All Rivers Run to the Sea  •  Elie Wiesel BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1996 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel recounts his remarkable life, from his childhood in Romania to the horrors of Auschwitz, his days as a young writer in post-war France and New York, his many pilgrimages to Israel, and his ongoing support Jewish of communities. (EUR153, $16.00)
Appointment with Death  •  Agatha Christie MYSTERY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 212 PAGES Agatha Christie lived in Syria and the Middle East with her archaeologist husband Max Brown in the 1930s, the source for many of her wildly popular mysteries. First published in 1938, Appointment With Death is the story of an American family on a grand tour of the Holy Land. Hercule Poirot steps into the story when the contentious wife is found murdered in the city of Petra. In addition to the pleasure of who-dun-it, the book is rich in detail of place. (JRD02, $6.99)
The Arabs, A Short History  •  Philip K. Hitti HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 273 PAGES An overview by the influential historian of the Arab world. (ARB63, $14.95)
Art From the Ashes  •  Lawrence L. Langer ANTHOLOGY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 1995 PAGES A powerful collection of stories, journals, essays, poetry and prose about the Holocaust, including both familiar writers like Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel, and lesser known figures, both Jewish and non-Jewish. With most works presented in full, Langer includes a novel by Aharon Appelfeld, a novella by Pierre Gascar, and Joshua Sobol's controversial play Ghetto. (EUR131, $41.95)
Beirut Map  •  Geoprojects MAP A street map of Beirut at a scale of 1:10,000. (MDE101, $18.95)
The Bible Unearthed, Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts  •  Israel Finkelstein RELIGION •  2002 •  PAPER Considering that archaeological evidence supports very little of the Old Testament, the authors propose the communal rather than historical importance of the Bible. (MDE137, $15.00)
The Birds of Israel  •  Hadoram Shirihai GUIDEBOOK •  1996 •  HARD COVER A beautifully illustrated natural history of the birds of Israel including detailed information on migration, habitat and breeding. (FG41, $140.00)
Bradt Guide Israel  •  Samantha Wilson GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES • COMING IN FEBRUARY A comprehensive guide in the growing series by Bradt, noteworthy for its focus on culture, nature and responsible travel. The author includes sights and activities throughout the country. (ISR67, $25.99)
City of Stone: The Hidden History of Jerusalem  •  Meron Benvenisti HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 283 PAGES An absorbing, mostly modern and personal history, by a native son. A former deputy mayor of Jerusalem and political analyst, Benvenisti captures the grace and allure of the city, treating its historical diversity and multiple populations with admirable sympathy and balance. (ISR07, $21.95)
Cradle & Crucible, History and Faith in the Middle East  •  David Fromkin  •  Zahi Hawass  •  Sandra MacKey  •  Milton Viorst HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES Divided broadly into history and religion, this handsome book brings together contributions by leading scholars, color photographs and excellent maps to present a concise, engaging portrait of the region. Beginning with the earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, the book covers the full sweep of the history of the region. The second section looks carefully at the worlds of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. (MDE67, $30.00)
Crisis and Transformation, the Kibbutz at Century's End  •  Eliezer Ben-Rafael HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 282 PAGES Surprisingly, there isn't a whole lot in print on Kibbutz life. This is a relatively scholarly, though quite readable, discussion of the transformation of the kibbutz in the wake of the Israeli economic crisis of 1985. It's actually a digest of studies conducted in the early 90s led by Ben-Rafael, a sociologist at Tel Aviv University. Includes a statistical abstract and a comprehensive kiibbutz bibliography. (ISR25, $22.95)
Culture Shock! Israel  •  Dick Winter GUIDEBOOK •  1992 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES A guide to understanding the local culture and etiquette. (ISR20, $13.95)
Culture Smart! Israel  •  Jeffrey Geri GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (ISR51, $9.95)
Damascus Gate  •  Robert Stone LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 500 PAGES A blockbuster novel set in Jerusalem. The story centers on an American catholic who has come to Jerusalem on a spiritual quest, and becomes drawn into a terrorist plot. It's a thriller that captures the both the complexitites of Jerusalem and the profound faith that underlies it. (ISR32, $15.00)
David and Solomon, In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition  •  Israel Finkelstein RELIGION •  2007 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES From an archeologist's vantage point, Finkelstein suggests that the Kings of Israel led lives much humbler than the ones depicted in the Bible. (MDE135, $14.00)
