This is more my style of guide book!! Excellent background information on archeological sites around Jordan with (considering it's a guide book) great info on Petra! Everything from the King's Highway to Wadi Rum is covered in thoughtful detail by an author who obviously did his homework. This book really sparks your interest in going to Jordan, and introduces the Bedouin and mainstream Jordanian culture to the reader well. Border crossings, visas, food, health, transportation... it's all in here. LP and Let's Go guides should learn a thing or two from this guide! It doesn't bog itself down with useless information like some other guide books do. Going to Jordan? Get this first!

A detailed and accurate guide to all the main sites in Jordan. The informaton included is up to date and extensive, including chapters on travel, where to eat & stay, health, history, backgrounds on Islam, shopping & the media, along with much advice on local behaviour and attitudes.

Whilst in Jordan, I found this guide to be an invaluable tool to getting around and learning about local history and culture.

The attention to specific detail is extremely accurate and up to date.

A must for any first time traveller to this historic and beautiful country.

Hidden behind a seemingly specialised subject, Saddam's Secrets, lies the extraordinary story of one of this centuries greatest political transformations - that of the United Nations evolving from a forum of bitter rivalries into an arbiter of morals with the power and will to punish wrongdoers on a global scale. By setting up UNSCOM and appropriating a military force under its light blue banner, the United Nations (UN) heralded a new era from which it roared a resonant political focus. The events that led to this are detailed and analysed with Tim Trevan's aquiline eye and hawkish wit. The author unfolds the unique and bizarre story of the multi-faceted battle of two determined and abstractly united foes in a fragile world...

The premise is quite simple, as was my understating through CNN and the BBC that Saddam and his evil regime had lost the Gulf war and would be divested of the weapons of mass destruction it had accumulated and would not be capable of threatening its neighbours ever again.

The organ tasked to deliver this mission and the hopes of a 'new world order' was UNSCOM. It would have to find out how much weaponry the Iraqis ever had, where the remaining arms were concealed and then destroy any that were warranted as offensive. This was logistically a mammoth task however unlike many other limp-wristed UN gestures; UNSCOM was comprised of determined and formidable political negotiators and uncompromising and belligerent inspectors that cajoled the UN Security Council for unequivocal support.

UNSCOM needed to be this robust as Iraq in the other corner had an array of illegal punches and spoiling tactics that would brashly dispose of lightweights. Iraq had only mouthed agreement to the full disclosure of its capabilities under its terms of surrender. Like a poisonous dance between Mr and Mrs Mantis, Iraq and UNSCOM spun political protocol and legalistic diatribe to mesmerise the watching world into lending support or disallowing advantage as a fickle referee. If UNSCOM dictated the tune then Iraq would be left honourless and emancipated without its chemical, biological and nuclear apparel. If Iraq out-manoeuvred the worlds will then UNSCOM would expire and 'peace and security' would ensure its fame as the mother of all political platitudes, and so by default the UN credo.

The loaded situation produced a colossal detective story with the tedium of painstaking evidence gathering, conspicuous surveillance and brilliant hypothesis with an array of monstrous characters to divert suspicions. Saddam Hussein, Tariq Aziz, Dr Germ and the various other agents of death and destruction are described with the non-fussed detail of reality yet emerge almost apocryphal by their scheming and morality. Some events like the 'car park siege' are completely fantastical. The lapses of Iraqi memory and excuse making are so ridiculously hilarious so as to question the authors' sanity.

However this was real history, it is a story that we have already seen, we had formed our opinions and we believed it was over. The baddies were shot down by the Anglo American alliance and that was that. Tim Trevan however hand-holds us through the nuances of real-politick. When we thought it was over, Tim was still there fighting the battle with UNSCOM... and now its over for him: IRAQ is still a threat. Saddam Hussein is still a dictator. The world seems still gullible enough to believe that decent and righteous humanity will one day vanquish all that is bad.

