Into The Labyrinth: The U.S. And The Middle East 1945-1993

by H.W. Brands

In this volume of the America in Crisis series, Professor H. W. Brands provides a comprehensive and balanced overview of American policy in the Middle East since 1945. Defining the region broadly, he covers both familiar topics such as the dangerous Suez crisis of 1956, the embarrassing Iranian hostage episode, and the triumphant Gulf War, as well as less well-known incidents like the Cyprus crisis and the civil war in Yemen in the 1960s... In describing the last half-century of American experience in the Middle East, Professor Brands offers insight and perspective on the issues the United States still faces in this troubled area.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

H.W. Brands is an acclaimed American historian and author of over thirty books on U.S. history, including Pulitzer Prize finalists The First American and Traitor to His Class. He holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his PhD. Originally trained in mathematics, Brands turned to history as a way to pursue his passion for writing. His biographical works on figures like Franklin, Jackson, Grant, and both Roosevelts have earned critical and popular praise for their readability and depth. Raised in Oregon and educated at Stanford, Reed College, and Portland State, he began his teaching career in high schools before entering academia. He later taught at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt before returning to UT Austin. Brands challenges conventional reverence for the Founding Fathers, advocating for a more progressive and evolving view of American democracy. In addition to academic works, his commentary has featured in major documentaries. His books, published internationally and translated into multiple languages, examine U.S. political, economic, and cultural development with compelling narrative force. Beyond academia, he is a public intellectual contributing to national conversations on history and governance.

Reviews

[Bethany Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting yet dated look at U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Good read for context and perspective of early American politics and interjection into the conflicts.

[Abdulrahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight to the point.