Democracy and Terrorism, Volume I: The Roots of Terrorism  •  Louise Richardson HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES This in-depth study takes in psychological and political factors to provide an analysis of terrorism and it origins. (GEN361, $29.95)
The Desert and the Sown  •  Gertrude Bell  •  Rosemary O'Brien EXPLORATION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 347 PAGES A fierce explorer and archaeologist, lyrical writer and cunning politician, Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) spent much of her life traveling throughout present-day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan & Israel. The Desert and the Sown, originally published in 1907, brims with enthusiasm and insight. The title of this classic account is taken from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. (MDE59, $19.95)
Desire of the Everlasting Hills  •  Thomas Cahill HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES In this fine book, Cahill examines not only the historical life of Jesus, but the impact Jesus has had on both modern and ancient life. The prose and enthusiasm are up to his usual sparkling standards. (ISR28, $14.95)
Divided Jerusalem, The Struggle for the Holy City  •  Bernard Wasserstein HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 412 PAGES A political history the city -- and the religion, politics and diplomacy that have raged over its fate. Wasserstein provides a well researched, scrupulously balanced -- and heart-rending -- account of the passions inflamed by who controls the Temple Mount and other holy sites for Christians, Muslims and Jews. (MDE61, $37.00)
Eastward to Tartary  •  Robert D. Kaplan TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES A loosely organized travelogue by the author of the acclaimed "Balkan Ghosts," Kaplan connects his travels and experience in the Balkans, the Middle East, Turkey and the Caucasus to the history and culture of Central Asia. (CAS45, $14.95)
Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times  •  Donald B. Redford HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 488 PAGES A study of interactions between ancient cultures of Egypt and Israel from the Paleolithic to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (MDE33, $37.50)
Eichmann in Jerusalem, A Report on the Banality of Evil  •  Hannah Arendt RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES A provocative, challenging account of the trial of the Nazi leader, which originally appeared in the New Yorker in 1963. This Penguin Classics edition includes Arendt's response to the controversy the book generated. (GEN255, $13.95)
Eothen  •  Alexander William Kinglake TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 242 PAGES Originally published in 1844, this classic travelogue of journeys throughout the Middle East and Asia Minor takes the form and tone of a letter to a good friend: conversational, ironic and personal. Included are ramblings in Constantinople, Palestine, Syria and the Dead Sea. (MDE24, $21.00)
Exile  •  Richard North Patterson MYSTERY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 768 PAGES The fast-paced story of a trial lawyer who must defend the woman he loves against a charge of assassinating the Israeli Prime Minister. Historically questionable, but great for those looking for a page-turner. (MDE146, $9.99)
From Beirut to Jerusalem  •  Thomas L. Friedman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2006 •  AUDIO CD A clear, illuminating, and heartfelt exploration of the complexity of the Middle East conflict. Pulitzer Prize-winner Friedman (who reported from Beirut and Jerusalem for the "New York Times" throughout the 1980s, and is now its foreign affairs columnist) provides a personal and a scholarly perspective on the roots of conflict. (MDE98, $22.95)
Frommer's Israel  •  Robert Ullian GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide with details on planning a trip and what to do once you're there. (ISR68, $21.99)
Gate of the Sun  •  Elias Khoury RELIGION •  2007 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES Acclaimed author Khoury's novel follows a doctor in a refugee camp recounting memories of Palestine in an attempt to keep his patient, an old friend, alive. (MDE138, $15.00)
Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk  •  Susan T. Hitchcock  •  John Esposito  •  Desmond Tutu  •  Mpho Tutu RELIGION •  2006 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A handsomely produced tour of the five major world religions and the places that each holds sacred. This oversize book by National Geographic features 210 photographs, illustrations and maps, along with essays by contributing scholars. (REL05, $24.00)
Gideon's Spies, The Secret History of the Mossad  •  Thomas Gordon HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES An anecdotal expose of Israel's intelligence agency from its founding in 1951, tackling both successful exploits and blunders. Gordon interviews people inside and outside of the Mossad. (SPY10, $15.95)
Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East  •  Clement M. Henry  •  Robert Springborg CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES An analysis of the Middle East's responses to the changing world economy and the prospect of globalization at the turn of the twenty-first century. The authors, political economists both, offer a richly detailed argument bolstered by quantitative data. (MDE76, $24.99)
The Gospel According to Jesus Christ  •  Jose Saramago LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A novel of the life of Jesus, by the Portugese Nobel Prize winner. Told from Jesus's point of view, with God and the Devil playing major characters, the book caused something of a sensation when it was first published in 1991. Despite its generally respectful tone, it ultimately paints Jesus as very human and unhappy with the future blood to be spilled in his name. (ISR34, $15.00)
Hebrew, A Language Map  •  Kristine K. Kershul LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2001 •  PLASTIC CARD This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (ISR48, $7.95)
The Historical Figure of Jesus  •  E.P. Sanders HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES A convincing history of the life of Jesus by a noted biblical scholar. Sanders believes there is much to be said about Jesus that might considered to be fact, and cogently presents the story of his life in mostly chronological fashion. The politics and culture of the day are also discussed in depth. For a no-nonsense history based on contemporary sources as well as the Gospels, this is the book to read. (ISR27, $16.00)
A History of God  •  Karen Armstrong RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 460 PAGES A lucid and compelling history of God as conceived by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Armstrong brings together history, philosophy, religion to compare these three important faiths, describing how each has adapted its idea of God to its historical circumstances. Armstrong -- a former nun and member of the Association of Muslim Social Services who lives in Jerusalem and teaches Judaism -- shows a deep respect for each tradition, and the search for a meaningful concept of god. (ISR24, $15.95)
A History of the Arab Peoples  •  Albert Hourani HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 551 PAGES A grand history of the Arab world by the distinguished Oxford historian Albert Hourani, this is a readable and much acclaimed survey that ranges over 13 centuries. It chronicles the political, spiritual, religious and cultural traditions of the Arab peoples in 26 lucidly written chapters. This book has been called a landmark and a masterpiece -- and it's essential to understanding the Middle East. (MDE11, $16.99)
A History of the Middle East  •  Peter Mansfield  •  Nicolas Pelham HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 429 PAGES (MDE84, $16.00)
Hitler and the Holocaust  •  Robert S. Wistrich HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 295 PAGES A short history of the cultural and political circumstances surrounding the genocide of the Jews. Wistrich looks closely at Anti-Semitism in Germany, Europe and abroad in an attempt to understand the evil unleashed during World War II, cautioning that we must be always vigilant about intolerance. (EUR114, $13.95)
How to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus and the Prophets  •  Hela Crown-Tamir GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER A guide geared for Christian pilgrims to biblical sites in Israel and Jordan by a former guide based in Israel. (MDE131, $14.95)
In the Steps of the Master  •  H.V. Morton TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 388 PAGES An enduring account of rambles in the Holy Land in search of the historical Jesus, originally published 50 years ago. Morton sets out to discover for himself biblical sites, archaeology and, especially, the spiritual resonance of places like Galilee and the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. A pilgrim as much as a traveler, Morton charmingly mixes history with his offhand humor and keen observations. (ISR43, $17.95)
Insight Guide Jerusalem  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 223 PAGES A volume in the award-winning Insight series, this guide is noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and informative short essays. It is a thoroughly illustrated, comprehensive guide to the history and culture of Jerusalem. You'll find yourself referring to it upon your return just to savor the fabulous photography. (MDE10, $21.95)
Insight Guide Mediterranean Cruises  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES Covering 120 ports of call throughout the Mediterranean from the Canary Islands to Egypt. (MED94, $22.95)
The Iron Cage, The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood  •  Rashid Khalidi HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES Concentrating on the period of the British Mandate (1920-1948), Khalidi analyzes historical and political aspects of the Palestinian predicament. (MDE142, $15.00)
