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Liked It “Excellent review of the Middle East through the eyes of a reporter who has spent decades. He has a point of view - but is a true reporter -- sorting out what he sees and putting it together in a congruent narrative.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Excellent review of the Middle East through the eyes of a reporter who has spent decades. He has a point of view - but is a true reporter -- sorting out what he sees and putting it together in a congruent narrative. ”
Mike Mather wrote this review Saturday, September 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book, subtitled “The Conquest of the Middle East”, shares a journalist’s experience of the mutual violence and destruction characterising the struggle between the two peoples for possession of the same land. The reader accompanies Fisk through 28 episodic accounts that demonstrate that both sides have engaged in sustained violence and brutality toward the other. In the end, this reader could see little difference in the conduct of both sides over several decades. This is a work of journalism, with little interpretation or analysis of events, which are left to the reader. The main questions raised are which side, if any, can claim the high moral ground, and, who is conquering whom?”
Dr Glenn Lowry wrote this review Friday, July 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Came across this book after my first visit to the Middle East so the timing seemed appropriate. Robert Fisk has lucidly drawn out the historical, social, economic and political contexts of the power struggle in the Middle East as no other can. Fisk was not a standby journalist during the wars described in the book; rather, he was an integral part of them. He tackles each of the sginificant countries in the Middle East chapter by chapter and his account of how the Western powers have manupulated the countries of the Middle East, time and again upto and including the current US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, enables the reader to more comprehensiively understand the unique dynamics of the Middle East. The book is not light reading - it is over a 1000 pages long - but Fisk makes it easier on the reader by his fluid style of writing. Definitely not a one-sitting book!”
AoxmxoA wrote this review Saturday, January 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“War reporting hazards and what really happened during the wars- thats what the book covers. Those following such stories will be amazed at the true account versus what was broken as news by our Political leaders.
K M wrote this review Monday, November 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Robert clearly had a passion for job and his work reflects the same.
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“Amazon review: Combining a novelist's talent for atmosphere with a scholar's grasp of historical sweep, foreign correspondent Fisk (Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon) has written one of the most dense and compelling accounts of recent Middle Eastern history yet. The book opens with a deftly juxtaposed account of Fisk's two interviews with Osama bin Laden. In the first, held in Sudan in 1993, bin Laden declared himself "a construction engineer and an agriculturist." He had no time to train mujahideen, he said; he was busy constructing a highway. In the second, held four years later in Afghanistan, he declared war on the Saudi royal family and America.Fisk, who has lived in and reported on the Middle East since 1976, first for the (London) Times and now for the Independent, possesses deep knowledge of the broader history of the region, which allows him to discuss the Armenian genocide 90 years ago, the 2002 destruction of Jenin, and the battlefields of Iraq with equal aplomb. But it is his stunning capacity for visceral description—he has seen, or tracked down firsthand accounts of, all the major events of the past 25 years—that makes this volume unique. Some of the chapters contain detailed accounts of torture and murder, which more squeamish readers may be inclined to skip, but such scenes are not gratuitous. They are designed to drive home Fisk's belief that "war is primarily not about victory or defeat but about death and the infliction of death." Though Fisk's political stances may sometimes be controversial, no one can deny that this volume is a stunning achievement. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ”
Zevs wrote this review Sunday, March 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I have always wanted to understand the middle east. I dont think I could have chosen a better person to open it up for me than Robert Fisk. I felt he gave an unbiased view of the region. It seems to be alot more diverse and complex than I initially thought. Definately an excellent book and I recomend it to anyone interested in the region and world affairs. Well done Mr. Fisk!”
abdullahi c wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“An impartial first analysis of the event i the Middle East during the second haft of 20th centruy from a talented British jurnalist who live most of his life in Middle East (Labonan. A non sensored insight id the Palestinian confinict and the influence of US and UK on the events in the region including the 1979 revolution”
Behrooz R wrote this review Tuesday, February 19 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My grandfather fought in the Great War, Where?, I asked my family. The only thing we know is he fought in Mesopotamia. I wish I had asked him more when he was alive. I really want to understand. I thought this book might help.”
Alfred C wrote this review Sunday, February 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ The outspoken journalist has done it again with his magnum opus. This is an a most important book for those interested in the history of middle east. Took me quite a while to finally finish GWFC but I wasn't disappointed. His brutal honesty is refreshing. He knows what he's talking about; he was there.”
jillmarie wrote this review Sunday, February 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
