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readsbysalima's review against another edition
5.0
This is a must-have for anyone interested in the history of Arab peoples. The title in itself says everything about all the prejudices we may have on the definition of Arabs. Arab peoples are diverse from Morocco to Yemen and it is a wonderful thing.
lakmus's review against another edition
4.0
Meticulously detailed but readable overview. Not a strictly chronological history, but split into a few thematic parts, which works better for such a sprawling work covering both a long period of time and a large territory. Got lost in the minutae of the names, dates, and places a bit, mostly towards the end, when 20-21st century history went over histories of several countries in rather rapid succession - but the key points were summarised at regular intervals, so it was not a huge loss for a first familiarisation with the topic. Thought the author balanced well his clear passion for the subject with cool scholarly detachment. If anything, the issue of colonialism and its legacy was the only place that seemed to be a noticeably sore spot. (It's hard to disagree tbh).
oz617's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I'll definitely be keeping around for reference purposes, it's intensely informative, despite taking on such a mammoth task. I didn't expect a history textbook to be insightful as well as useful, but I've quoted Hourani's opinion on nationalism and the interplay between social politics and governmental strategies several times already.
haleybird's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I read this book mainly because 1) I haven’t studied Arab history to nearly the extent that I have of other regions, and 2) I really wanted more historical context for what is happening in Gaza right now. I was not disappointed! I learned so much, and I think this would be a great read for anyone seeking to better understand the west’s current relationships with various Arab countries. I only gave it a 4 because it was admittedly pretty dry at times and seemed to drag on (but that’s the nature of history books sometimes!) - the narration on Audible helped keep me engaged though, and it really was very good for the most part.
rc90041's review against another edition
4.0
Can I recommend this to others? I wish I could. But the truth is, most readers are unlikely to make it through the ~458 pages of too often punishingly arid prose unless there is some threat of a test, term paper, or perhaps book-club shame hanging over their heads. And that is too bad, because there is much to be learned from this book, especially regarding schools of Islamic thought, the organization of the Abbasid and Ottoman empires, the confrontation between the Arab states and Western powers in the Age of Empire, Arab socialism and nationalism, Nasirism, the rise of the Ba'ath Party, the haphazard drawing of lines by the French and British to create today's Arab Frankenstates, etc.
The book suffers from its ambitious attempt to cover the entire region from pre-Islamic times to the present (in this case, 1991): one feels as if Hourani goes down a checklist at times, at major points on the chronology, ticking off countries, to make sure he hasn't missed one. The book also seems to actively resist drawing in the reader by employing a voice that is insistently located at some unidentifiable and utterly non-human Archimedean point. If written today, I'm sure a younger historian would throw in many slice-of-life scenes to give some blood to the encyclopedic proceedings. Or, like Eric Hobsbawm sometimes does in his work, Hourani could have humanized this a bit, and let fall the pretense of geometric objectivity, by offering his story (Lebanese Christian family that immigrated to England).
Again, I do wish I could in good faith push this book on others, because an understanding of the region, getting beyond Bernard Lewis tutorials on the "Arab mind" and the "Arab street" or Thomas Friedman's business-class-airport-lounge generalities, seems crucial right now. If you feel like you may need to know a bit more about this part of the world, this is probably a good place to start.
The book suffers from its ambitious attempt to cover the entire region from pre-Islamic times to the present (in this case, 1991): one feels as if Hourani goes down a checklist at times, at major points on the chronology, ticking off countries, to make sure he hasn't missed one. The book also seems to actively resist drawing in the reader by employing a voice that is insistently located at some unidentifiable and utterly non-human Archimedean point. If written today, I'm sure a younger historian would throw in many slice-of-life scenes to give some blood to the encyclopedic proceedings. Or, like Eric Hobsbawm sometimes does in his work, Hourani could have humanized this a bit, and let fall the pretense of geometric objectivity, by offering his story (Lebanese Christian family that immigrated to England).
Again, I do wish I could in good faith push this book on others, because an understanding of the region, getting beyond Bernard Lewis tutorials on the "Arab mind" and the "Arab street" or Thomas Friedman's business-class-airport-lounge generalities, seems crucial right now. If you feel like you may need to know a bit more about this part of the world, this is probably a good place to start.
jpowerj's review against another edition
3.0
It's... EXTREMELY dry. It almost reads more like a reference book than a book for reading cover-to-cover. I appreciate the ridiculously wide range of places and times that it covers, and it does do a good job tracing out demographic and social changes in "broad strokes", but I'd recommend just picking some subset of periods in Arab history that you're interested in and buying books specifically about them over this book.
amid's review against another edition
3.0
A Solid Overview, but Lacks Depth
Albert Hourani's A History of the Arab Peoples offers a comprehensive overview of the Arab world, spanning from pre-Islamic times to the 20th century. While it serves as a decent introduction to the subject, the book falls short in providing a deeper understanding of the complexities within Arab history.
Hourani's writing style is clear and accessible, making it easy for readers with limited prior knowledge to grasp the broad historical narrative. The book covers a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, culture, and social dynamics, which helps to paint a holistic picture of the Arab peoples.
However, the book's main drawback is its lack of in-depth analysis and nuanced exploration of key historical events and figures. Hourani's treatment of certain periods feels rushed, and important events are sometimes glossed over without sufficient context. As a result, readers seeking a more profound understanding of specific periods or regions might be left wanting.
Additionally, the book's focus on political and intellectual history often neglects the experiences of everyday Arab individuals, giving a somewhat top-down perspective. It would have been beneficial to include more personal stories and anecdotes to make the narrative more engaging and relatable.
Despite these shortcomings, A History of the Arab Peoples remains a valuable starting point for those interested in gaining a general understanding of Arab history. Readers looking for a more detailed and nuanced examination, however, may need to supplement their reading with additional sources.
Albert Hourani's A History of the Arab Peoples offers a comprehensive overview of the Arab world, spanning from pre-Islamic times to the 20th century. While it serves as a decent introduction to the subject, the book falls short in providing a deeper understanding of the complexities within Arab history.
Hourani's writing style is clear and accessible, making it easy for readers with limited prior knowledge to grasp the broad historical narrative. The book covers a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, culture, and social dynamics, which helps to paint a holistic picture of the Arab peoples.
However, the book's main drawback is its lack of in-depth analysis and nuanced exploration of key historical events and figures. Hourani's treatment of certain periods feels rushed, and important events are sometimes glossed over without sufficient context. As a result, readers seeking a more profound understanding of specific periods or regions might be left wanting.
Additionally, the book's focus on political and intellectual history often neglects the experiences of everyday Arab individuals, giving a somewhat top-down perspective. It would have been beneficial to include more personal stories and anecdotes to make the narrative more engaging and relatable.
Despite these shortcomings, A History of the Arab Peoples remains a valuable starting point for those interested in gaining a general understanding of Arab history. Readers looking for a more detailed and nuanced examination, however, may need to supplement their reading with additional sources.