A Concise History of the Middle East, Ninth Edition

By: Arthur Goldschmidt Jr., Lawrence Davidson

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

The ninth edition of this widely acclaimed text has been extensively revised to reflect the latest scholarship and the most recent events in the Middle East. As an introduction to the history of this turbulent region from the beginnings of Islam to the present day, the book is distinguished by its clear style, broad scope, and balanced treatment. It focuses on the evolution of Islamic institutions and culture, the influence of the West, the modernization efforts of Middle Eastern governments, the struggle for political independence, the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the roles of Iraq and Iran in the post-9/11 Middle East, and more.

Arthur Goldschmidt, Jr., is professor emeritus of Middle Eastern history at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of Modern Egypt: Foundation of a Nation-State and the recipient of the Amoco Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching and the 2000 Middle East Studies Association Mentoring Award.

Lawrence Davidson is a professor of history at West Chester University. He is the author of several books, including America’s Palestine and Islamic Fundamentalism.

©2010 Westview Press (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The premier text for the study of the Middle East. Goldschmidt and Davidson’s well-written and solidly argued analyses of the most important and crucial developments of Middle Eastern history and politics…could not be timelier.” (Robert Olson, University of Kentucky)

“I can only offer unmixed praise for the new edition of A Concise History of the Middle East….Sparklingly clear and straightforward for even the ‘general reader.’…Remarkable.” (Mark Seifter, Lehigh Carbon Community College)

“Well-organized, comprehensive, balanced, and exceptionally readable….The authors blend significant historical detail with timely political analysis in a cogent style that is compelling and lucid.” (Donald Wagner, North Park University, Chicago)

a western view on the middle east

the book gives a clear , chronological and clear historical backgrounds on how the middle east has been formed and built.

t also gives a view on how the ordinary person living in the middle east has been affected by the historical changes happening around them.

Starts good but ends disapointingly.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I have read on this subject before, but this book's scope is ambitious. It was good to hear again and from a different point of view this history in one place.

Would you recommend A Concise History of the Middle East, Ninth Edition to your friends? Why or why not?

On the whole yes. I was disapointed with the description of Bush era events. I lived through it and have heard enough arguments about Bush's mistakes to last a lifetime. The rest of the book is more firmly about who did what, where and when with less analysis.

Any additional comments?

The book closes its history in 2009. Some events since then change the arguments this book puts forth. Notably, news in 2010 came out that Iran had attempted to buy a nuclear weapon from Pakistan back in 1990.

Historic background we all need to know

The Middle East has been in turmoil for all my life; this audio book documents how this strife goes back a great deal longer. While our politicians have sometimes used self-interest and expediency to justify meddling in the area, we are now reaping the whirlwind. For me this audio book gives much needed historic background, corrects some of my assumptions and, I hope, gives me some insights into why the area is such a recurring flash point and worry to the world and why the peoples of the region seem destined to such constant misery.
A drawback of this audio book is that while the reader mentions maps and tables and other items as he reads from the print text, these are not available to an Audible listener. I listen on an ipod-- perhaps a series of "authors' bookmarks" and an interactive index might complete the experience.

Like a textbook

I felt that a good deal of the book was the author saying which chapter more details are located. For example "I will talk more about this or that on this chapter" and "as you may recall in chapter bla bla bla". There was so much of this going on that I had to stop listening to it.

I finally did manage to get myself to finish the book. It's a good primer for middle east history, which is what I was looking for. However, I would like it told more as a fluid story, not like a text book telling you to turn in this or that chapter.

Good history

It was a very good history of this very important part of the world.
I found it informative. It gave me the education I was looking for.

Great reading and history of the Middle East.

The authors clearly try to be fair, and it's a fairly traditionalist chronology of the region (as opposed to a social history). The bits of arabic read sounded 'off' but the narration was generally clear, and sounded right (serious and unemotional) for the subject matter.

very bias, but educational....

Reflecting on the relationship our country holds with third world countries. I felt I was not educated enough. The first 3 or 4 hours are terrible, rolling through dates and people, very hard to follow. It gets very interesting around the 1st world war. I now have a better perspective on how the countries of the middle east were created and some of the issues the people have with the west and Israel. My feelings are bitterness, oil, suez canal, and religion have cost the area any stability and a unclear future. Listen to this if you are looking for a starting point to the middle east, but with a grain of salt.

CONCISE, Yes It Is.

Well, concise means a lot of information in few words, and that's what this book is. For a book this short to cover the entire Middle East, multiple nations, and it's rich history, you get a concise overview of the Middle East. Many chapters (or sections) that cover just a little bit of information about a particular subject. It reads like a High School text book, an introduction to Middle East History. If you are looking for a very general overview of this part of the world before you dive into a book about The Ottoman Empire, Arab/Israeli conflict, or western influence in the Middle East, this will work. You won't learn a lot about anything, but you will learn a little about everything (in the Middle East). Enjoy.

Does what is Advertised

This book is indeed what it says it is. A concise history. It doesn't dwell on any one period or or issue in the Middle East overlong. It weights two particular historical issues a bit more strongly than some others, the life of the prophet Mohammed and the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is appropriate as those two items are manifestly crucial.

The history is laid out in fairly plain, mostly chronological, format. The authors provide very little commentary and are mostly uncontroversial. Though, with some of the subject matter, controversy is inherent in the history.

I don't know that I would recommend this as an audio book, however. Weiner does a fine job reciting the text. He speaks clearly, manages most pronunciations. But every situation where he says "Reference map one." I am forced to conclude that it is probably better to get this book in text form. Also, actually seeing the different names referenced would probably be better for recall. In addition, if you wanted to casually flip back a few pages and reference a particular figure's role on a different era, or subject, you could do that better with pages than with digital scrolling.

enlightening

A thorough look at how the Middle East got to today. The information contained is educational with the purpose of enlightenment of how all the societies firmed and interact with each other. I found it helpful for my own personal understanding of the people and the way they view foreign society.