What Tim Trevan gives us as his parting shot is the most prudent observation of politics as a necessary evil since Machiavelli opined to the unknown prince. Real time.

If you want a cynical political advantage over your enemies, read this book and don't tell them about it, especially Saddam.

Hidden behind a seemingly specialised subject, Saddam's Secrets, lies the phenomenal story of one of this centuries greatest political transformations - that of the United Nations evolving from a forum of bitter rivalries into an arbiter of morals with the power and will to punish wrongdoers on a global scale. By setting up UNSCOM and appropriating a military force under its light blue banner, the United Nations (UN) heralded a new era from which it roared a resonant political focus. The events that led to this are detailed and analysed with Tim Trevan's aquiline eye and hawkish wit. The author unfolds the unique and bizarre story of the multi-faceted battle of two determined and abstractly united foes in a fragile world.

The premise is quite simple, as was our understating through CNN and the BBC that Saddam and his evil regime had lost the Gulf war and would be divested of the weapons of mass destruction it had accumulated and would not be capable of threatening its neighbours ever again.

The organ tasked to deliver this mission and the hopes of a 'new world order' was UNSCOM. It would have to find out how much weaponry the Iraqis ever had, where the remaining arms were concealed and then destroy any that were warranted as offensive. This was logistically a mammoth task however unlike many other limp-wristed UN gestures; UNSCOM was comprised of determined and formidable political negotiators and uncompromising and belligerent inspectors that cajoled the UN Security Council for unequivocal support.

UNSCOM needed to be this robust as Iraq in the other corner had an array of illegal punches and spoiling tactics that would brashly dispose of lightweights. Iraq had only mouthed agreement to the full disclosure of its capabilities under its terms of surrender. Like a poisonous dance between Mr and Mrs Mantis, Iraq and UNSCOM spun political protocol and legalistic diatribe to mesmerise the watching world into lending support or disallowing advantage as a fickle referee. If UNSCOM dictated the tune then Iraq would be left honourless and emancipated without its chemical, biological and nuclear apparel. If Iraq out-manoeuvred the worlds will then UNSCOM would expire and 'peace and security' would ensure its fame as the mother of all political platitudes, and so by default the UN credo.

The loaded situation produced a colossal detective story with the tedium of painstaking evidence gathering, conspicuous surveillance and brilliant hypothesis with an array of monstrous characters to divert suspicions. Saddam Hussein, Tariq Aziz, Dr Germ and the various other agents of death and destruction are described with the non-fussed detail of reality yet emerge almost apocryphal by their scheming and morality. Some events like the 'car park siege' are completely fantastical. The lapses of Iraqi memory and excuse making are so ridiculously hilarious so as to question the authors' sanity.

However this was real history, it is a story that we have already seen, we had formed our opinions and we believed it was over. The baddies were shot down by the Anglo American alliance and that was that. Tim Trevan however hand-holds us through the nuances of real-politick. When we thought it was over, Tim was still there fighting the battle with UNSCOM... and now its over for him: IRAQ is still a threat. Saddam Hussein is still a dictator. The world is still gullible enough to believe that decent and righteous humanity will one day vanquish all that is bad.

What Tim Trevan gives us as his parting shot is the most prudent observation of politics as a necessary evil since Machiavelli opined to the unknown prince.
If you want a cynical political advantage over your enemies, read this book and don't tell them about it, especially Saddam.

Great book, pretty good for kids. The book did overlook the fact that Saladin was also a physician and chemist (or alchemist as they used to be called back then). But over all a very good book.

This is a fine book for young readers who seek an introduction to a hero revered to this day in the Arab and Islamic world and highly respected by historians of the Crusades. Diane Stanley shows how compassionate Saladin was with his enemies even after tens of thousands of civilian Muslims were massacred in cold blood in Jerusalem by the Crusaders (who were fighting for the cross as directed by that era's Pope). His rise to power, struggle to unite Muslims of Greater Syria and Egypt, cunning military leadership and passion to liberate Jerusalem are well explained to the young audience. His adversaries (like King Richard) invovement in the Crusades are well covered, while illustrations that acompany the book are of high quality. Overall, a recommended book for those who would like to know about an enlightened Muslim leader and legend.

osim sto je zabavna ova knjiga je takodje vrlo poucna za sve entuzijaste u olbasti samospoznaje i filozofije.

