Shabtai Teveth (Weizmann Institute, Tel-Aviv University) is one of the few official Ben-Gurion's biographers. Teveth made a great effort in researching the evolution of Ben-Gurion's mindset (based on declassified behind close door transcripts and personal dairy) regarding the "Arab question." The book focuses on Ben-Gurion's limited contacts with the Palestinian Arab leaders, and clearly paints a different picture than then one usually available for public consumption. Surprisingly, Ben-Gurion displayed a pragmatic understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which publicly has been suppressed for propaganda purposes. From my point of view, this book is a must read book.

I had read this book. I was very impressed with the amount of the information packed into this fine paper back. I think Phil Van Valkenberg had done a superb job! Love the cover photo!

This is a stunningly beautiful book, with a conscience. It is the most concise yet intensive orientation I can think of for either the student or the pilgrim seeking to understand the complexities of the Holy Land.

First though, it is a treat for the eyes. Nalbandian combines his own work--panoramic views of the city as well as striking character portraits and scenes from the Intifada--with selections from the 19th century for an absorbing visual display. They are alone comprehensive in portraying the cultural, religious, and political history of the people of Bethlehem and surrounding areas.

Yet, do not let these pictures distract you from the accompanying text. Raheb and Strickert have supplemented their commentary on Bethlehem's history and current events with several sidebars giving the reader an in-depth look at the origins of issues which have shaped Bethlehem. Perhaps the most vital of these is the story of Caliph Omar in the Church of the Nativity, a major determinant of relations between Christians and muslims in Bethlehem for centuries to come. Also included are selections from the Bible and Koran, regional poets, and a song for the Daheisha refugee camp. Examples of Arabic art and calligraphy are also included.

This is a book which follows the mystery of Christ's birth and the holy sites so many visitors come to see. But it is a book also about the people who continue to live and work in this place, who are so often forgotten among the ancient stones. The authors entreat you not to forget these struggling, strong people, the 'living stones' of the Holy Land.

Read this book for Christmas as the world contemplates that 'little town' of long ago, even if you never make a visit. If you are going to Bethlehem someday, read this book now. If you have been to Bethlehem already, read it and learn what you likely have missed on your journey. Seek to understand. Seek peace.

Susan Boyle takes the reader to the roots of the current conflict in the middle east through the story of a man central to the desires of the arabs for a peaceful existence.

A must read for anyone having anything to do with the region.

"Between Sodom and Eden" represents an astounding tour de force. Walzer's book is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Israeli society and politics, as well as the sometimes surprising approach of Judaism to homosexuality. His prose brings alive the tensions, conflicts, and contradictions of a society in search of its identity as Israel becomes an increasingly multicultural, post-Zionist society. That Israel is one of the most progressive countries in the world today on gay rights will surprise most Americans, who think of the Jewish state as the land of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (with its reputed condemnation of homosexuality). The cast of characters in Walzer's book -- a transsexual pop Diva, openly gay high school students and kibbutzniks, lesbian politicians, and a cast of supportive straight politicians and educators, to name just a few -- guarantees new surprises on each page.

This work is a very readable but comprehensive picture of bible prophecy. It puts within easy grasp of the reader a detailed and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of bible prophecy. The 98 study questions in the book help to reinforce the learning of the book. Beyond Desert Storm not only helps the reader put together the bible prophecy puzzle but leaves the reader with peace of mind and a message of hope for the future. We need more books like this that are inspirational and inspiring works.

The collaborative effort of Haim Gordon, Rivca Gordon, and Taher Shriteh, Beyond Intifada: Narratives Of Freedom Fighters In The Gaza Strip showcases the personal testimonies of six Palestinians (four men and two women), who tell of the conflicts of the Gaza Strip that began with the 1993 peace process, and continue down to the present day. A deeply personal and emotionally moving account that lends human faces to the strife and turmoil that have been ongoing within the Holy Land, Beyond Intifada is a welcome contribution to International Studies collections with respect to the Palestinian/Israeli ethnic, political, cultural, and national disputes.

When you travel to Jerusalem - take this book with you! Because it is as if a legend teller is acompanying you in your visit to the beautiful churches of Jerusalem. It tells you stories that no tourist guidebook will tell you, and it makes your days in Jerusalem's churches unforgettable.

The book is a colourful and absorbing one. It gives a detailed and interesting account of the life of Z. A Bhutto. It is a must read for anyone who wants a view into the life of the Bhutto's of Pakistan

Birthing the Nation is a remarkable work of anthropology as well as an important political document. It is one of those books that, by taking a narrow topic and exploring it thoroughly, offers stunning insights on everything from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to the nature of modernity itself. It also is a fun read, filled with hilarious anecdotes and fascinating details. (It is, after all, about sex.)

The author is both an American and Israeli citizen who grew up in a Palestinian village in Israel. She speaks fluent Arabic, Hebrew, and English and did her advanced schooling in the U.S. This special background makes her uniquely qualified to explore such a topic. Because she was raised in a Palestinian village, people from that area were willing to talk to her freely about their private lives. Because she is American-educated and has lived in the United States (and is married to a Jewish American), she knows how to describe Arab culture to Western readers. She knows what we will be interested in, and knows what needs explaining. Kanaaneh devotes a decent amount of time to Israeli government policies regarding reproduction and Israeli political rhetoric on these issues. But the heart of her book is her fieldwork -- hundreds of hours of interviews with Palestinians about having children and having sex, and how the people themselves take stock of such things.

The book's main contention is that in Palestinian communities in Israel, reproductive decisions are used as a way of measuring modernity. For example, for many Palestinians, a family's decision to have few children is seen as an indication of how advanced they are. For others, having many children is seen as an indication of how dedicated they are to their national cause. Either way, reproductive decisions are interpreted in a highly politicized manner (by the people involved in them, not by Kanaaneh). The same is true for birth control methods and sex education programs.

The book is chock full of surprising details. Kanaaneh presents a picture of a vibrant, changing society that is not quite so "backward" as some of us like to believe. One detail that surprised me particularly was that in Palestinian sex education classes, masturbation is taught as a safe alternative to sex. When a U.S. Surgeon General suggested such a thing during the Clinton administration, the American political establishment went into a delirium (both Democrats and Republicans) and she was quickly stripped of her position! Another thing that is evident is that sensual pleasures -- for both women and men -- have always been an important part of Arab culture, and in some ways the Palestinians are more open about these things than we have been.

As a way of "getting into" another culture, this book can't be beat. And given the rapidly changing nature of Palestinian society (and its sadly uncertain future), one feels as though one is reading a historical document in the making. This is a real find.