged to know where that strength, dedication and passion comes from. Thanks to Salbi for sharing her story and for all of the work that she does! She is a beacon of hope!

The "missing" book about life in Iraq
"Between Two Worlds" is to the body of writing about Iraq as "The Diary of Anne Frank" was to writings about the Holocaust. This is the missing, personal book that pulls everything together and gives readers a woman and a family to hold on to.
outstanding memoir
In this poignant and perceptive memoir, an Iraqi activist recounts growing up under Saddam Hussein's regime.When her father becomes Saddam's personal pilot, they begin to spend regular time with the President and his inner circle.I had to admit that I was primed to expect some pretty gory scenes.Instead the gatherings come across as any dysfunctional family get together which naturally a teenager would rather do anything than have to attend.The violence, what there is of it, happens at the edges of the action. The intimidation comes more from what could happen than what actually does. None of it happens to Salbi, although the strain of being Saddam's "friends" causes rifts in her parents' relationship.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Abused women    3. Arranged marriage    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Ethnic Cultures - General    9. Iraq    10. Iraq - History    11. Middle East - General    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Social conditions    14. United States    15. Women    16. Women - 20th Century History    17. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (24)

Excellent overview
For one who does not know the details of the history of Iraq, this book provides an excellent overview. Dr. Polk does a good job of explaining rather briefly the panorama of the people who evolved into today's Iraq. Everyone should read this book along with others about Iraq history. I look forward to reading the _How to Get Out of Iraq_ co-authored by Dr. Polk.

Good historical overview right up until that Gulf War thing...
1. Who edited this book? Numerous spelling errors.
A Primer on Iraq
I saw Dr. Polk on C-SPAN a month or two ago.He was addressing a gathering of concerned and apparently well-heeled citizens in the New York Museum of Art--as I recall.He had the crowd and the moderator in the palm of his hands.I found him to be a compelling speaker who obviously was very versed in the subject matter of Iraq.He seemed to genuinely care about the Iraqi people--and the Amercian people.His speech and this book was about correcting our "present march of folly"--to steal from Barbara Tuchman's fine book title.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Iraq - History    5. Middle East - General    6. History / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (95)

The Hebrew Bible as a Burdensome Source for Israel's History

Eye Opening
The book is aimed at looking for archaeological evidence to the stories told in the bible. The conclusions that the authors reach are sometimes controversial due to lack of archaeological evidence to support such stories. One can still claim that even though evidence is not found to support certain stories, there is no conclusive assuranec that those events never took place (even though the authors offer findings that contradict certain biblical claims). However, the authors' perspective is based on scientific findings that are certainly eye opening. Due to the challenge of finding conclusive evidence when researching antiquity, much of the authors' findings cannot be viewed as facts, rather, are open for interpretation by the reader. The authors also offer different opinions of other historians and archaeologists, which strengthens the notion that much of the distant past is quite unclear and open for interpretation.

A Must Read for All
This book should be in the libraries of all serious students of religion and the Bible.There were points made and supported by archeology that might make the believers of an inerrant Bible think.The authors did not intend to change a persons faith only to point out the Biblical stories may be more allegory than historical.E.g., they propose the early writings of the OT were written c. 700 BCE.They also suggest the early Israelites were probably Canaanites.The points are supported by archaeological studies that may be more academic than the casual reader comprehends but doesn't burden the reading for the casual reader.I suggest this book will be a standard along with Friedman's "Who Wrote the Bible." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities & Archaeology    2. Archaeology    3. Bible - Study - General    4. Christianity - Theology - General    5. Jewish - Ancient    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Religion    8. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    9. Biblical archaeology    10. Israel    11. Religion / General   

Reviews (48)