Santhana is an engrossing read. The story of a young Yugoslav university graduate's long journey, first overland to the mountains with a variety of travelling companions, and then by boat to India, and his ensuing search for tranquility via some rather self-destructive yogic practices. This book is an excellent read and is most refreshing and unconventional compared to the dreary me-too books churned out by well-heeled backpackers today. Quite a bit of mystic philosophy is woven into it, but not so much as to get in the way of the travelogue and the beautifully-conveyed atmosphere and scenery. Not to mention the curious characters Borna Bebek comes across in his travels.

Find a copy! (I have a hardcover first edition in mint condition, open to offers...)

The SBL Handbook of style is designed for those who are writing papers or dissertations in the field of ancient Near Eastern, Biblical and early Christian Studies. Most matters of style are comprehensively addressed, and where they are not, the editors refer the reader to the Chicago Manual of Style. The book is extremely useful for those who want to standardise their abbreviations and references. Nonetheless, several issues will have to be resolved in the next edition. First, although the book is nicely printed, the binding is extremely poor, and fell apart only after I had used the book a few times. Second, several essential abbreviations are missing from the list of Greek and Latin works. Third, not all abbreviations are located in the same part of the book, and so one has to keep going backwards and forwards to find the appropriate reference. Fourth, the editors sometimes display a dogmatic approach to style and appear at least to this reader to be a inflexible. For example they insist that writers ought to use Miriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for their spelling. This dictionary however is only one alongside many other excellent dictionaries such as, the American Heritage, and the Random House. These criticisms should not detract from the importance and usefulness of this volume, which I recommend wholeheartedly.

This easy-to-use, inexpensive volume is a must-own for all who write in the fields of biblical and ancient near eastern studies. College and seminary students, graduate students, teachers, and researchers will find this book a fine substitute for Turabian and/or the CMOS for all but the most obscure situations. The discipline-specific nature of the work also allows greater depth of coverage without making it overlong. Get it today, or be behind the standard tomorrow.

This is an extremely terrific introduction to an unfortunately little-known topic. In fifteen chapters and an epilogue, we are treated here to articulate, carefully crafted commentary and overviews of a myriad of medieval Islamic scientific, pseudo-scientific, and philosophical milieus. Turner presents us with chapters upon astronomy, medicine, geography, alchemy, and mathematics, among many other topics, as well as the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian, etc. roots of the traditions surveyed. Each chapter includes intelligently selected material, which is oftentimes broken down into various subsections, for increased clarity and focus. One thing that the new reader of this book might want to be aware of is that the body of text in most chapters is literally only five to ten pages long. A lot of information is conveyed in the sections at the end of each chapter, which consist of beautiful (black and white) photographs and illustrations of various medieval islamic scientific instruments, observatories, learning academies, etc. Below the photographs are pithy, well-written commentaries upon the objects in the photographs. Don't skip over these commentaries -- they contain some of the best material in the book. Also watch for the helpful timeline in an appendix at the end, the glossary of unfamiliar Arabic vocabulary, and the very useful bibliography. Definitely take the time to scan through the bibliography, if you have any interest in pursuing further work in this area. It contains most of the classic works on this topic, and many lesser-known articles, books, etc.

Many people reading this may be interested in the historical background of Islam, or in the medieval period in and of itself. For people who come to this book from curiosity about how our classical heritage was preserved during the centuries between Rome and the Renaissance, (i.e., while the Islamic world was keeping the scholarly and scientific traditions alive, and Europe generally went to pieces), I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend "Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Latin and Greek Literature," by L.D. Reynolds. The title tells you what that book is about, and it's very well done.

