- Hardcover: 574 pages
- Publisher: Harvard University Press (11 April 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0674395654
- ISBN-13: 978-0674395657
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.2 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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- #17 in Books > History > Cultural History > Multicultural History
A History of the Arab Peoples
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Product Description
Review
'A masterly summation of the Arab peoples... It is difficult to overestimate the signal importance of this book for this time. Here at last is a genuinely readable, genuinely responsive history of the Arabs.' Edward Said 'If anyone wants to understand the tangled web of likes and dislikes of each other among the Arab peoples or the pull of fundamentalism, here is the place to find it.' David Holloway, Sunday Telegraph 'A splendid achievement... Written with just the right mix of empathy and sensitivity, and a feel for the irony of human history. This is history in the grand style.' New York Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
'Here at last is a genuinely readable, genuinely responsive history of the Arabs.' Edward Said
--This text refers to the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Without doubt this is the best introductory book I have read on the subject of Arab history. Hourani's book is highly informative yet also very readable. The book covers Arab history over a timeline starting from pre-Islamic times right up to recent events in the 1980's and serves as a superb introduction for anyone with an interest in this area of the world. The book studies many aspects of life in detail. For those who are using this study as starting point, will find that Hourani gives them much to think about and provides many refernces for further research. The book also contains useful maps, timelines and family trees. The topic area is vast but Hourani has made skilful inrodes into it leaving the reader feeling informed about the Arab people both past and present.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
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
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a really good grounding in the history of the region stretching from Morocco to Turkey, encompassing 1400 ish years of history. The approach is refreshing in that it concentrates on culture and society and regards historical events from that perspective, considering specific wars etc as examples of a trend rather than focussing on them to the expense of everything else. It is also written from a nicely none western perspective, with developments elsewhere in the world being regarded as incidental to the main stream of history. Overall, very very good.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
general comments on "a history of the arab peoples"
it is a very good view with important points and perspectives, particulary indicated for people who enjoy a a subject wuthout excessive detailsA History of the Arab Peoples: With... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Prof Dr J. Silva
Wonderfully descriptive
The challenge that Albert Hourani was attempting was no simple matter, however, he's had a marvellous go at it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Wassim
Very Hard Going
I read a lot of history books and bought this one with enthusiasm as I am doing a lot of work and travelling in the Middle East at the moment. I was, however, very disappointed. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Frozenmop
Fact Filled.....
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... Read more
Published 18 months ago by paulholzherr
arab peoples
This remarkable book talls the history of the Arab peoples from thu 7th. century to 2001.It is in 5 sections a)the making of a world-7 to 10th centuries b)Arab Muslim societies-11... Read more
Published 24 months ago by G. I. Forbes
I read this book
This book is probably great if you are already interested in the subject or are familiar with the history of islam (not arab peoples). Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2009 by history reader
Wastage of money
As I am very keen of the Arabs history I bought this book without really looking inside, which definietly was a mistake. I managed to read only about a half of it. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2009 by Kareem ad Din
Informative but insipid
A very informative and educating work indeed, tracing the ideological, political, social and military history of the Arabs. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by Bilal Rana
A vague history
This is not a history of the Arab peoples - it does not describe why the Moslems expanded, how, when or where. What battles were fought, why or when? Read more
Published on 27 May 2009 by Sk Picot
Below par and subtly biased
This book purports to offer the general reader a comprehensive and unbiased overview of the history of the arab peoples. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2006 by SimonJ
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