A History Of The Arab Peoples :

I purchased this book in order to gain some insight into Arab history as a part of my university course, and this book did just that.Albert Hourani is an eloquent historian. His style of prose, vast knowledge and expertise and occasional traces of humour make this vast volume enjoyable to read, study - or even both. The book is very ambitious in undertaking to cover the entire period of Arab civilisation, beginning with the Arabian tribes before their unification by Muhammad and his successors, and ending with some of the hotly contested topics of modern Arab history. It provides an essential and perfect companion to any student at university level, looking at Arab, Muslim, Turkish or Ottoman history. It covers the most important stages of Arab civilisation with great skill and ability: the unification, the expansion and conquest, the golden age, the Crusades and so forth - not limited however, just to Arabs. Hourani provides a lucid account of transformations in, for example, the Ottoman Empire, after its conquests of the 16th century incorporated almost the entire eastern Arab world within the Empire.Overall, I thoroughly recommend this scholarly book, written beautifully and doing exactly what it purports to do.

Although started off interesting the author does seem to site sources of islamic text on controversial issues that have mixed opinions on the matter. He portrays it to be the only fact which I found dissapointing. I also thought it was sad that nothing of pre-islam was mentioned like the himyarite kingdom, or the tribes of Ad and Thamud. It seems to start just before the start of Islam

This book should be (and is in some Universities) mandatory for the study of the Middle East in general and Arab peoples specifically.Written by Albert Hourani one of the great scholars of the Middle East it is both concise and comprehensive covering centuries of history while presenting the reader with enough detail that they do not feel that they are being cheated by the author skimming over the most important events in history.The book begins with the beginnings of the Islamic faith and the Islamic empire covering this in rather short chapters before moving onto the Abbasids. While some may feel this is a slightly inappropriate place to start (others Hitti for example, begin with pre Islamic times) It seems Hourani has taken into account much of the Western view that the Middle East has been shaped by Islam and thus, his book should begin where it begins.The book covers matters of the politics and structure of the various Islamic empires, the culture and arts of these empires, religious sects and revolts and life both in rural areas and in the built up cities. The impact of the west and the Ottoman empire are also given extensive coverage.While there are several respected writers on Middle Eastern history I have always personally preferred Houranis books. I have found him honest and impartial when dealing with sensitive issues of history not least modern history

This book is packed full of information - almost too much, and therefore I think it is the type of work which needs to be re-read in order to glean the full potential from the pages. Definately a good starting point for the reader looking for an introduction to Arab and Islamic history. I was a little confused at times by the occasional and somewhat `unusual` gramatical structure on the page before me, but this is a small gripe and shouldn`t detract from the overall positive impression.

I found this book to be compelling, evocative, and fascinating. Hourani really captures the romance of Arab history, and the events with their own history and that of Islam that still resonate today. It's very well written, remaining fast paced and exciting throughout, I found myself unable to put the book down once I had started it. So if you're interested in this subject, this is definetely one to try.

Perfect book in great condition

Detailed and insightful, a little dry

it is a very good view with important points and perspectives, particulary indicated for people who enjoy a a subject wuthout excessive details A History of the Arab Peoples: With a New Afterword

Erfrischende Beschreibung der Entwicklung des arabischen Kulturraums, ohne die zurzeit übliche 9/11-Verzerrung, da der Autor beizeiten das Zeitliche gesegnet hat. Auch die engstirnige Fixierung auf den Israelisch-Palästinensischen Konflikt bleibt einem erspart.So bleibt der Blick frei, für 14.Jahrhunderte arabischer Geschichte: verwoben zu einem großmaschigen Teppich aus soziologischen, historischen und religiösen Aspekten und Fakten, der die Interdependenz betont. Stets bleibt die Darstellung sachlich und ausgewogen, Breite erhält den Vorzug vor Tiefe - kein unnötig verschwurbeltes Fakten sezieren. Aggressives Agitieren und das chronologische, monokausale Abarbeiten von Ereignissen wird weitgehend vezichtet, was viele Leser historischer Werke irritieren mag, die es gewohnt sind, dass ein Datum ans andere gereiht wird wie auf einer Perlenkette.

