A definitive study of the history, present, and potential future of Lebanon examines the divisions within the country that led to civil war and influenced its progressively anti-western character. Reprint.
Inside the Desert Kingdom
Sandra Mackey Lived in Saudi Arabia for four years, and as far as the authorities knew, she was simply the wife of an American doctor. But she saw things and traveled to places rarely viewed by any outsider, let alone a Western woman, and she succeeded in smuggling out a series of crucial articles on Saudi culture and politics.The Saudis offers a fascinating portrait of Saudi life, chronicling Mackey's extraordinary travels and experiences and depicting Saudi Arabia's strange metamorphosis from backward desert kingdom to world power. Mackey reveals the chaos of a country in transformation: grappling with modernity, coming to terms with its own wealth, and battling to maintain an influential stance in an altogether new world. This updated edition provides the essential background to the new Saudi crisis as the mother state of international terrorism.
In this clear, concise volume, Mackey provides a unique view of the tortured and tortuous Arab region through the lens of Lebanon.
Set against a backdrop of cosmic conflict, this gripping narrative explores the eternal struggle between good and evil. The story delves into the lives of its complex characters as they navigate moral dilemmas and face the consequences of their choices. Themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the nature of power are intricately woven throughout, offering readers a thought-provoking experience. With vivid imagery and intense action, the book invites readers to reflect on their own beliefs and the forces that shape their lives.
Persia, Islam And The Soul Of A Nation, With A New Afterword By The Author
Throughout its long and complex history, Iran has struggled with two warring identities—one evolving from the values, social organization, and arts of ancient Persia, the other from Islam.By examining the relationship between these two identities, The Iranians explains how the revolution of 1979 came about, why the Islamic Republic has failed, and how Iran today is on the brink of chaos. In this defining portrait of a troubled nation and the forces that shape it, Iranian history and religion become accessible to the nonspecialist. Combining impeccable scholarship with the human insight of firsthand observations, The Iranians provides vital understanding of this unique and pivotal nation.WITH A NEW AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR