This book is undoubtedly a must reading for anyone interested not only in the history of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict but also specifically in what really happened in Jenin last year during the Israeli invasion of this martyred palestinian city by Sharon's army with its heavy tanks, missiles, Apache helicopters, bulldozers.

"Searching Jenin," an authoritative book which includes first hand testimonies from Palestinian victims and their relatives is the result of a collective effort of nearly 60 scholars, reporters, and activists, Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals, is edited by Ramzy Baroud, editor-in-chief of PalestineChronicle.com. The book includes a Forward by Noam Chomsky an honourable observer and critic of the pro-Israeli bias of US Middle East policy which has constituted a major obstacle to a peaceful solution of the conflict.

Many of the reporters commissioned for the book put their safety, and in some cases, their lives on the line to collect account after tragic account for this book. Because of their integrity and professionalism, they were able to interview many high profile figures that refused being interviewed by any other news agency."

Not only does the book include scores of telling accounts of residents who witnessed and survived the invasion, but it includes interviews with people such as the wife and the mother of Mahmud Tawalbe, the leader of the resistance in Jenin. Tawalbe was shot and killed by Israeli forces. The book also includes a detailed interview with the only eyewitness to the extra-judicial execution of Abu Jandal, the second in command of the Palestinian resistance in Jenin.

The courageous reporters who combed the streets of Jenin, interviewed medical personnel, resistance fighters, and even children, including an 8 year old girl named Rund, who complained that the army broke her only doll. Rund's father was later shot and killed by the army. They also interviewed an elderly widow who explained how she implored Israeli forces as they demolished her small home, burying her disabled son alive under the rubble. Her son's body was never recovered.

WARNING: This book is very disturbing, as it provides detailed, first-hand accounts of a truly horrible act of terror from the victims who have witnessed and suffered through it.

This book allows the reader to experience this event from the eyes of the Palestinians (and internationals). Many of these eyewitnesses have lost their homes, children, spouses, or other loved ones from direct fire by the Isreali army. This book will not answer the great question of how many casulties resulted from this attack, but through these first-hand accounts, it portrays the the terror, the absolute hatred, and the complete disregard for humanity that the IDF demonstrates towards the Palestinian people (and continues to demonstrate today). Most of these victims were just regular civilians who had no involvement in the uprising or the suicide bombings. This is required reading for anyone who possesses this unfounded illusion of the Isreali forces as heros who are simply defending their own people.

This is an excellent book which brings together some fresh thinking and reporting on a controversial subject matter. The massacre at Jenin has become the pawn of those playing politics, but this book tries to bring the reader back to the need to find the truth and to explore all aspects.

Ramzy Baroud is a well known columnist whose writings have explored many subjects that are often considered taboo by the mainstream "embedded" American media -- imagine the new ways that term will be used. I found the collection of essays to be a fascinating read that challenges the perceptions about what the Israeli military really did in Jenin and forces the reader to ask hard questions about the bigger picture of brutality and unfairness.

The goal is truth, not a political view. Ramzy Baroud's book helps to refocus the reader toward that goal and away from the partisan politics that plagues much of the writing that exists in other books.

Thanls Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

One of my favorite photo essays on the old middle east. Wonderful collection of photographs and fascinating history.

"Sevruguin and the Persian Image" presents the Smithsonian's collection of one of Qajar Iran's preeminent photographers. In addition to the photographs, the volume contains valuable histories of early photography in Iran, the career of Antoin Sevruguin, and how the collection itself came about. The double entendre of the title refers to how Sevruguin's art was informed by and catered to the Orientalist tastes of a Europe in which he was educated. Yet as an Armenian Christian who was born, lived, died and was buried in Tehran, he presented a different image of Iran than the typical Orientalist photographers of the day. "Sevruguin and the Persian Image" is both a solid examination of a photographer's art as well as a thoughtful analysis of the Western image of Iran in the late nineteenth century.

this is a great collection of some excellent photos of iran at the turn of the last century - it chronicles everyday life, including peasants, and the aristocracy and monarchy - there is a great picture of tehran's bustling main street, with horse-drawn, rail carriages, and the throngs of crowds, some of whom are temporairly mesmerized by the photographer perched on some rooftop. A must-have for iran-history-nastalgic buffs. Only wish there was more...