Some good spy stories amidst a lot of complaining
If this was a collection of short stories it would be great. The disgruntled angle detracts from the stories, and is unsatisfying on its own merits.
One sided view.
As expected, anything coming from Victor Ostrovsky will be negative and against Israel. The book is filled with real events, which the author dramatically changed and turned Israel responsible for them. No wonder this book is banned in Israel. In fact, because of the ban, many people believe that this book has true accounts of Mossad activities. True, the book gets interesting, but the author's motive to run down the Israel for everything happening around the world spoils it. This book is a perfect example of blaming a country and its intelligence agency for your own mistakes. I absolutely agree with J. A Magill's review, this book has no credible source of information, except the fact that Ostrovsky once worked for Mossad.
Highly recommended
This book is best read along with its followup, The Other Side of Deception.The author is/was a true patriot who was honored to serve his country.He reveals many thrilling tales of derring-do, the grinding routine of spycraft and his shock and disillusionment with the personal corruption and immorality of many fellow agents.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. General    4. Intelligence service    5. Israel    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Secret service   

Reviews (11)

Massively researched, lucidly written, and cogently argued
In this massively researched, lucidly written, and cogently argued narrative, as Edward Alexander of the University of Washington wrote, Levin tells the appalling story of what has been called the greatest self-inflicted wound of political history: Israel's embrace of Yasir Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization in the Oslo accords of September 1993 and its dogged adherence to its obligations under them even as its "peace partner" was blatantly flouting its own.
Overdue Historical Review of the Folly of Appeasement
This is a seminal book, that should be must reading for anyone interested in the Israel-Arab conflict. The author is a psychiatrist with a Ph.D in History from Princeton.It is a very thoroughly researched, carefully documented review of the long history of Jewish wishful thinking responses to oppression and aggression directed against them, starting long ago in Europe and brought up to date in the Middle East.The lessons for the current situation in the Middle East are clearly drawn, and demand thoughful consideration by the reader.
A Must Read for Anyone With An Open Mind
This is, by far, the best written analysis of the apparently mindless descent into potential oblivion that Israel appears headed to. It begins by setting the stage of Jewish self-hatred and self-effacement as a reaction to anti-semitism, as it developed in the Diaspora during this last millenium.Specifically, there is a detailed analysis of this phenomenon in the "civilized" world of 19th and 20th century Germany, as contrasted with the more "primitive" Eastern European Jewish experience.The author shows how the constant self delusion of the Jews - in its myriad of forms and expressions - is the basis for the present day erosion from within that the Jewish State is undergoing.I believe that this book should be mandatory reading in any Middle Eastern course, or for that matter, for anyone seeking to understand this unique group psychological phenomenon.As a proud Jew and a Zionist, I wish that this book would be sent - gratis - to journalists, academics, politicians, and to other people who collectively can influence the course of history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1993-    2. Arab-Israeli conflict    3. History    4. History: World    5. Israel    6. Jewish Studies    7. Jews    8. Judaism    9. Middle East - Israel    10. Peace    11. Psychological aspects    12. Psychology   

Reviews (8)

Not happy
I ordered this book twice, especially because the picture shows the book with a blue cover which is the Cambridge Press edition.The books I received were not from Canbridge Press and did not have the Appendix III which is the genealogy. These books came from paperbackshop in England. I feel that the genealogy is a very important part of this book and should always be included.

Gripping Tale of the Rise & Fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
This second volume of Steven Runciman's three-volume history of the crusades is a masterful piece of scholarship and historiography.If all historians read Runciman's History of the Crusades and learned of his style, there would be fewer complaints from readers that histories are dry, crusty stories. The Counter-Crusade
Trite as it may seem, this book could accurately be subtitled, "The Arab Empire Strikes Back."Having been introduced to the knights of the First Crusade in the first instalment, the reader rejoins Kings Baldwin and Bohemund, their issue and successors and endures with them the steady erosion and corruption of the Frankish East.Meanwhile, the Arab Caliphs, despite their internal political divisions, undergo a military renaissance, leading, at the very end of this instalment, to the advent of Saladin, the fall of Antioch and the ultimate capture of Jerusalem.Among the highlights in this period are the steady evolution of the special military orders such as the Hospitallers and Templars, and (on the Muslim side) the Assassins. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crusades    2. Europe - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Medieval    7. Middle East - General    8. Europe    9. European history: c 500 to c 1500    10. History / Middle East    11. Middle East    12. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (20)

Critical Reading for those who care about the US in 2004
For a thinking person, the revelations in this book should spawn probing questions about the Mossad's part in geopolitics from pre-9-11 to 2004. Ostrovsky outlines how the Mossad, unlike any other secret intelligence service in the world, uses the vast Diaspora as "assets" to do their bidding. It is organized so that the Diaspora (over 50,000 strong) become temporary Mossad agents on an as-needed basis. EXCELLENT BOOK
This is an excellent book, probably one of the best ones I have ever read. In my opinion it says the real story about israeli intelligence, how they think, how they act, and how dirty they play with everybody, even with people who have helped them. You MUST read this book.

