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MIDDLE EAST

Israel, Jordan and Egypt

READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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Get the featured set of Essential Reading, our top picks of what to read, and get free shipping on anything else you order.

Item EXARB59. Buy these 5 items as a set for $93 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
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The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt

by Bill Manley

• HISTORY
• 1996
• PAPER
• 144 PAGES

Ingenious color maps, site plans, photographs and accompanying essays trace Egyptian civilization from the founding of Memphis through the sacking of Thebes and invasion by Alexander the Great in 332 BC in this authoritative, remarkably concise history. (EGY54, $20.00)

Petra, The Rose-Red City

by Christian Auge | Jean-Marie Dentzer

• ART & ARCHITECTURE
• 2000
• PAPER
• 144 PAGES

Jam-packed with color illustrations, archival material, maps and site plans, this shirt-pocket encyclopedia is our best-selling book on Petra. (JRD13, $15.95)

Eyewitness Guide Egypt

by Eyewitness Guides

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2011
• PAPER
• 352 PAGES

A visually rich guide to the history, culture and monuments of Egypt. (EGY90, $25.00)

Eyewitness Guide Jerusalem: Israel, Petra & Sinai

by Eyewitness Guides

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2010
• PAPER
• 336 PAGES

This compact, illustrated guide provides a thorough overview of Israel and western Jordan, including Petra, Wadi Rum and Amman. (ISR46, $25.00)

Northeast Africa and Arabia Map

by Michelin Travel Publications

• 2007
• MAP

A folded map of the Northeast region of the continent at a scale of 1:4,000,000. (AFR33, $14.95)

 

Also Recommended

Egypt Map

by Nelles

• 2010
• MAP
• BEST SELLER

A handy map with insets of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Giza, the Nile River Valley, Cairo and other sites. (EGY03, $13.95)

Israel, Palestine, Holy Land Map

by Freytag & Berndt

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2010
• MAP
• 1 PAGES

A double-sided, indexed map at a scale of 1:150,000. (ISR09, $14.95)

Jordan Map

by Cartographia

• MAP

A folded, colorful map of Jordan at a scale of 1:700,000. (JRD18, $12.00)

Dive the Red Sea

by Guy Buckles

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2007
• PAPER
• 176 PAGES

A fully illustrated guide to dive and snorkel sites, highlighting the finest reefs, wrecks, troughs and walls to explore. (ARB94, $20.00)

Say It in Arabic (Egyptian)

by Farouk El-Baz

• LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
• 1968
• PAPER
• 185 PAGES

A guide to common words and phrases in the widely spoken Cairo dialect. (ARB54, $4.95)

Spectrum Guide to Jordan

by Camerapix

• GUIDEBOOK
• 1999
• PAPER
• 347 PAGES

This handsome guidebook features in-depth essays and hundreds of color photographs introducing the culture, history and archaeology of Jordan. With travel information, maps, wildlife checklists and information on politics and the economy. (JRD09, $22.95)

The Holy Land, An Oxford Archaeological Guide

by Jerome Murphy O'Connor

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2008
• PAPER
• 450 PAGES

Half of this indispensable, authoritative guide is devoted to the Roman temples, Byzantine synagogues and other monuments -- Christian, Jewish and Muslim -- of Jerusalem itself. (ISR12, $37.95)

Write Your Own Egyptian Hieroglyphs

by Angela McDonald

• LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
• 2007
• PAPER
• 80 PAGES

Understand the language of the Pharaohs! McDonald's handy illustrated guide to reading, writing and understanding ancient Egyptian names, epithets, titles and phrases includes 50 color illustrations and 200 line drawings. (EGY25, $17.95)

A History of the Arab Peoples

by Albert Hourani

• HISTORY
• 2010
• PAPER
• 624 PAGES

Called a landmark, masterpiece and essential to understanding the Middle East, Hourani's acclaimed chronicle of the political, spiritual, religious and cultural traditions of the Arab peoples is brought up to date with an afterword by noted Islamic scholar Malise Ruthven. (MDE11, $18.95)

A Peace to End All Peace

by David Fromkin

• HISTORY
• 2009
• PAPER
• 688 PAGES

Indispensable to understanding current tensions, alliances and the colonial legacy of the region, Fromkin's vivid tale of the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the making of the modern Middle East is out in a 20th anniversary edition. (ARB13, $22.00)

In An Antique Land

by Amitav Ghosh

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 1994
• PAPER
• 393 PAGES

In this heady book, the author-historian recreates the life of a slave who lived along the ancient Nile. Not exactly historical fiction, this book artfully interweaves personal history, travel writing and philosophical meditation. (EGY18, $18.00)

In the Land of Israel

by Amos Oz

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 1993
• PAPER
• 275 PAGES

In this compelling volume, Israeli novelist Amos Oz interviewed dozens of his fellow countrymen from all walks of life. A passionate, candid and diverse portrait of a people and their hopes, fears and prejudices. (ISR03, $14.95)

Islam, A Short History

by Karen Armstrong

• HISTORY
• 2002
• PAPER
• 230 PAGES

Armstrong brings authority and experience to this vivid, clear-headed survey of the history and impact of Islam from the birth of Muhammad to present-day challenges. (ISL15, $15.95)

Islam, The Straight Path

by John L. Esposito

• RELIGION
• 2010
• PAPER
• 304 PAGES

A well-written survey of the faith, practice and beliefs of Islam. It's a balanced tone intended for an undergraduate audience, yet it also functions as an excellent overview for the general reader. (MDE22, $47.95)

Jerusalem, City of Longing

by Simon Goldhill

• HISTORY
• 2009
• PAPER
• 368 PAGES

Goldhill shows the layered, multi-religious history of the city through its architecture, organizing his exhilarating guide into a series of seven walking tours (each with map). (ISR63, $19.95)

Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths

by Karen Armstrong

• RELIGION
• 1997
• PAPER
• 472 PAGES

A popular history by the author of A History of God. Armstrong tackles big subjects -- and this book is no exception. It's a comprehensive, concise portrait of the city over the last 5,000 years. (ISR10, $18.00)

Luxor Illustrated, With Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Nile

by Michael Haag

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2009
• PAPER
• 96 PAGES

The ideal companion to a Nile cruise, Michael Haag introduces all the famous monuments and temples of the Upper Egypt from Luxor, Karnak, Valley of the Kings and the tomb of Tutankhamun to the marvels of Aswan and Abu Simbel in full color. (EGY277, $22.95)

Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women

by Geraldine Brooks

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 1996
• PAPER
• 256 PAGES

A highly readable overview of the role of women in Islamic society, drawn from the author's many interviews with women throughout the Arab World. (ARB06, $15.00)

Parting the Desert

by Zachary Karabell

• HISTORY
• 2004
• PAPER
• 336 PAGES

A compelling account of the politics, intrigue and engineering challenges of the Suez Canal. (EGY125, $18.00)

Petra

by Maria G. A. Guzzo | E. Equini Schneider

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2002
• HARD COVER
• 197 PAGES
• OUT OF PRINT

An illustrated overview of the history and culture of the Nabateans and guide to the city of Petra, its art and architecture by two Italian archaeologists. With 97 color plates, archival drawings and maps. (MDE68, $48.00)

The Atlas of Ancient Egypt

by Delia Pemberton

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2005
• HARD COVER
• 96 PAGES

A strikingly clear and concise introduction to Egypt, its cultures, history, geography and archaeology, featuring color photographs, maps and drawings from the the British Museum. (EGY167, $19.95)

The Egyptians

by Cyril Aldred

• HISTORY
• 1998
• PAPER
• 224 PAGES

A volume in the "Ancient Peoples and Places" series, this classic book is an outstanding account of the history and culture of ancient Egypt. With hundreds of illustrations and maps. (EGY26, $18.95)

The Israelis, Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land

by Donna Rosenthal

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2005
• PAPER
• 480 PAGES

Colorful and compelling, this sharp-eyed portrait captures the diversity of modern Israel with humor and authority. 60th anniversary edition. (ISR53, $16.00)

The White Nile

by Alan Moorehead

• HISTORY
• 2000
• PAPER
• 431 PAGES

A lively history of the Victorian search for the source of the Nile including the extraordinary tales of Burton and Speke, not to mention the famous meeting of Livingstone and Stanley. With vivid descriptions of Zanzibar, the last days of Khartoum and the building of the Suez Canal. (EGY79, $14.99)

Walking the Bible, A Photographic Journey

by Bruce Feiler

• RELIGION
• 2005
• HARD COVER
• 160 PAGES

Color photographs and accompanying vignettes capture the people and places of Feiler's remarkable odyssey through the biblical lands of Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Turkey. (MDE94, $32.50)

The Art of Ancient Egypt

by Gay Robins

• ART & ARCHITECTURE
• 2008
• PAPER
• 272 PAGES

Organized chronologically, this authoritative survey of the tombs, temples and sanctuaries of ancient Egypt features 300 illustrations. (EGY52, $30.50)