Islam and the West  •  Bernard Lewis RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 217 PAGES In this illuminating collection of essays, one of the great authorities on the Middle East explores the common ground shared by Islam and the West. It is an excellent guide to the history of the relationship between East and West. (ARB12, $18.95)
Islam, The Straight Path  •  John L. Esposito RELIGION •  2004 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A well-written survey of the faith, practice and beliefs of Islam. It's a balanced tome intended for an undergraduate audience, yet it also functions as an excellent overview for the general reader. (MDE22, $39.95)
Israel Map  •  MAP A fine map of Israel and adjoining sections of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Much of the map (including Haifa, Telaviv, Jerusalem and Amman) is at a scale of 1:250,000. (ISR30, $10.95)
Jerusalem in 3000 Years  •  Nachum Tim Gidal CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES A breathtaking photo-essay by German-born, long-term resident of Jerusalem, Gidal. In it he explores the image of the city as a symbol of peace and stage for centuries of conflict. The 400 color and black-and-white photographs are organized thematically with sections on the ancient city, immigration, architecture, Christian Byzantium, Jesus in Jerusalem, Islamic rule, the Arab and Orthodox Jewish quarters. Aimed at visitors, the text is in English, German and French. (ISR19, $45.00)
Jesus Christ: The Jesus of History, the Christ of faith HISTORY •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES The life of Jesus, his historical reality, teachings and the religions that have surrounding him. With 180 illustrations, including 20 color maps, this book illuminates the life and times of 1st-century Palestine. (ISR15, $35.00)
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews  •  Paula Fredriksen RELIGION •  2000 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A new consideration of the life of Jesus, by a noted professor from Boston University. Fredriksen uses the accepted facts of Jesus' life and death, especially his death, to consider the historical, political, and social mileu of Jesus' times. Of the recent histories of Jesus intended for the lay reader, this may be the most scholarly, but it is also extremely accessible. (ISR35, $15.95)
Jesus, A Revolutionary Biography  •  John Dominic Crossan HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES An easily accessible biography of Jesus, viewing him primarily as a social revolutionary. Crossan does an excellent job describing the social, political, and religious tenor of Jesus' times. (ISR33, $14.95)
The Jew in the Modern World, A Documentary History  •  Paul Mendes-Flohr  •  Johan Reinhard RELIGION •  1995 •  PAPER  • 741 PAGES A big collection of primary documents on Jewish thought and history in the modern period. It's a sourcebook (and popular university text) illustrating the transformation of religion, culture, and identity from the 17th century to 1948. With chapters on political emancipation in Western Europe, reform and conservatism, Jewish studies, identity, antisemitism, Eastern Europe Jewry, Zionism and the Holocaust. (GEN224, $64.95)
The Jewish Mind  •  Raphael Patai SCIENCE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 656 PAGES A primer on Jewish culture and society, by the author of the Arab Mind, originally published in 1977. (ISR58, $17.95)
The Last Temptation of Christ  •  Nikos Kazantzakis LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 506 PAGES A passionate reinterpretation of the last days of Christ, cast here as fiction, by the author of Zorba the Greek. Kazantzakis illuminates both the divine and very human aspects of Christ and his struggles. (GRE77, $14.00)
Life in the Ancient Near East, 3100-332 B.C.  •  Daniel C. Snell HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES From the dawn of the written word to conquest by Alexander the Great, the history of the ancient Middle East is traced in this readable, thoroughly researched overview of economic, social and cultural development in the world of the Bible. It's a concise and intriguing study from a professor of history. (MDE56, $22.00)
Lonely Planet Middle East  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 816 PAGES A practical guide to the North African and Mediterranean countries of the Middle East from Libya, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey to Iraq and Iran. With detailed maps, and separate sections on mosques, music and cuisine. (MDE30, $27.99)
The Message and the Kingdom, How Jesus and Paul Ignited a Revolution and Transformed the Ancient World  •  Richard A. Horsley RELIGION •  2002 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES An original interpretation of Jesus and Paul as religious reformers who sparked a social momement. (MDE134, $20.00)