Would Anyone Care to Hunt Dragons?
Without becoming one, that is. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Espionage, Israeli    4. General    5. Historical    6. Intelligence Operations    7. Intelligence officers    8. Intelligence service    9. Israel    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Espionage & secret services    12. Ostrovsky, Victor   

Reviews (1)

Not bad
This book could be considerably better.But it gives me a chance to show that I can be generous, and give five stars to any book that makes a serious effort to inform its readers.This book does that.
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Subjects:  1. Arab-Israeli conflict    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Israel    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    8. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000   

Reviews (3)

An essential set of insights.
Students of ancient or Jewish history will find MAIMONIDES an important biographical study, telling of a rabbi, physician and philosopher whose works blended science with spirituality, and who has served as a model for Jewish doctors since the 12th century. Chapters provide a focus on Maimonides' works and perspective with an eye to drawing connections to the modern world, and make for an essential set of insights.
Dr. Maimonides
Dr. Nuland "biography" of Maimonides focusses mostly on the sage as a physician, with much of the rest of his life sketchy at best. In fact, the first chapter virtually ignores the subject and instead describes the author's views on why so many Jews became physicians over the centuries.That being said, Dr. Nuland's book is well written, gives historical insights into medicine in the 12th century period, and is easy to read.I have not read any of the other biographies of Maimonides, several of which are cited by Dr. Nuland, and therefore cannot judge whether the paucity of details of Maimonides life presented other than medical is a intentional or the result of the actual absence of data.

A Hero for Our Time
The great philosopher, physician and leader is brought vividly to life by Sherwin Nuland, himself a writer-physician.Although this is a relatively brief book, it touches on all the points of Maimonides's life with authority and clarity.Nuland positions his subject's writings within the issues of his time and ours.With a well-annotated bibliography this is a fine entry into a fascinating life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1135-1204    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Egypt    7. Jewish Theology    8. Jewish philosophers    9. Jewish scholars    10. Judaism - General    11. Judaism - History    12. Maimonides, Moses,    13. Medical - General    14. Philosophy Of Judaism    15. Rabbis    16. Religious    17. Biography & Autobiography / Religious    18. Jewish studies    19. Judaism   

Reviews (39)

Incredible tale!
This is an incredible story of the June 7, 1981, operation that took out Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor and, as a result, probably alone kept him from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
WHO ARE THESE?
I picked this up having tried to find something to read that was substantive, historical but that was not too dry and long (many pages).I read this quickly one weekend, was a page turner.Seems very relevant today given what some rogue nations are planning these days.
A Fascinating Story Limited by Constant Errors
This account of Operation Babalyon is a fascinating story of the people and circumstances that lead to Isreal's decision to bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor.The author, Roger Claire, states that he had extensive contact with the pilots and the various decision makers involved in the operation.
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Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. Middle East - Israel    3. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    4. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    5. Political Science    6. Politics/International Relations    7. History / Middle East   

Reviews (26)

A time capsule
I have always loved this book - I took Robert Fernea's class at UT in 1973 and this was the textbook.Actually, I did not do so well in the class and I discovered this book after I left college, but it is so well written I read it over and over.
A Great Ethnography
The Guests of the Sheik is a great ethnography about a newly wed American couple who visit a small Iraqi village called El Nahra, and the American couple's encounters with a third world country. While adapting to the new custom's like the clothing, the Arabic language, the Muslim religion, the celebrations, and getting along with the people. The story was mainly centered around Elizabeth Fernea (the wife) because she does not know the culture well unlike her husband Bob (the husband) who is an anthropologist.
Great book
I really loved this book. She travelled as a new bride with her anthropologist husband to Iraq in the 1950's or '60's, I believe. She had so much to learn and go through adapting to a new culture. It's great that she's there because her husband would never have been allowed to talk to the women. They were very segregated, so Ms. Fernea learned all about the half of the society that male anthropologists usually can't even learn about due to lack of access. She made friends, had to relearn how to cook rice (different water amount), and you really get a personal look at the culture. She kept in touch with many of her friends from that time. I can't wait to read her other books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. General    4. History - General History    5. Iraq    6. Middle East - General    7. Nahr    8. Nahr (Iraq)    9. Social Science    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Women    13. Social Science / Ethnic Studies   

Reviews (3)

History Filled In
Robert Parry gives us insight into why everything has seemed so odd for so long.No matter which side of the aisle you sit, it helps fill in the history that the mainstream press failed to give us.

