Product Description
The history of America's political, military, and intellectual involvement in the Middle East from George Washington to George W. Bush. "Will shape our thinking about America and the Middle East for years."—Christopher Dickey, Newsweek

From the first cannonballs fired by American warships at North African pirates to the conquest of Falluja by the Marines—from the early American explorers who probed the sources of the Nile to the diplomats who strove for Arab-Israeli peace—the United States has been dramatically involved in the Middle East. For well over two centuries, American statesmen, merchants, and missionaries, both men and women, have had a profound impact on the shaping of this crucial region. Yet their story has never been told until now. Drawing on thousands of government documents and personal letters, featuring original maps and over sixty photographs, this book reconstructs the diverse and remarkable ways in which Americans have interacted with this alluring yet often hostile land stretching from Morocco to Iran, from the Persian Gulf to the Bosporus. Covering over 230 years of history, Power, Faith, and Fantasy is an indispensable work for anyone interested in understanding the roots of America's Middle East involvement today. As Niall Ferguson writes, "If you think America's entanglement in the Middle East began with Roosevelt and Truman, Michael Oren's deeply researched and brilliantly written history will be a revelation to you, as it was to me. With its cast of fascinating characters—earnest missionaries, maverick converts, wide-eyed tourists, and even a nineteenth-century George Bush—Power, Faith, and Fantasy is not only a terrific read, it is also proof that you don't really understand an issue until you know its history." 68 illustrations; 4 maps. With a new afterword for the paperback.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 99 reviews)

Power, Faith, and Fantasy.

This book is a fascinating read it's not just another long boring, cut and dry read. Power, Faith and Fantasy is informative and it keeps you interested the whole time. I found myself looking forward to having reading time for this book.

December 30, 2008

A solid comprehensive survey of the history of US involvement in the Middle East

Michael Oren's POWER, FAITH AND FANTASY, a study of the United States' involvement in the Middle East since 1776, is an eye-opening read. Just be prepared to carve out some time to have your eyes opened. While consistently fascinating and well worth reading if you have any interest in why we are where we are in the morass of Middle Eastern politics, the book is not a quick read due both to its length and the density of its prose.

The vast majority of the book focuses on the period from American independence in 1776 through the declaration of Israeli independence in 1948 because, according to Oren, there has not been a quality overview of that period placed in print before. His study of that period is comprehensive, relating the experiences of minor diplomats and missionaries alongside those of more familiar names. After 1948, things get spottier, although as a basic introduction to the period for those whom this is all new, it does the job.

Oren's thesis is that American involvement in the region is a combination of America's need for power and Americans' efforts to evangelize and serve as missionaries to non-Christian regions. Oren believes that a lot of this involvement and interest is fueled by American fantasies and stereotypes of the region, which are the product of old-school mythology like 1,001 NIGHTS and newer releases from Hollywood like ALADDIN.

What struck me on reading the book is how strong US relations with many parts of the Middle East have been in the past, when Arab nationalism was a far stronger force in the region than today's increasing dominance of Islamic fundamentalism. I also became aware that the US's relations with Israel and with Zionism has not always been as strong as it is today and that at many points in history the US was more concerned about Arab issues than it was about Jewish issues in the region.

This is a strong read and if you want to know the genesis of today's headlines, it is a solid introduction to the history of American foreign policy in the Middle East. Just be prepared to invest some time since this is not a quick read. I highly recommend it.
December 04, 2008

Learned piece of historical writing

From the founding of the USA in 1776 and the Ottoman Empire to today's Middle East, Oren writes clearly and compellingly about the USA and that area of the world. The detail is illuminating, the dispassionate scholarly approach is welcome, (there appears no political bias). It would be hard to imagine a better written or more complete history of the US and its continued involvement in the region. From the Ottoman Empire to its collapse in WWI, the ensuing colonial establishment by Europe and Russia, the massive need of the world for the oil of the region, the fated rise of Zionism, the battle waged to keep Russia from gaining control, the fall of secular control and the rise of fundamental Islam in many states, the continued failure despite so many efforts to bring peace to the area, the upsurge in militant Islam and the attacks on the USA and Europe, are all written about with enough detail to give the reader a clear sense of the continuing themes which reveal themselves and the very difficult challenges all American presidents since Wilson have had there.

From WWII's end to today, all the names and events are woven into a very readable narrative. Any reader will be far better informed as a reward for 604 pages of text and the 128 pages of reference material to support the work.

As at the ball park, you can't know the game without the program. This is a big help.
November 16, 2008

Adds depth to understanding past and present Mid East/US relationship

The title says it all. A wonderful exploration of our country's dealings with the countries and cultures of the Middle East from the time America was born until present day. Lots of fascinating historical information and personal stories. Reading the book added depth to my understanding of our historical relationship with the Middle Eastern countries and why we are where we are in the Mid East today. Well written and well worth the read.

November 10, 2008

Thanks for writing this!

Excellent. A true addition to my understanding of the world.

Should be required reading for anyone in public office.

go read it now.

yes, now.
November 06, 2008

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