Books, Books, & More Books.

I am beginning to realize that I could read every book that has ever been written about the Middle East and would still be remarkably underprepared for this year... as is the nature of going abroad, I guess...

Here are some of the resources that I have used in my preparation for this coming year:

Bernard Lewis, The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2000 Years

Thomas L. Friedman, From Beirut to Jerusalem

Geraldine Brooks, Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

David Fromkin, A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East

Bernard Lewis, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror

Neil MacFarquhar, The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East

Naguib Mahfouz, Palace Walk



Also, check out the King's Academy web site to learn more about what my daily life will consist of: http://www.kingsacademy.edu.jo



& here are more recommended reading materials (recommended by King's Academy Faculty members) that I haven't gotten to yet:

Robert Fisk, The Great War for Civilization

Marguerite Van Geldermalsen, Married to a Bedouin

Albert Hourani, A History of the Arab Peoples

Roland Dallas, King Hussein: Life on the Edge

Queen Noor al Hussein, Leap of Faith

James Gelvin, The Modern Middle East: A History

Abd Al-Rahman Munif, Story of a City: A Childhood in Amman