Review by Ulas Cini

The Short 
Thomas Friedman wrote this book to chronicle his days as a reporter in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and in Jerusalem through the first year of the Intifada.

The Long 

Thomas Friedman takes the reader on a journey detailing his personal experience,  conversations, and the complex societies of Lebanon and Israel. He describes the historic and political forces that instigated a lot of the violence that commenced. In his own words, he saw "the boundaries of men's compassion alongside their unfathomable brutality, their ingenuity alongside astounding folly, their insanity alongside their infinite ability to endure." This book is a phenomenal introduction to understanding the complexities of the Middle East.

To read or not to read? 

100% read. This book is a perfect awakening for anybody that wants to learn about foreign policy and the intricacies of war. Thomas Friedman approached this book in bi-partisan fashion and details the incredible experiences he had in Lebanon and Israel.