This book is very interesting, very well-researched, and beautifully presented. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

I was fortunate to read this in manuscript and knew that it was something most readers would like because of the wonderful illustrations. Readers cannot find a better place to begin to understand the fantastic developments in the Islamic world at a time when Europe had lost most ancient knowledge. It will probably become a required book for most courses dealing with the Islamic and Arabic civilizations.

Sea Change is an enthralling journey with the author as she overcomes fears to sail from East to West Scotland. Mairie writes with sensitivity, evoking memories for anyone who has ever sailed. Her beautiful watercolours and drawings are the icing on the cake.

Possessed with a desire for romantic adventure, yet afraid of the sea, Mairi Hedderwick undertook a six week voyage with "the Captain" down the Caledonian Canal and out to sea in a small, antiquated sailing boat. Armed only with her pens, paints, papers, and pots of herbs, children's book author/illustrator Hedderwick recorded her voyage. She found that the romantic moments were scarce and the voyage fraught with danger and difficulty. But by finding humor in even the most adverse circumstances while conveying the beauty of the land and sea through her words and pictures, she is able to convey to the reader her unforgettable voyage of discovery. Sea Change is a superbly presented travelogue that will thrill even the most sedentary armchair traveler and may well inspire the reader to throw caution to the wind and embark upon a voyage of discovery of their own.

First published in 1984, this book is finally available in English. The author offers his views on Ancient Egyptian religion, theology and piety. In the various chapters (The Cosmos, Myth, The New Gods, Theodicy and Theology), he explains the difficulties when discussing Ancient Egyptian thought, rituals and cultic beliefs. This book attempts to compare religions based on what is known about the Ancient Egyptian religion. Well researched, this is most definitely a serious book for scholars and students interested in the subject. Recommended reading for all.

The Search for God in Ancient Egypt by Jan Assmann (Cornell University Press) (PAPERBACK) provides a fresh synthesis of the main characteristics of Egyptian religion. Unlike the more hermetically minded scholars, Assmann sticks to the records as preserved and seamlessly draws on current religious theories about how cults function and the divine presence is ritualized to reveal the strangeness and beauty of Egyptian religion in a coherence misplaced from earlier accounts.

This is an intensely personal encounter of the author with old friends and some not-so-friendly people in Afghanistan. A must read for understanding the deep cultural roots of conflict in the region.

There are many good books now offering us insight into Afghanistan and Pakistan, but even the best of them -- like Carpet Wars -- are by men and almost all the people they meet and talk about are men -- not surprisingly, given where they are. Christina Lamb has been in Afghanistan and nearby Pakistan over a period of decades. Her writing is clear, direct, and sympathetic to the people she's known there for many years, including Hamid Karzai. The people she meets -- and re-meets -- along the way become part of her story which humanizes the the local situations she describes. Top notch!

I found this book to be an excellent analysis of the a part of the Iranian economy during the Safavi period. Although it is slanted toward the Armenian minority and does not cover the whole economy, it provides a unique and preceptive view of a section of the economy that has been ignored. Aside from bringing to light the power of the Armenian minority in a hypothetically theocratic state, it will change the reader's preception of the economic, political and social sophistication of Iran and, in fact, the Middle East at the time of European expansion. The book is very well written and the analysis excellent. The absence of tables in the discussion of the volume of exports as given in different sources and and conversions of currency is sorely missed. Such tables would have made it considerably easier to compare the various references. However, this is minor in the general context of the book.

A detailed and fascinating study of international trade and Safavid politics in the seventeenth century. I found it to be extremely well researched, drawing together evidence from Armenian and Persian documents, as well as European archival collections. The book chiefly focuses on the Armenian merchants who managed the export of silk from Iran to Europe, and the import of European silver back to Iran and India. It successfully demonstrates the crucial financial role these merchants played in the consolidation of the Safavid state in Iran, with comparisons to other outsiders financing the formation of absolutist states in Europe.