The Middle East, A Brief History of the Last 2000 Years  •  Bernard Lewis HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 433 PAGES The esteemed Islamic historian Bernard Lewis (professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton) takes on a sweeping history of the Middle East of the last 2,000 years, in chronological order. Lewis concentrates on the social, cultural and economic changes that have taken place, and concludes with a note of pessimism about the future. (MDE26, $17.00)
Muhammad, The Prophet for Our Time  •  Karen Armstrong RELIGION •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES In this extended essay, a volume in the Eminent Lives series, Armstrong looks at the significance of Mohammed's life and teachings. A former Catholic nun and member of the Association of Muslim Social Services, she writes widely on religion. (ISL60, $21.95)
Murder on a Kibbutz, A Communal Case  •  Batya Gur MYSTERY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES The title says it all. This is the third mystery featuring Israeli detective Michael Ohayon, whose job is now to immerse himself in the society of a tight-lipped kibbutz to solve a murder. Fun, and nicely evocative. (ISR29, $13.95)
National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East  •  National Geographic REFERENCE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES This concise collection of maps illustrates the history, politics, people and resources of the Middle East. It covers, in the distinctive National Geographic style, changing boundaries, ethnic and linguistic groups, industries, population growth, military strength and other key themes in the region. With 40 photographs and 80 maps, including a two-page spread on each of 16 nations from Bahrain to Yemen and city maps of Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem and Tehran. Unfortunately, the designers chose to run each political map across the page, which means a significant slice of each country is lost in the gutter. (MDE71, $21.95)
The Nature of Prejudice  •  Gordon W. Allport CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1979 •  PAPER An influential, strikingly comprehensive survey of the roots of hostility, rivalries and hateful ideologies by a pioneering social psychologist. Allport tackles the role of stereotyping, victimization, ethnic division, upbringing and group behavior with scholarship, anecdote and sparkling prose. Originally published in 1954. (GEN222, $25.00)
New Testament Psalms and Proverbs RELIGION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES This ultra-slim, diary-format edition is the only NRSV New Testament that also includes the Psalms and Proverbs. (REL45, $19.99)
Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women  •  Geraldine Brooks CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES An award-winning journalist, Brooks reports on the women throughout the Islamic world, focusing her wide-ranging interviews on the social, religious and political forces that have shaped their lives. This popular in-depth account is a highly readable overview of the role of women in Islamic society. (ARB06, $14.95)
Nine Talmudic Readings  •  Annette Aronowicz  •  Emmanuel Levinas RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 197 PAGES These essays by a Judaic scholar contextualize and interpret the Talmud for a modern audience. Originally given as a series of four talks at the World Jewish Congress in Paris between 1963 and 1966. (GEN226, $17.95)
No god but God, The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam  •  Reza Aslan RELIGION •  2006 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES Geared for a popular audience, this provocative book is both a call for reform and a history of early Muslim life and practice. Born in Tehran in 1972, Alsan is a journalist, commentator and doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at The University of California at Santa Barbara. (ISL50, $14.95)
The Olive, Tree of Civilization  •  John Train  •  Mark E. Smith HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A history of the celebrated vegetable and the mythology behind it. (NAT72, $25.00)
Palace and Mosque, Islamic Art from the Middle East  •  Tim Stanley ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES A wide-ranging survey of the architecture, decorative elements and art of the Islamic Middle East. (MDE78, $50.00)
Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict  •  Charles D. Smith HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 624 PAGES Offering a balanced history of both Israeli and Arab goals, Smith covers the history of Palestine before Israeli independence in 1948 and brings the story forward to the breakthrough Arab-Israeli Accord of 1993 and its troubled aftermath. (MDE141, $72.25)
Passover Plot: Special 40th Anniversary Edition  •  Hugh Schonfield RELIGION •  2005 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A controversial reevaluation of the New Testament Gospels from a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who claims Jesus was a mortal man who faked his crucifixion and deliberately planned "miracles" to coincide with Old Testament predictions (hence the controversy). First published in 1965. (REL15, $12.95)
