Winner of the 1989 National Book Award for nonfiction, this extraordinary bestseller is still the most incisive, thought-provoking book ever written about the Middle East. Thomas L. Friedman, twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting, and now the Foreign Affairs columnist on the op-ed page of the New York Times, drew on his ten years in the Middle East to write a book that The Wall Street Journal called "a sparkling intellectual guidebook... an engrossing journey not to be missed." Now with a new chapter that brings the ever-changing history of the conflict in the Middle East up to date, this seminal historical work reaffirms both its timeliness and its timelessness. "If you're only going to read one book on the Middle East, this is it." -- Seymour Hersh. "From Beirut To Jerusalem is the most intelligent and comprehensive account one is likely to read." -- New York Times Book Review.
From Beirut to Jerusalem: Revised Edition
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From Publishers Weekly
"Friedman, who twice garnered the Pulitzer as a New York Times correspondent in Lebanon and Israel, further delineates the two countries in this provocative, absorbing memoir cum political and social analysis," commented PW. The work won the National Book Award.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
There have been any number of books that have worked hard at interpreting the melange called the Middle East. This one, however, makes a difference because it's so well written and captures the psychological mannerisms of the people of Lebanon and Israel--the first step to understanding some of the mysterious "why" that seems to elude the American public and government. Friedman's credentials are impressive: he spent six years of journalistic service for the New York Times in Beirut and Jerusalem, has won two Pulitzer prizes, and is now the Times 's chief diplomatic correspondent. His writing is vastly descriptive, incredibly illuminating, very educational, and marvelously persuasive. His advice to U.S. diplomats is that since "Middle East diplomacy is a contact sport," they must bargain as grocers, or, in other words, realize that everything has a price and the sale can always be made with enough hard work. This title is highly recommended for all libraries. See also Sandra Mackey's Lebanon: Death of a Nation , reviewed below.
- Ed. -- David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Ed. -- David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
In June 1979, my wife, Ann, and I boarded a red-and-white Middle East Airlines 707 in Geneva for the four-hour flight to Beirut. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In June 1979, my wife, Ann, and I boarded a red-and-white Middle East Airlines 707 in Geneva for the four-hour flight to Beirut. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Linda Stokes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most thorough description of the ongoing battle and confusion in the middle east - I learned the struggle that has been going on for centuries is still there. It will not be resolved until both sides truly seek peace and pursue it, respecting the rights of the other.
Format:Paperback
As a journalist Mr Friedman is at its very best when he reports the historical facts, puts them in perspective and analyses them. And reporting the facts is what he does in the first part of this book, Beirut. This is the best part hands down. His analysis is profound, true, and it gives a singular and personal lighting of the civil war in Lebanon and the Israeli invasion.
However, Mr Friedman, as a sociologist, isn't nearly as good (or just maybe his analysis has lost its relevance in the 20-odd years since the book was first published). The Jerusalem part is far too convoluted and sometimes downright obscure in its multi-layered division of the Israeli society.
Also Mr Friedman is a very good writer with a wit all its own. But at times the metaphors he uses are too cute for their own good and the author spends far too much time (his and ours) justifying their pertinence. The book is an impressionist analysis, sort of a 600 pages op-ed supported by impressions, but short on statistical data.
Still a great and essential read.
However, Mr Friedman, as a sociologist, isn't nearly as good (or just maybe his analysis has lost its relevance in the 20-odd years since the book was first published). The Jerusalem part is far too convoluted and sometimes downright obscure in its multi-layered division of the Israeli society.
Also Mr Friedman is a very good writer with a wit all its own. But at times the metaphors he uses are too cute for their own good and the author spends far too much time (his and ours) justifying their pertinence. The book is an impressionist analysis, sort of a 600 pages op-ed supported by impressions, but short on statistical data.
Still a great and essential read.
By Tal Cohen
Format:Paperback
Like so many the world over, I love this book and recommend it highly. It is however far from the Only book to read. Following Friedman are other books I find, if not as panoramic and if not as in-genius, important and wonderful. In no particular order, but all less well known, they concern the same turf but either from a slightly different angle or from a later date: Danny Rubinstein's "The People of Nowhere", Amira Hass' "Drinking the Sea at Gaza" and Wendy Orange's "Coming Home to Jerusalem." With these four books read altogether one begins to see with real clarity. Connect the dots.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE BEST introduction to the middle east
As one of the first books I read about Middle East, and its
conflicts, I RECOMMEND this book STRONGLY for everyone: those that
are new to the region, needing an... Read more
conflicts, I RECOMMEND this book STRONGLY for everyone: those that
are new to the region, needing an... Read more
Published on Jun 19 2004 by ROZ mandelcorn
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
I grew up in Beirut; I found this book very insightful. I can say that this book pretty much reflects what really happened in Beirut. Read more
Published on Jun 12 2004 by Zeina Theodory
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rambo's analysis
No matter how "exciting" this book may be to read (and not to base our opinions upon), just like Hollywood's Rambo, where Stalone knows everything about his enemy and... Read more
Published on Jun 1 2004 by John Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Navigating through the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is hard enough; but doing so whilst remaining neutral and objective is almost impossible. Read more
Published on May 18 2004 by N. Tsafos
1.0 out of 5 stars
Irresponsible history - Should be able to give it no stars
I know this is a popular book. When I lecture on the Middle East, everyone seems to have read it. There are some good parts -- such as the author's description of his personal... Read more
Published on May 7 2004 by Arnold Irving
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
An interesting chronology and analysis of a journalist's decade long stay in Lebanon and Jerusalem. I learned a lot about the two countries and the issues that divide them. Read more
Published on April 10 2004 by J. Jacobs
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Frightening Firsthand Of The Middle East Conflict
Both a personal memoir and treatise on the Middle Eastern conflict, From Beirut To Jerusalem manages to excel in both areas.
Thomas L. Read more
Published on Mar 27 2004 by David J. Gutowski
3.0 out of 5 stars
objective reporting only gets you so far
There is a strain of thought among journalists, to which Friedman unfortuantely succumbs, which says that one must at all costs be objective. Read more
Published on Feb 18 2004 by D. Friedman
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was important to feel that Israel was right
In the 1980's Friedman could not feel that the Israeli incursion into Lebanon was sound policy. He wrote the articles for THE NEW YORK TIMES detailing the massacres in... Read more
Published on Feb 7 2004 by Mary E. Sibley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book to really understand the Middle East.
This is book is a must if you want a deep understanding of the conflicts in the Middle East. It very well written and will be read with passion. Simply a great acquisition.
Published on Oct 1 2003 by Daniel Brabant
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