As someone who has done alot of research on the middle east, having read countless books on the matter and journals, I can honestly say that no present account is better than Enderlin's account of the failed peace process. The main reason are his sources. Most of his sources are all the people involved, from Shimon Peres, to the european delegation, Palestinian ministers, transcripts between Clinton and the leaders, even transcripts of Syria's Assad! The book is very fair in the sense that it does not place an emotional blame, just describes what happened and who did what. If you want to understand where we are now and how the tragic mistakes of the past can be avoided, read this book. You will not regret it.

This book is most interesting as it shows you how each side ( US, Palestinian, Israel) approached the peace negotiations process and how misunderstandings, political pressures, fundamental policy differences, promises made by one & retracted by another, the lack of preparation and trust lead all contributed to the failure of the Clinton Peace talks.

It is truely a behind the scenes view of the entire process.

It also covers how each side, especially the Israelis, managed the peace process. The management of press reports(pages 215 to 217)is just one aspect that I found most enlightning.

I would make this book required reading for anyone engaged in the study/practice of international negotiations.

Charles Enderlin (a French journalist in Jerusalem) has done a great service not only to Israelis and Palestinians but also to American observers of the conflict. With his inside access to the negotiators, Enderlin gives the reader a vast amount of primary material.

What were the two sides discussing? How did the negotiations work? Why did the summit at Camp David fail? Did either side really want peace? Enderlin has his answers, but he also gives the reader the opportunity to make his/her own judgments.

As Beilin, Sher, Ben-Ami, Ross, and others publish accounts as participants in the process, it is very helpful to have Enderlin's book as a resource. For anyone interested in understanding the failed attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Enderlin's book will be essential reading.

What a beautiful book! I'm so glad I have it.

The recipes are easy to understand and so much fun. I've wanted a book to teach me Indian cooking for a long time, and this book is all I needed, because it has soooooooo many recipes! (Actually, it has *every* Indian recipe I've ever wanted and more.) =)

I wish you could see the inside, because it's so pretty - it looks really authentic and the pictures are so vivid and glossy - I can't believe it's so cheap!!! Oh, and it's got lots of tips and there's a little blurb about each dish that is sometimes quite funny (and always helpful). :)

Gulab Jamun and Butter chicken...two things I love in Indian meals but very hard to make..and I did it in following Taheras simple steps...I love it...now next try ....three variations of rasmalia....I love this book ..150 plus recipes...one can just go crazy ...and the steps ...so easy to follow....

I always find recipes hard to follow and what to really accompany my meals with....and it is even harder when you have an Indian man in your life who likes curries everyday ...but Tahera makes this book soo easy to follow that I wonder where she has been.
Her recipes are so easy and like her title says 'simple'. No fuss, no drama to make it look like I need to be a pro because even an amature can cook like a pro...that is what Tahera's recipes tell me about myself..and I love it.
Thanks Tahera.

Sources of Indian Tradition is to date the best compilation of primary sources from India's long intellectual, philosophical and religous traditions. It introduces the reader to seminal texts in the Brahmanic tradition, to ethics, metaphysics, and theories of state and society in Jainism and Buddhism, to ethics, treatises on art and culture, political theory and statecraft and philosophical and religious texts in the Hindu classical and popular tradition. It concludes with a look at the Indian Islamic tradition including the writings of Islamic rulers, ulama, sufis etc. Despite some omissions from the compilation (I would have liked a more in depth exploration of Indian epic literature, classical Sanskrit drama and poetry, the Sikh tradition and Urdu poetry), it is readable, engaging, thought provoking and will illuminate your understanding of one of the world's most fascinating civilizations.

India has one of the richest and most intricate cultures in the world. Imagine a book that compiled all the ancient sources of this culture into a single volume. This book is as close to that ideal as possible. This volume covers India from pre-historic times until the mid 18th century. It includes selections from the Vedas and the Upanishads, foundational Hindu texts; selections from important Jain texts; and selections from early Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist texts. It them embarks on an elaborate discussion of Hinduism, organized on the four goals of life -- *dharma*, *artha*, *kama*, and *moksha* (the section on *moksha* contains selections from the *Bhagavad Gita*, other scriptures, and the writings of mystics & saints). The last section of the anthology is a detailed treatment of the Muslims period in India, from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Overall, this is an invaluable sourcebook for anyone who wants to know more about the history of India.

