Larsen's "The Conquest of Assyria" is a handsome volume about the re-discovery and archaeology of ancient Assyria and deciphering the cuneiform script against the backdrop of both Ottoman-held Iraq and the high Victorian society.The book centers on the three giants of discovery-the romantic Austen Henry Layard,the melancholy Paul Emile Botta, and scholar-soldier Henry Rawlinson. Seperately Botta and Layard would un-earth huge palaces with giant winged human-headed bulls guarding the entrances, and friezes showing the king at war, hunting lions, and praying to his gods. These fantastic finds would bring back to life a dead civilization shrouded in myth and legend. Larsen weaves biographies, major political dilemmas and the impact the digs had on bible-conscious Europe through an exciting story of important excavations and adventure with warring and plundering bedouin tribes, cholera, and travels to regions yet to be mapped. Perhaps the greatest tale of archaeology. A true classic.

Political histories of a nation usually ignore its literature or, at most, compress it into an ancillary chapter. For Elise Salem, however, the writings of Lebanese authors are inseparable from the origins of their country and the record of its recent turmoil. A Lebanese native now living in the United States, but frequently returning to the land of her origin, Salem possesses a unique perspective to write such an analysis. She knows the country's brief history and its political complexities intimately. A literary scholar, she demonstrates extensive and perceptive reading of a wide range of fiction, poetry, and drama, as well as awareness of musical theater productions. Her achievement in this book lies in her ability to demonstrate interrelationships, the ways in which literature has been a source of national identity and serves as an ongoing commentary on unsettling events.

Although the book's subject is Lebanon, Salem also hopes that it will be considered a representative study, with a methodology and a manner of understanding that can be applied to other nations. She notes that those who govern rarely consult their nation's body of writing, and she considers that a mistake: "Artists and intellectuals, often historically in a dubious relationship with the state, not only continue to imagine and hence extend the discourse of the nation but, in more palpable way, participate in remembering, recording, and transforming it."

Salem's eloquent Afterword reiterates, frames, and adds a rich dimension of commentary. It concludes with this possibility: "[These] provocative narratives suggest a new language, vocabulary, style, approach, and thematics that expand the possibilities for Lebanon. They are, after all, the nation's stories and, through fictions, the most telling." Literature was central to Lebanon's origin. Salem's hope is that it will be equally important in helping it face its present crises.

An excellent book for political scientists to understand the transtions and breakdowns of democracy that the Turkish Republic has experienced.

Conversion to Islam by Dr. Ali KOSE is an original piece of work which deals with why and how non-Muslims embrace Islam in an age of secularism which presupposes that religion will lose its influnce in modern society. This book is a rare example of an ethnographic study which fills a significant gap especially in the fields of psychology and socilology of religions with special reference to Islam. An important value of the book is its innovative interdisciplinary method comprising participant observation, depht interviews and an insighful analysis of ethnographic findings in the light of growing theoretical works on the psychology and sociology of conversion.

The book is written with a non-specialised language which makes it readable not only by the acedemic community but also by the general reader. Conversion to Islam is based on the experiences of British converts who embraced Islam. The author argues that a number of motives stimulated the informants of this research who were coming mainly from Catholic and Protestant religious backgrounds to chose Islam. He found that intellectual and spiritual search for meaning in life were the primary motives for conversion. The book not only concentartes on conversion experience but also provides important analysis of pre- and post-conversion processes while taking into account the works of grand theorists such as Freud and Jung as well as contemporary writers on conversion.

Conversion to Islam is well a researched and balanced book. Is must be recommended to graduate and post-graduate students in the fields of psychology and sociology of religion.

Reviewed by Dr. Talip Kucukcan, Research Fellow, Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

This is a awesume book ! It takes a factual book that was written by a now deceased author and starts where she left off and brings it up to date on the history of all the villages surrounding Conway. Excellent pictures of many landmarks and attire of the period. This would be a great book for a history buff or someone wanting to learn more about the area of Conway, New Hampshire. Janet Hounsell did a excellent job on a huge project like this one.

This little book is like having an experienced guide right with you! The directions are detailed, organized, clear and specific! The sights are as described and well worth the visits! Tours are not tiring and give you options on customizing your tour!

We loved this book! Both my husband and I read this to our 5 yr. old son. We laughed out loud at the author's light hearted approach on learning to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels! A first time on reading a story by this team of authors. I will seek other books by them in the future. My son loved everthing about this peticular book.

This book covers numerous facets of Ancient Egypt through 16 informative essays written by the leading international Egyptologists : Ian Shaw describes the geography and topography of the country; Jaromir Malek introduces the beginnings of this fascinating civilization as well as its history; Morris Bierbrier deals with the discovery of Ancient Egypt and presents a few of the first Egyptologists (Mariette, Maspero and Amelia Edwards); Janine Bourriau describes life and the ancient Egyptian family; Jac Janssen covers its economic aspects; J. D. Ray explains the principles of kingship and the pharaohs; Kenneth Kitchen tells of Ancient Egypt and its relations with Nubia, Punt, and Asia; Waltraud Guglielmi covers the religious aspects with the many Egyptian gods; Arielle Kozloff lets the reader know more about art and architecture; Cathleen Keller describes the Egyptian monuments; Alan Bowman tells of the invaders and the Ptolemaic dynasty; C. C. Walters covers Coptic Egypt; D. S. Richards explains the impact of Islam; Jane Jakeman describes the modern city of Cairo; Penelope C. Johnstone describes the influence Ancient Egypt has in our modern world; and finally Fayza Haikal describes family life in modern Egypt with accounts of marriage and other activities. This thought-provoking book is primarily aimed for non-specialists and novices.

I have been waiting for this book for over a year! I am of course bias, I have had Ewa as a professor for 4 classes. The book is a great, not only is it informative but it also gives a lot of Ewa's humor. Even if I weren't in Ewa's class I would probably still read the book. (Of course I am really into mythology!)
This book is not nearly as academic as most books on this subject. The book is easy to understand, well as easy as mytholgy is to understand. She doesn't show of by making obscure references or using really big words.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology or is intreseted in the Middle East. Actually I recommend that everyone take a class from Ewa but since that's not possible try reading her book.

Samuel Segev's latest book entitled Crossing the Jordan offers never-before-published insight into the peace process. Segev has a lifetime of relevant experience as a journalist covering the Middle East and as a senior editor of a major Isreali newspaper. Segev delivers unbiased accounts of previously undisclosed back-door negotiations. Crossing the Jordan is a must read for anyone interested in the peace process in general and the art of the deal in politics.