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The 8:55 to Baghdad, From London to Iraq on the Trail of Agatha Christie

The 8:55 to Baghdad, From London to Iraq on the Trail of Agatha Christie


by Andrew Eames

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 401 PAGES

In this inspired mix of travel, biography and politics, British journalist Eames follows the 1928 journey of Agatha Christie and her archaeologist companion Max Mallowan from London through the Balkans, Turkey and Syria to Iraq. (MDE89, $16.95)

The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, A Muslim Traveler of the 14th Century

The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, A Muslim Traveler of the 14th Century


by Ross E. Dunn

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 359 PAGES

A modern historian's account of Ibn Battuta's travels in the medieval Islamic world. When Battuta left his native Morocco in 1325, he intended a pilgrimage to Mecca; however his travels ultimately took him as far as Mali in the west and Malaysia in the east, stopping in China, the Middle East, and Africa en route. (AFR103, $25.95)

Air Power: The Men, Machines, and Ideas That Revolutionized War, From Kitty Hawk to Iraq


by Stephen Budiansky

  • HISTORY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 528 PAGES

A book on the history of air power written by an Atlantic Monthly correspondent. (WAR112, $18.00)

Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation

Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation


by Ali Jamale Ahmed

  • RELIGION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 571 PAGES

A handsome bilingual edition of the Holy Book of Islam as elegantly translated by the Pakistani novelist, critic and diplomat Ahmed Ali. (ISL02, $19.95)

Arab World Map


by Geoprojects

  • 1983
  • MAP
  • FAVORITE

A shaded relief map of the Arab world. (ARB53, $21.95)

Arabia Map

Arabia Map


by Geoprojects

  • MAP

Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula at a scale of 1:3,500,000. (ARB39, $21.95)

The Arabian Diaries, 1913-1914

The Arabian Diaries, 1913-1914


by Gertrude Bell | Rosemary O'Brien

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

The diaries of the extremely literate, extremely adventurous Gertrude Bell, from her days in Arabia. (ARB52, $29.95)

Arabian Sands

Arabian Sands


by Wilfred Thesiger

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

The last of the great British traveler-explorers, Thesiger (1910-2003) journeyed among the nomadic camel-breeding peoples of Southern Arabia in the late 1940s, falling in love with the desert and ways of life of the Bedouin. This eloquent book is his tribute to them. (ARB15, $16.00)

Arabic, a Language Map

Arabic, a Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2003
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (ARB70, $7.95)

The Arabs, A Short History

The Arabs, A Short History


by Philip K. Hitti

  • HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 273 PAGES

An overview by the influential historian of the Arab world. (ARB63, $14.95)

The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250-1800

The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250-1800


by Sheila Blair | Jonathan Bloom

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

A survey of the monuments and art produced by Muslims from the 13th to 19th centuries. (ISL27, $40.00)

Behind the Veil in Arabia, Women in Oman

Behind the Veil in Arabia, Women in Oman


by Unni Wikan

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 314 PAGES

An insightful and remarkable look at the role of women in Oman based on Wikan's fieldwork as well as her personal experiences and impressions of the place. (ARB05, $25.00)

Beyond the Veil, Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society

Beyond the Veil, Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society


by Fatima Mernissi

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1987
  • PAPER
  • 200 PAGES

An examination of sexuality and gender issues in the modern Muslim world. (MDE35, $14.95)

Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World

Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World


by Edward W. Said

  • HISTORY
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 186 PAGES

An insightful, perceptive account of how the media has created an Islamic identity, by the influential scholar and thinker Edward Said. (ISL08, $16.00)

Cradle & Crucible, History and Faith in the Middle East


by David Fromkin | Zahi Hawass | Sandra MacKey | Milton Viorst

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An illustrated portrait of the history and religion of the Middle East, with contributions by leading scholars. (MDE67, $16.00)

Democracy and Terrorism, Volume I: The Roots of Terrorism

Democracy and Terrorism, Volume I: The Roots of Terrorism


by 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, $47.95)

Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East

Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East


by Donna Lee Bowen | Evelyn A. Early

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 411 PAGES

A diverse anthology of short articles and essays covering the experiences of ordinary life across the Miiddle East. (MDE34, $23.95)

Fiasco, The American Military Adventure in Iraq


by Thomas Ricks

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 492 PAGES

A senior Pentagon correspondent for the Washington Post, Rocks puts forth a masterful reckoning with the planning and execution of the American military invasion and occupation of Iraq. With a preface on recent developments. (IRQ23, $16.00)

Fishwatcher's Field Guide Red Sea

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)

From Beirut to Jerusalem

From Beirut to Jerusalem


by Thomas L. Friedman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • AUDIO CD

A illuminating, and heartfelt exploration of the complexity of the Middle East conflict. Pulitzer Prize-winner Friedman provides a personal and a scholarly perspective on the roots of conflict. (MDE98, $22.95)

Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk

Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk


by Susan T. Hitchcock | John Esposito | Desmond Tutu | Mpho Tutu

  • RELIGION
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

A handsomely photgraphed tour of the five major world religions and the places that each one holds most sacred. (REL05, $24.00)

Gilgamesh, A Verse Narrative


by Herbert Mason

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

Mason's retelling of the grand, timeless themes of love and death, loss and reparations within the stirring tale of a hero-king and his doomed friend. (IRQ24, $8.95)

Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East

Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East


by Clement M. Henry | Robert Springborg

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 280 PAGES

An analysis of the Middle East's responses to the prospect of globalization at the turn of the twenty-first century. (MDE76, $29.99)

The Hadj, An American's Journey to Mecca

The Hadj, An American's Journey to Mecca


by Michael Wolfe

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

Wolfe's mesmerizing account of his journey from Morocco to Mecca. (ARB01, $16.00)

A History of the Middle East


by Peter Mansfield | Nicolas Pelham

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 429 PAGES

An incisive, illuminating guide to understanding this crucial and volatile nerve center of the modern world.. (MDE84, $17.00)

The Hittites and Their Contemporaries in Asia Minor

The Hittites and Their Contemporaries in Asia Minor


by J. G. MacQueen

  • HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

A solid introduction to the Hittites, an ancient people of modern-day Turkey. (TKY46, $24.95)

Iran Map with Iraq, Kuwait, and Dubai


by Freytag & Berndt

  • MAP

This regional map of Iran shows neighboring Iraq, Kuwait and Dubai. (IRN33, $14.95)

Iran, Iraq, and The Legacies of War


by Lawrence Potter | Gary G. Sick

  • HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

An account by western and local scholars of the troubled relationship between Iran and Iraq, particularly the 8-year war and the role of outside states. (MDE153, $32.00)

Islam and Democracy, Fear of the Modern World


by Fatima Mernissi

  • HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 195 PAGES

A discussion of the Muslim world and the question of democracy. (ISL06, $17.50)

Islamic Art and Architecture, 650-1250


by Richard Ettinghausen | Oleg Grabar

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 360 PAGES

An illustrated survey of the great monuments and art produced by Muslim peoples during medieval times, including the Dome of the Rock, as well as many small aritfacts. (ISL26, $40.00)

Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History and Literature

Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History and Literature


by Stephen O. Murray

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 331 PAGES

A scholarly overview of homosexuality in medieval Egypt, Ottoman Turkey and beyond. (ARB26, $25.00)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


by David E. Long

  • HISTORY
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

A comprehensive look at modern Saudi Arabia and the complex issues facing the nation. Drawing from extensive research and Long's personal experiences as a Foreign Services officer, this book surveys the land, politics, religion and people of the region. (ARB29, $21.95)

Lonely Planet Middle East

Lonely Planet Middle East


by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 684 PAGES

A practical guide to the North African and Mediterranean countries of the Middle East. (MDE30, $28.99)

Motoring with Mohammed, Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea

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)

Muhammad, A Biography of the Prophet

Muhammad, A Biography of the Prophet


by Karen Armstrong

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 290 PAGES

The life of the Prophet in the context of seventh-century Arabia. (ARB09, $15.00)

Muhammad, A Prophet for Our Time

Muhammad, A Prophet for Our Time


by Karen Armstrong

  • RELIGION
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

In this extended essay, a volume in the Eminent Lives series, Armstrong looks at the significance of Mohammed's life and teachings. (ISL60, $14.99)

Multiple Identities of the Middle East

Multiple Identities of the Middle East


by Bernard Lewis

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

Lewis illuminates the clash of old and new in the Middle East in this collection of essays on the many layers of language, history and religion in the region. (MDE29, $12.00)

Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women

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)

No god but God

No god but God


by Reza Aslan

  • RELIGION
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 310 PAGES

A scholar of religion and commentator, Aslan looks back to Muhammad in Mecca and the original vision of Islam in this engaging report on the meaning and message of Islam in the 21st century, fully revised for this second edition. (ISL50, $17.00)

Northeast Africa

Northeast Africa


by Reise & Verkehrsverlag

  • MAP

A map of northeast Africa, including the Red Sea and entire Arabian Peninsula. (ARB14, $11.95)

Northeast Africa and Arabia Map

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)

Oman, United Arab Emirates Map

Oman, United Arab Emirates Map


by Gizi Map

  • MAP

Oman and the UAE at a scale of 1:1,250,000. (ARB48, $15.95)

One Thousand Roads to Mecca, Ten Centuries of Writing about the Pilgrimage to Mecca

One Thousand Roads to Mecca, Ten Centuries of Writing about the Pilgrimage to Mecca


by Michael Wolfe

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 620 PAGES

An American convert to Islam, Wolfe combed the large volume of literature of the Hadj to compile this diverse and fascinating anthology of writings over the centuries. (ARB02, $20.00)