A Peace to End all Peace  •  David Fromkin HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 636 PAGES With its focus on the creation of the modern nations of the Middle East, this fascinating book reveals the historical foundations of the present-day conflicts in the region. Fromkin weaves a panoramic, absorbing tale spanning the period from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, through British and French involvement in the region to independence after WWI. This book has been called the best survey of the early 20th-century background to modern day realities in the region. A new edition. (ARB13, $20.00)
Pimsleur Quick & Simple Arabic (Eastern)  •  Pimsleur Language Method LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2005 •  AUDIO CD An audio CD with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Eastern Arabic, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. The Pimsleur method emphasizes the use of listening skills without reading materials (so there isn't a book to follow along). It's advertised as "Totally audio: hear it, learn it, speak it." (ARB69, $19.95)
Pimsleur Quick & Simple Hebrew  •  Pimsleur Language Method LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2005 •  AUDIO CD Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Hebrew, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. The Pimsleur method emphasizes the use of listening skills without reading materials (so there isn't a book to follow along). It's advertised as "Totally audio: hear it, learn it, speak it." (ISR47, $19.95)
Power, Faith, and Fantasy, America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present  •  Michael B. Oren HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 672 PAGES Covering the full sweep of U.S. involvement in the land of the Ottomans from early advantures along the Barbary coast to Iraq, Oren tackles not just events but also the passions, personalities, successes and failures in the region, putting recent history into context. (MDE115, $35.00)
Power, Faith, and Fantasy, America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present  •  Michael B. Oren HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 800 PAGES Oren examines America's involvement in the Middle East, fitting present political realities in historical context. (MDE147, $17.95)
Righteous Victims, a History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-1999  •  Benny Morris HISTORY •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 720 PAGES An even-handed, up-to-date history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Harris, a professor at Ben-Gurion University, starts at the beginning of Zionist immigration and covers the political and military history of the conflict to the present day. He's considered a "revisionist" historian in Israel because of his views on the 1948 War of Independence (citing Israel's strategic superiority in that war, and its tacit support for 'transfer' of Arabs out of Palestine); but for the reader without preconcieved notions this is probably the best, most even-handed history of the conflict. (ISR31, $40.00)
The Rise of Christianity  •  Rodney Stark RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES The subtitle to this book says it all: "How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries." More a sociological study than a religious history, the book delves into what compelled so many people to convert to the then infant religion. (MED64, $14.95)
Rough Guide Music Israel  •  Various Artists MUSIC •  2006 •  AUDIO CD A carefully chosen sampling of the diverse sounds of Israel. Israel's unique music blends European influences, traditional Yiddish and Russian folk songs, and the rhythms and melodies of traditional Palestinian and North African music. (ISR50, $14.95)
Scars of War, Wounds of Peace, The Israeli-Arab Tragedy  •  Shlomo Ben-Ami HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES An Oxford trained historian who became Israeli Foreign Minister, Ben-Ami traces the twists and turns of the Middle East conflict from the founding of Israel to the present. (MDE145, $16.95)
Seven Pillars of Wisdom, A Triumph  •  T.E. Lawrence BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1991 •  PAPER  • 672 PAGES The monumental story of Lawrence of Arabia, as colorful and long as the famous movie which it inspired. Some of the action is set around Wadi Rum in Jordan. (MDE20, $21.00)
The Seventh Million, The Israelis and the Holocaust  •  Tom Segev HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 608 PAGES Explores the decisive impact of the Holocaust on the identity, ideology, and politics of Israel. (MDE140, $22.00)
The Star of Redemption  •  Franz Rosenzweig  •  William W. Hallo RELIGION •  1990 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES The seminal work by the 20th-century Jewish philosopher Franz Rosenzweig. (GEN227, $18.00)
Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, The Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades  •  Piers Paul Read HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A history of the Knights Templar from their formation immediately following the First Crusade to their forced disbandment under the jealouss auspices of Pope Clement V and King Philip IV of France. Read describes their political and economic significance, their daily lives, and their demise and current dismal reputation. (EUR192, $18.00)