The Best Book on the Bushes
Why is it the best? Because no author has taken the Bush "dynasty" rise the way Bob Parry has - - and no other author could. Parry has been looking under rocks and sneaking behind closed doors to find the truth for almost three decades. Only Parry has had the sources, found the documents, and cogently compiled the despicable history of how the Bush politicians have deliberately buried, under multiple layers of secrecy, the truth of some of the most significant events in recent history. He is the only author who followed the Bush footprints when they were still fresh, often before the impact of the truth was known and could be hidden. In a phrase - - Bob Parry was there.
The Lowdown on the Bush Junta
Robert Parry is more than a chronicler of events in "Secrecy & Privilege"; he is a player as well, and in one of the most significant dramas of the post-World War Two era.It was Parry who uncovered significant evidence pertaining to the October Surprise incident.His efforts ultimately reached the nation's viewers with a heralded Public Broadcasting System documentary produced by his organization, Consortium News, which has emerged as one of the Internet's leading sources of information not generally available from mainstream media sources.
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Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1924-    3. 1946-    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Bush, George W.    7. Bush, George,    8. General    9. History & Theory - General    10. Political Science    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Presidents    13. United States   

Reviews (6)

how "God" got started
excellent disclosure of the evolution of the understanding of God in early Israelite history.book assumes a high degree of previous knowledge of early Israelite history within an historical / critical understanding of biblical studies.If you are a "literalist," save your money ... you won't like it!

Not so much
This book is chock full of excellent references to both biblical and non-biblical texts.The combined references make a convincing case that the Isrealite tradition was originally steeped in the early canaanite polytheism.Smith's book would be an excellent reference but is not itself a satisfying read.Smith frequently sites verses in books as old as Psalms (written in the 11th century bce? Smith doesn't say) in the same paragraph with verses in books as new as the Talmud (written in the 3rd centry ce?).That is, he gives us no historical context to understand how people in the time the Psalms were writen would have understood the polytheistic references vs. how poeple in the time when the Talmud began to form would have understood polytheistic references.
Academic
Scholarly is another descriptive word for this book. Mr. Smith posits that Yahweh was one of several Cannanite dieties worshiped by the Hebrews. Of course Yahweh's realtionship to his fellow gods changed as time passed and Mr. Smith tries to account for how and why this happened.
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Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Biblical teaching    3. Comparative Religion    4. God    5. God (Judaism)    6. Gods, Semitic    7. History    8. History of doctrines    9. O.T    10. Religion    11. Religion - Church History    12. Theology    13. Ancient World    14. History of specific subjects    15. Nature & existence of God   

Reviews (12)

Good resource, bizarre notes
This is a nice, cheap, one-volume resource.However, the notes and commentary are very unhelpful.For instance, Maier holds that Josephus was an Ebionite Christian, a thesis which is in the extreme scholarly minority.
Josephus by Flavius Josephus
Josephus was born to an aristocratic family in 37AD. The work
A Must Read for the Serious Historian
This book was a serendipitous purchase.I was reading "James the Brother of Jesus, and that author recommended having three other works available while studying.One was "Josephus."I have not, unfortunately, finished "James" yet, but am totally fascinated by Josephus.One sees him as a bit puffed up about himself at times, as the detailed historian, the passionate supporter of causes, but most of all as a realist of the time.So valuable because organized religion seldom provides the lay person seldom insight into the actual social and political pressures that moved events that we take for granted in an almost legendary way.Again, a fascinating work is Josephus. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History Of Jews    5. Jewish - General    6. Jews    7. Rebellion, 66-73    8. Religion    9. To 70 A.D    10. History / Ancient / General