Orientalism


by Edward W. Said

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

An influential account of Western attitudes and Muslim stereotypes. (ISL07, $16.95)

Palace and Mosque, Islamic Art from the Middle East

Palace and Mosque, Islamic Art from the Middle East


by Tim Stanley

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 144 PAGES

This beautiful, wide-ranging survey of the architecture and art of the Islamic Middle East includes color photo-graphs and insightful commentary by Tim Stanley, a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum. (MDE78, $50.00)

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Mecca

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Mecca


by Richard Francis Burton

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 436 PAGES

A fascinating account of adventures in religious capitals Madinah and Mecca. (ARB37, $16.95)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Arabic (Eastern)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Arabic (Eastern)


by 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. (ARB69, $19.95)

Price of Honor, Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World

Price of Honor, Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Silence on the Islamic World


by Jan Goodwin

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 363 PAGES

A heart-breaking account based on interviews with women from all walks of life in 10 countries in the Middle East, Arabia and Central Asia. (ISL19, $17.00)

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power


by Daniel Yergin

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 908 PAGES

Master storyteller Yergin conjures a large and fascinating cast of tycoons, sheiks and politicians in this monumental and thoroughly researched history examining the story of petroleum and the West's dependence on the oil-rich Middle East. (ARB36, $22.00)

Qatar Map

Qatar Map


by MapLink

  • MAP

A shaded relief map of Qatar. (ARB19, $21.95)

Road Through Kurdistan

Road Through Kurdistan


by A. M. Hamilton

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 229 PAGES

Hamiton's original account of building the spectacular road from northern Iraq across the mountains of Kurdistan to the Persian plateau. (IRQ30, $26.00)

The Road to Mecca

The Road to Mecca


by Muhammad Asad

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 372 PAGES

The extraordinary account of how Leopold Weiss, born in Lvov in 1900, became a Muslim. A journalist, Asad writes of his travels, transformation and attachment to Islam and the Arab world. (ISL23, $17.95)

The Road to Ubar, Finding the Atlantis of the Sands

The Road to Ubar, Finding the Atlantis of the Sands


by Nicholas Clapp

  • EXPLORATION
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 342 PAGES

A fascinating day-by-day account of Clapp's search in the 1980s for the ruins of Ubar, an ancient Arabian trading center on the frankincense route in Oman's Empty Quarter. (ARB49, $19.95)

Sandstorms, Days and Nights in Arabia

Sandstorms, Days and Nights in Arabia


by Peter Theroux

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

As a journalist in Saudi Arabia, Peter Theroux (Paul's brother) learned the language and immersed himself in the realities of day-to-day life. This book is a memoir of his experiences, both a revealing collection of anecdotes and a humorous portrait of a place. (ARB08, $21.00)

Saudi Arabia, Guarding the Desert Kingdom

Saudi Arabia, Guarding the Desert Kingdom


by Anthony Cordesman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

Saudi Arabia and its national security since the Gulf War. (ARB04, $52.00)

Say It in Arabic (Egyptian)

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)

The Southern Gates of Arabia, a Journey in the Hadhramaut

The Southern Gates of Arabia, a Journey in the Hadhramaut


by Freya Stark

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 270 PAGES

An account of Stark's quest to find the ancient city of Shabwa, the heretofore unexplored oasis on Yemen's frankincense route. Witty, rapturous and full of incident. (MDE52, $15.00)

Stories of Democracy


by Mary Ann Tetreault

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 326 PAGES

A well-researched political overview of modern Kuwait. (ARB45, $30.00)

The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers


by Shane Mountjoy

  • HISTORY
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • YOUNG ADULTS

A history of the Tigris and Eurphrates Rivers, where great cities of Mesopotamia once thrived along its banks. (IRQ18, $32.50)

Unholy War, Terror in the Name of Islam


by John Esposito

  • RELIGION
  • 2002
  • PAPER

A chronicle of the rise of extremist groups and anti-American feeling in Muslim society. (ISL22, $74.00)

United Arab Emirates Map

United Arab Emirates Map


by MapLink

  • MAP

A shaded relief map of UAE on a 1:750,000 scale. (ARB20, $21.95)

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


by Bruce S. Feiler

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

An illuminating account of a 10,000-mile odyssey with Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren across the Middle East. It's part travelogue, part pilgrimage, and part quest for religious meaning. (MDE99, $14.95)

What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East


by Bernard Lewis

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES

An examination of the changes that have taken place in the history of Middle Eastern civilization by the prolific scholar Bernard Lewis. (ISL44, $12.99)

Workers and Peasants in the Modern Middle East

Workers and Peasants in the Modern Middle East


by 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, $34.99)

The World of Islam

The World of Islam


by 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. (ISL30, $22.00)

Yemen

Yemen


by Tim Mackintosh-Smith

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 280 PAGES

A wonderfully insightful, informative and entertaining travelogue. (ARB25, $18.95)

 

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