Great history written with none of the "taint" that sometimes accompanies more recent histories of the Arab peoples. At first I found the book's organization of topics a little disconcerting, but after the first chapters I had become used to it. Maps are large and copious at the back of the book. Included social history, military, scientific etc detail many aspects of the Arab Peoples. A nice starting place to learn about Arab history and cultural development.

The son of Lebanese immegrants, Hourani grew up in England in a Christian family which had converted from Greek-orthodox to Scottish Presbyterian faith; Hourani himself later converted to catholicism. Thus one might expect to find an "orientalist" view. Yet Edward Said who is famous for his critical study "Orientalism" (1978) wrote approvingly of Hourani's book. Indeed it is highly digestable. Drawing on a large variety of sources, it places the Arab history within a larger context of world history, while giving access to lots of Arabic sources. Maybe the most valuable thing about this book for Western readers is that Hourani appears to look beyond the "common" sources and give names and texts otherwise omitted that shed an extra light on his subject; also he analyzes aspects, like urban life, which are highly significant but rarely highlighted by other authors of such general overviews. Finally, after the Arab Spring and its aftermath, one marvells at his final chapter on the "fragility of regimes". Was he right? The question is subject to future developments and, alas, to attitude.

Great book. Must read for those interested in Middle eastern history, culture and social like. Had Western politicians read Hourani they would not have committed the follies of the first decade of the twenty first century!

Very interesting book.

I needed some background for the complicated situation the world is watching in the Middle East right now, and boy, did I get it. Just a shame that things are changing so hard and fast that the book becomes more and more historical by the day - but what it covers is essential to parse what reporting and the hundreds of different voices claim about what's 'really' going on out there.If you read this book and still have kneejerk reactions to current events, you're doing it wrong. The book gives one great pause, and that's good.

How close to 500 pages and 1500 years that's one page for every three years chock-full of info

This is a great asset to my personal library. It is informative, well documented, and scholarly, while at the same time fascinating reading. It has been an enormous help to me as I am studying the cultural-geopolitical history of the Mideast. It is next to impossible to understand the ongoing problems of the Mideast without understanding the history of the Arabs, Iranians and Jewish settlers of that region. This fine book covers the Arab history splendidly.

I was expecting to find more about the history of the Arabs BEFORE IslamThe book summarize this period.

Beautiful edition

Excellent quality and expeditious customer service. Thank you!!

After reading it I do not feel I know more about the history of the Arab people. Not a history of facts but more an history of a culture

Distinguished Lebanese-American historian Albert Hourani presents this book that might seem comprehensive to the Westerners but concise to the Arabs. Hourani tries to cover most of the history of the Arab peoples, but this is certainly no easy task. He ends up quickly surveying this history.Despite its brevity, Hourani's volume is a reference work par excellence. Hourani is well read and his book is well researched. His style is inviting even if the massive number of dates and names might discourage some people who are not familiar with the Arab region.The book is essential for all Westerners interested in the Arabs and their region. It is history 101 for all those who are willing to embark on such an endeavor. The book is also helpful to Arabs who are not familiar with their history. Overall, the book is a good read even if it might seem academic and a bit boring as you read it.Of course readers have to keep in mind that writing history is an objective exercise that is never free of the writer's bias. In some instance, Hourani seems to give credit to one group at the favor of another. However, this is history. It is the most probable version from the perspective of its writer.

This was supposed to be the edition with the new afterword. That is why I purchased it. What was delivered was the old edition.

A very thorough (if not dizzying) summary of Arab history from the time of Muhammad through the late 20th century. I read the book for some historical background to help make sense of the barrage of information (and misinformation) presented to westerners about this part of the world. The author does a very nice job of identifying the divergent developments of various regions (the Maghreb region, Arabian peninsula, modern Iraq and Syria, Egypt, etc. Occasionally I was confused by the abundant lists of names and places - overwhelming at times, but all relevant to the unfolding history as presented by Hourani. I was also encouraged in the purchase and study of this book by the favorable mention of this author in the work of Edward Said, who is a powerful critic of western misinterpretations of Islamic history and culture.