Having read this book cover to cover many times for several research papers, this book contains more than enough information for even the diehard fan of Indian history. Hay has compiled the best of the most significant Indian and Pakistani leaders, both Hindu and Muslim alike to make sure the reader can attain a complete picture of Gandhi and Nehru's India. This is one of my all time favorite resource and reference books on India and I recommend it to anyone interested on the subject.

Originally compiled in 1958, this book (Volume I) remains standard issue in most university courses on the study of Japan prior to 1868, whether that class is literature, history, philosophy or anthropology. The editor, Wm. Theodore de Bary, and one of the compilers, Donald Keene (see Keene, "On Familiar Terms") are two of the most highly regarded Western scholars on the subject of Japanese culture and literature, each having devoted an entire lifetime to the subject.

On the whole, Sources of Japanese Tradition, Vol. 1 is a reference book on intellectual development in traditional Japan. It is essential for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of Japan over a period of time, which means it is not intended as a quick read.

Volume I is mostly an overview of traditional literature, poetry, aesthetics, religion and philosophy from the earliest written works until the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid nineteenth century. The chapters are chronological and thematic, and each is prefaced with historical context for better understanding. The chapter bodies consist of translations of some of the most representative works from Japan, including excerpts from Japan's most famous novel, "The Tale of Genji" (early 11th century), as well as numerous samples from the spectrum of Japanese Buddhism (not just Zen), and plenty on the philosophy of neo-Confucianism and other Chinese influences on Japan. On the downside, although there is some discussion of Haiku poetry, there is not enough. And unfortunately, Kabuki, Japan's most popular form of theater, and Japanese painting, which has greatly influenced modern artists in the West, are hardly mentioned, and Japanese music is not even addressed. This makes the book somewhat of a companion to political, social and economic history - which is outstanding if that is what you are looking for.

The book represents the yardstick of compilations on Japanese intellectual history and should not be intimidating to readers who have some knowledge of Japan, nor too simplistic for the more informed. Because it is the old standard bearer, there is a definite need for an updated version that includes more for contemporary audiences, such as better discussions of Kabuki, Haiku and scroll painting. However, the volume is organized well enough for readers to concentrate only on sections they have immediate interest, making the book accessible to a variety of readers who seek a broader understanding of traditional Japanese culture and intellectual history.

This book is a wonderful introduction to modern Japanese history. It is an anthology of important sources, beginning with the Shinto revival of the 18th century, through the Meiji Period, World War II, into the 1950s. This is an invaluable reference work for anyone concerned with Japan's development over the last two centuries.

This book is wonderful introduction to Japanese history. It covers Japan from the earliest sources through the late Tokugawa Shogunate in the 18th century. The sources trace political, social, artistic, philosophic, and religious trends throughout Japanese history, in the words of the Japanese of those former periods. Selections from all the important source material for Japanese history are assembled in this book.

This is by far the best photo book of Israel I have seen. It is worth every penny (or Shekel)!

Israel is probably the most beautifull country in the world and this book does it justice. The photos are truly spectacular. It almost makes you want to hop on a plane right away. It's a bit expensive but you do get your money's worth. If you've havent been to Israel this book will make you regret it.

I was looking for a picture book containing snapshots from all different parts of Israel. This book, shot by many Israeli photographers, captures the essence of the country by its photographs. In addition, it contains about 20 or so pages with informative history alongside the pictures. There are a variety of types of shots:numerous fold out pages, bird's eye views, and up-close pictures. I found Spectacular Israel to be a GREAT buy for the extensive collection of pictures. It is definately the best book out there for anyone looking to own a picture book on Israel.

Strolling through Istanbul is a journey of One Thousand and One Nights in several days. It teaches you literally everything you want to know about this city of two continents. It is very strong in architechural history and yet gives you a personal sense of the city. As a former resident on Istanbul, it is accurate in every sense and conveys the magic of the "jewel of the empire". Each chapter reflects a different tour of the city or, a portion of the city to explore. Whether searching out Byzantium, Constantinople or Istanbul, the reader is never disappointed.

This book goes far beyond the "go here, then there" style of most tour guides, it is the only such book that I find myself dipping into at random just to enjoy the delighful descriptions of one of the world's most fascinating and colorful cities, coupled with amazing historical tidbits that bring the city's ancient history into immediate contemporary focus. Even if you never visit Turkey and never intend to, this book will bring the city to life and perhaps make you anxious to visit. I found this book by accident and was immediately enchanted. It features many walking tours with commentary on what you will see, but I found the most enjoyable way to use the book was to strike out at random and stop whenever I got tired or saw something interesting (which in Istanbul is only about three times per city block). I would then locate myself and find the relevant section of the book and read up on where I was, preferably while sipping Turkish tea and munching on baklava. For those less physically adventurous, I would suggest going to the Galata Bridge, finding a tea shop about halfway across, and then just browsing through this book while observing the Asian and European halves of the city from midway between them. Istanbul is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth and nobody can possibly find all her secrets in one visit, or from one book - or for that matter, within the space of a single lifetime. This is where to start, it will whet your curiosity and expand your sense of wonder.

There are innumerable city-guides to the great metropolis of Istanbul, all of them brimming with practical, touristy information about lodging, exchange rates, transportation, dining, toilet etiquette, etc. Most also have at least a few pages devoted to primary tourist sites and suggested itineraries.

Then there is Strolling Through Istanbul by Hillary Sumner-Boyd and John Freely. For Istanbul, who's few square miles are more steeped in history than the sum of the western world, STI is the only single-volume book small enough to stuff in your fanny pack that entices and enlivens the traveler with detailed descriptions of the city's numerous and fascinating attractions. STI's absorbing anecdotes, vivid histories, and abundant artistic perspectives peel away layer upon layer of the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary character of the city. Everything is covered, from the dizzying heights of the ancient Haghia Sofia and the entrancing mosaics of St. Savior-In-Chora to the incredibly ar

I absolutely loved the story line in this book! A Princess is given 3 Princes to choose from to marry. She has a difficult time deciding and in the end chooses the best one. A very fun find for children, and a valuable lesson is learned as well. Definitely an enjoyable book. Great for Multicultural classrooms or integrating Arab culture into the room!

As an ESL teacher, I'm always looking for books to share as a read aloud to honor my students' native cultures. Not only is this a noteworthy book, but the illustrations are magnificent. My students from the Middle East always enjoy the sharing of this story with their new friends. I applaud the princess in this tale for her choice of a prince. Her wisdom is extraordinary; she provides a worthwhile lesson for all students.

The plot will be familiar to anyone who has seen the old silent movie "Thief of Bagdad." This is a Middle Eastern tale of three princes who search the world for rare treasures in order to win the hand of a princess. Will true love triumph? Wonderful telling of a classic story.

Tibet-O-Rama is a journey into the unfurling and weaving of the intricate vine of personality and character a person is. Each revelation a window into the puzzle components that mold an ever-evolving dynamic human being. I see Eric as a never stagnant, always changing-morphing person. There is never really an end to growing, for new information affects perspective. Eric's quest is revealed through a quilt of lived experiences, deep and honest, but never crass, and Eric sustains humor, integrating and learning about life. Eric's experiences touched me, made me laugh, feel the sadness and frustrations, and joy. His honesty, reminded me we are not alone, we all share in the journey of self-growth and awareness of life.

Tibet-O-Rama is a very refreshing book whose author is not afraid to blur the genres of ethnography and personal memoir (after all, Klieger shows, aren't our interests and observations informed by who we are?!). The protagonist, Eric, has a passion for Tibet -- is it just another case of the Westerner's Orientalist gaze/desire, or is it devoted political activism...or both? There is much to be learned here about those who readily give and receive aid, about the dilemmas that face those born with everything and those born with nothing, and about the commonalities they share.

Tibet-O-Rama by cultural anthropologist P. Christiaan Klieger (California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco) is the recollections of a professional and personal life intertwined with the amazing beauty and rich culture that characterizes the nation of Tibet. From 1978 to the present day, and encompassing the paradox of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan exiles, Tibet-O-Rama is a wonderfully presented ethnographical and historical work celebrating the author's admiration and appreciation for Tibet, its people, and their courage in spite of all of the social and political dilemmas they face.