The Arabs in History

Rating:
Summary: A Bit Slow For The Average Reader
Review: As a novice in the area of Arab history, I found this book a bit too detailed at times. While providing an overview from the pre-Islamic era through the rise and fall of the empire, the author often digresses and spends time detailing relatively minor events. I'm not qualified to speak to the scholar, but if you are an average reader such as myself, I'd look for a different book.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth reading
Review: I had great expectations of this book but the more I read the worse it got. For a person who is supposed to be an 'Orientalist' he sure does hate his subject. Under cover of being a scholar Lewis promotes his neoconservative ideology as serious learning. This ideology is the guiding force behind the troubles in the Middle East today. Powerful people listen to Lewis and follow his advise on how to deal with the Muslim world. Unfortunately this advice comes from a person who has made it a lifelong mission to destroy and defame the very subject he claims to be an expert of.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book: Lousy Printing
Review: Lewis's book has been through many editions, and as a short intro to Arab history it is hard to beat. What would not be hard to beat would be the dreadful production values of this OUP paperback edition. It is printed on horrible paper, and the binding keeps falling off. Shame on Oxford UP for putting out such a good book in such a shoddy format.

Rating:
Summary: decent
Review: This is a decent attempt to reveal the history of a very misunderstood place. Lewis, however, does little to destroy the misunderstanding...only presenting some facts with some questionable interpretations.