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The Arabs: A History (2009)

by Eugene Rogan(Favorite Author)

4.26 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0465071007 (ISBN13: 9780465071005)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Basic Books

review 1: A brilliant, very well documented history of the Arab world since Ottoman times. I appreciated very much Rogan's sensitive way of conveying the perspective of Arab people, without falling in any way into partiality. It's also a very well written text that flows well, has pinches of real life and humour, while keeping to the highest academic standards. A must read for those who want to understand what is currently going on in this tumultuous but fascinating region that is the Middle East.
review 2: I have never encountered a historical narrative as rich and fraught as Eugene Rogan's The Arabs: A History. It is gripping and compelling, not as some author's hypothetical exercise, but as the brutal and unforgiving truth.Spanning the years 1516 to the present (that ... moreis, 2009 at the time of publication), Rogan faces the problems which plague so many historical works, and he vanquishes them. There is the daunting question of what to include and what to lay aside. Rogan is remarkably capable in this regard, tying the entire book into a seamless tale of unified peoples. Amazingly, he manages to limit the cast of repeating characters to a couple dozen, and when one is referenced later on, he is kind enough to repeat this person's prior significance.Another common pitfall in historical accounts is their ability to engage the reader, or lack thereof (e.g. dry textbooks). Perhaps it is because Rogan does not linger on treaties and minor events, or because he quotes Arabic primary sources, but this is a non-issue. The emotional tension is constantly fraught, mingling hope with helplessness and seething, uncompromising bitterness.Literary value aside, this work was personally transformative and eye-opening. It is also very appropriate for those without prior knowledge of this region, and I would highly recommend it. Perhaps it is too long to re-read, but can still be a good reference.Overall: 8.5/10 less

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