The Search for Ancient Egypt

by Jean Vercoutter

• ARCHAEOLOGY
• 1992
• PAPER
• 207 PAGES

This pocket encyclopedia, packed with illustrations, tells the tale of Greek travelers, buried treasure, international intrigue and scholarship in understanding Egypt. (EGY02, $15.95)

Down the Nile, Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff

by Rosemary Mahoney

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2008
• PAPER
• 273 PAGES

Mahoney weaves the tale of her quest to row the Nile with deft portraits of the people she meets in this marvelously engaging chronicle. (EGY207, $14.99)

Flaubert in Egypt

by Francis Steegmuller | Gustave Flaubert

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1996
• PAPER
• 240 PAGES

Among the romantic European travelers in Egypt, Flaubert, via his letters and journal entries, stands out. The place inspired him, and his observations are still delightful reading. (EGY12, $15.00)

Leap of Faith, Memoirs of an Unexpected Life

by Queen Noor

• BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
• 2005
• PAPER
• 496 PAGES
• OUT OF PRINT

The absorbing, personal story of Jordan's American-born Queen Noor touches upon her husband's efforts at peacemaking, his death and contemporary Arab-Israeli relations. (JRD21, $15.99)

Married to a Bedouin

by Marguerite Van Geldermalsen

• BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
• 2010
• PAPER
• 279 PAGES

"Where you staying?" the Bedouin asked. "Why you not stay with me tonight -- in my cave?" Thus begins the fascinating odyssey of a young nurse from New Zealand who would marry and raise her family among the community of 100 Bedouin families living in the ancient city of Petra. (JRD35, $16.95)

Motoring with Mohammed, Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea

by Eric Hansen

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1992
• PAPER
• 240 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Shipwrecked en route from the Maldives, rescued with his buddies by Eritrean goat smugglers, and an accidental tourist in Sana'a, Hansen's misadventures make a terrific story. Even better, he provides a rich portrait of a little-known region. (ARB11, $16.00)

Walking the Bible, A Journey by Land through the Five Books of Moses

by Bruce Feiler

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2005
• PAPER
• 416 PAGES

An account of a 10,000-mile trek through the Biblical lands of the Middle East in the company of an Israeli archaeologist. It's part travelogue, part pilgrimage, and part quest for religious meaning. (MDE50, $14.99)

Death on the Nile

by Agatha Christie

• MYSTERY
• 2004
• PAPER
• 333 PAGES

How could we resist? Christie wrote Egypt's most famous murder mystery on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan. (EGY09, $12.99)

He Shall Thunder in the Sky

by Elizabeth Peters

• MYSTERY
• 2010
• PAPER
• 512 PAGES

This riveting mystery novel finds Amelia Peabody and her family hard at work at an Egyptian archaeological site on the brink of WWI. (EGY75, $9.99)

Mornings in Jenin

by Susan Abulhawa

• LITERATURE
• 2010
• PAPER
• 331 PAGES

This family saga, drawing on the author's own experiences and history, follows four generations of a Palestinian family who lost their home in 1948 with the creation of Israel. (MDE186, $15.00)

Palace Walk

by Naguib Mahfouz

• LITERATURE
• 2011
• PAPER
• 504 PAGES

The first volume in the monumental Cairo Trilogy, a family saga set in post-WWI Egypt. Nobel Prize-winning Mahfouz provides insight into life in Egypt and the revolution against the British. (EGY04, $16.00)

The Yacoubian Building

by Alaa Al Aswany

• LITERATURE
• 2006
• PAPER
• 255 PAGES

The politics, repressed desires, hopes and dreams of Cairo are reflected through the lives of the inhabitants of a once grand apartment house in this deft novel of contemporary Egypt. (EGY175, $13.99)

In a Desert Land, Photographs of Israel, Egypt and Jordan

by Neil Folberg

• NATURAL HISTORY
• 1998
• HARD COVER
• 204 PAGES

A stunning collection of photographs of the desert Middle East, including the Sinai, Petra and Jerusalem. (JRD06, $49.95)

Birds of the Middle East

by Richard Porter | Simon Aspinall

• FIELD GUIDE
• 2010
• PAPER
• 384 PAGES

An outstanding guide to 700 species of the birds in the region from the Arabian peninsula to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Cyprus. Second edition. (MDE17, $39.95)

Fishwatcher's Field Guide Red Sea

by Jerry Greenberg

• FIELD GUIDE
• PLASTIC CARD

This double-sided plastic card shows 64 of the most commonly encountered reef fish of the Red Sea in full-color illustrations, convenient for the boat or beach. (DIV13, $7.50)

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