The Three Worlds of Paul of Tarsus  •  Richard Wallace  •  Wayne Williams RELIGION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 239 PAGES A Greek, Roman, and a Jew, Paul the Apostle resists simple classification. This book is a scholarly analysis of the early Christian world of eastern Roman empire. It's an excellent companion for travelers to the eastern Mediterranean. (MED41, $38.95)
To Jerusalem and Back, a Personal Account  •  Saul Bellow TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES The great novelist meditates on Israel in this brief memoir of a trip to Jerusalem. (ISR21, $13.95)
The Torah, A Modern Commentary  •  W. Gunther Plaut RELIGION •  1990 •  HARD COVER  • 1824 PAGES An annotated Torah with the Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses, English translation, essays by scholars and theologians, notes and an English-language introduction. (GEN228, $60.00)
Walking the Bible, A Journey by Land through the Five Books of Moses  •  Bruce Feiler TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES This illuminating account of a 10,000-mile odyssey across the Biblical lands of the Middle East is part travelogue, part pilgrimage, and part quest for religious meaning. Feiler is accompanied by Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren. (MDE50, $14.95)
Walking the Bible, A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses  •  Bruce S. Feiler TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  AUDIO CD An illuminating account of a 10,000-mile odyssey with Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren across the Biblical lands of the Middle East. It's part travelogue, part pilgrimage, and part quest for religious meaning. (MDE99, $14.95)
Weathered by Miracles: A History of Palestine from Bonaparte and Muhammad Ali to Ben-Gurion and the Mufti  •  Thomas Idinopulos HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 283 PAGES An admirably balanced concise history of the interplay of power, politics and religion in Palestine since France and Britain tussled over this Ottoman backwater in the days of Napolean. (ISR16, $19.90)
What Terrorists Want: Understanding the Enemy, Containing the Threat  •  Louise Richardson HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 336 PAGES Richardson, a Radcliffe dean who grew up amidst the troubles of Nothern Ireland, offers a examination of the history and psychological motivation behind the phenomenon. (WAR120, $25.95)
What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East  •  Bernard Lewis HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES The prolific Middle East scholar Bernard Lewis traces the history of what was once a powerful player on the world stage and what is now an area dominated, in his words, by "shabby tyrannies... modern only in their apparatus of repression and terror," in this incisive examination of the history of Middle Eastern civilization. (ISL44, $12.95)
Where God Was Born, A Daring Adventure Through the Bible's Greatest Stories  •  Bruce Feiler TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A religious quest, war-time chronicle and account of travels, this third book by Feiler on the Bible and the Middle East, takes him to Israel, Iraq and Iran. He interweaves his own spiritual quest with interviews and an account of travels with archaeologist Avner Goren. (MDE91, $14.95)
Workers and Peasants in the Modern Middle East  •  Joel Beinin HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 226 PAGES A study of the working class in the Middle East, beginning with the period of the Ottoman Empire. (MDE77, $27.99)
The World Must Know, The History of the Holocaust As Told in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum  •  Michael Berenbaum HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A powerfully illustrated popular history of the Holocaust drawing on eyewitness accounts, artifacts, and archives from the U.S. Holocaust Museum. (EUR133, $24.95)
The World of Islam  •  Don Belt CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Collecting more than twenty five National Geographic articles from the last one hundred years, this glimpse into the Islamic world is a fascinating examination of the evolving relationship between East and West. With photographs and illustrations thoughout. (ISL30, $22.00)
The World of Jewish Cooking, More Than 500 Traditional Recipes from Alsace to Yemen  •  Gil Marks FOOD •  1999 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Marks, the former editor of Kosher Gourmet Magazine, has compiled a fine collection of recipes from Jewish communities in the far corners of the globe. It's not all matzo balls out there; these are diverse foods from disparate traditions, professionally rendered. Marks also includes much about his encounters with Jewish cooks around the world, and about Jewish food history. (GEN208, $18.00)