Live From Jordan: Letters Home From My Journey Through the Middle East

by Benjamin Orbach

On the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Pittsburgh native and graduate student Ben Orbach traveled to the Middle East to experience the region first-hand. Despite having a degree in Middle Eastern studies, he was completely unprepared for what he discovered. Beyond the anti-American sentiment he expected, he found a complex, curious people whose lives were made even more difficult by an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. Live from Jordan is the story, told via his letters home, of Orbach’s one year trip through Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Turkey. As he begins his unforgettable journey which takes him from bustling bazaars to underground brothels, he meets all kinds of a falafel cook who hates Americans because they "have no mercy," a kindly baker who wishes him "peace and blessings" every time he buys pita bread, and the curious, impassioned 21-year-old medical student with a penchant for debating U.S. foreign policy. From the angry streets of Cairo to the living rooms of ordinary people in Jordan and Palestine, Orbach offers an honest, balanced portrait of a region in turmoil and the vivid, misunderstood, and often welcoming people who inhabit it. With humor and wit, he sheds new light on a culture that few Americans understand. Engaging and evocative, Live from Jordan is a myth-breaking book that combines the lyricism of a travelogue with the insight of reportage.

Genres: Middle East, Travel, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2007

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that can surely make an impact. Well..., it certainly did on me!

This book has been my first (of many more to come) attempt to understand the people of the so-called Middle-East region and the Arab world. It deals with one American 'un-official ambassador's' attempt to understand the people and their thoughts, views, ways of living, etc, of mainly Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and the territory of West Bank (Judea and Samaria). It gives an idea of how and what people perceive in the region at the individual level about the West's Foreign Policies in the region, since a part of the book was written during the onset of the war in Iraq in 2003. It also speaks about the way of life in the region and what the west can learn from it, and the same time understanding that foreign policies cannot by themselves make the required change in the region.

The book is written in simple language, and imparts emotions of the people around, which I believe was very important, and is very well managed, balanced and well put; so much that it literally got me in tears at some points. On the personal front, while having developed a certain understanding of why one needs to be kind and compassionate of another, this book helped me in understanding the problems faced by the people of this region in a much deeper way, at an individualistic level, possibly at its core. The book contains dialogues in English (but many of which were originally held in Arabic, as per the writer) although quite a few Arabic terms and phrases have been left about for the much needed effect that imbibe in the writing. A glossary has been included at the end of the book.

I admire Mr. Orbach's efforts in his abilities to visit the places mentioned in the book, and more-so thank him on especially writing about it and getting it published, considering the much-needed requirement of the people around the world, of knowing and understanding, perceiving it with the right conscience, and hopefully making a clear path to a peaceful solution for peace in this wonder-filled Arab world.

[Mycala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended as part of my armchair travel reading, but it is so much more than that. He makes the Middle East... for lack of a better word, accessible. He introduces us to specific regions, specific people and families, and reminds us that while people may have different cultures and ways of doing things, we all really want some of the same things -- to love and be surrounded by those we love, to earn a living, to gain some enjoyment from life. I was able see many different points of view, which is so important with a slanted media that chooses what images to show us and what stories to tell us.

In my mind, the Middle East was a place that I heard about on the news but really knew nothing about. This book made the area come alive to me. The people he met in his travels were compassionate, hospitable, hard-working, and so many of the men he met just wanted to be able to earn enough to fulfill their dream of getting married but they were barely scraping by. Sure, he ran into a few people who took advantage of him -- or tried to -- but you can find that anywhere. What impressed me most of all was his ability to show with examples why there is so much unrest in the area, what with occupation and displaced populations. He doesn't oversimplify, and he doesn't claim to have all the answers. What does do is ask a lot of good questions and offer a lot of thoughtful and intelligent things to think about. We need more Benjas, and I am so much better for having read this book.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book is dense, for sure. But the author’s personality and humor keep the pages turning as an entertaining travel memoir. The author focuses primarily on Jordan, with a stay in Egypt, and side trips to Morocco, Turkey, and Syria. He knows enough Modern Standard Arabic to accomplish all the necessary tasks and build some fascinating relationships, but struggles just enough with regional dialects to make some funny mistakes. Two key components of how he relates to other are (1) he is Jewish, and (2) he is in the Middle East at the exact same point that the U.S. went to war with Iraq in 2003; so he constantly struggles with how to present his personal and national identity in various contexts. Although the author goes in a lot of directions with the people he meets and the breadth of his social commentary, it is all well connected and culturally astute. I read this book to deepen my understanding of a country and region that I will soon be living and know little about. Of everything I've read on Jordan so far, this book has provided me with (what I anticipate will be) the most realistic view of what life is like for every day Jordanians, and what I may encounter as an American expatriate. However, I am interested to see if and/or how perspectives on the U.S. and the Iraqi war have changed in the last 6 years and how my experience as a woman in an Arab country will differ from the male author's.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin gave me something I have long been looking for, a glimpse into the practical everyday lives of the Middle-East. I was surprised by how well this book read. I found all of the information relevant and well laid out.

Ben is Jewish and had previously lived in Israel for a period so I was a bit worried that the book would be laden with bias. However, I was pleasantly surprised. When Ben does mention Israel, it is to provide contrast and comparison, not to insinuate one is ultimately better or worse than the other. All the issues are presented as they are and it is truly a breath of fresh air.

I felt like I genuinely got a good grasp of the people Ben met, and that is essentially what this book is about. I commend Ben for having the perseverance and courage to catalog his travels at such an inhospitable time for Americans.

[Bowman Dickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was clear and interesting. He had some great observations about the Arab world, many of which totally matched my four years living in the country. I gave it 3 stars though because I felt like his perspective was really imperialist and culturally arrogant at times, though maybe if I was as honest in writing a book as he was it would sound similar. It really bugged me that he felt it necessary to put quotation marks around "Palestine" every time he wrote it. He came around on this through the book and had a nice passage explaining why he eventually disassociated the nation-state concept of Palestine with the Palestine that is of the Palestinian people, but I felt like this perspective on Arab's thoughts/history/culture sometimes reared it's head.

[Shane Safir]

Benjamin Orbach's candid, personal narrative of his year in the Middle East helped inspire me to take a leap of faith and move to Jordan. His vibrant stories, from befriending the local falafel maker to shopping for camels in Egypt, kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing and rejoicing in this engaging cross-cultural odyssey.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably a true 2.5. Orbach's personal connections and the stories of the people he met were well-captured and interesting/informative to read, but his exposition of the political situation and the limits of western.American media often repeated or dragged on longer than was needed.

[Elly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read Live from Jordan in advance of my own move to Amman, looking for insights of what I might expect. I did get some of that, which coupled with a fairly decent style of writing, earned the book three stars. Yet as I kept on reading, I realized the experiences in the book, these insights, are unlikely to overlap with my own, once I get there, simply b/c I am a woman. So much recounted in the book is about a man’s perspective of the “Arab East”. I cannot fault the author for the ability to have the experiences he had as a man among other men, but I do fault him for writing about women as though a different breed at times. There was a surprising lack of awareness or sensitivity about that, and along with the gripes about the Israeli Palestinian conflict, it read decidedly one-sided at times.

[Valzebub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Ben provides great insight into the daily lives of people all over the Middle East and helps to dispel many stereotypes. As someone who has lived in and traveled through most of the countries, I still gained more knowledge about what makes people of this region tick.

Highly recommend for anyone headed to the Middle East or who knows someone there and wants to see what their daily lives are like. Although some of the information is a bit stale, I found that the majority still rang true.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this while traveling through Jordan. It totally inspired me, a rather shy girl, to chat up just about everybody I met and find out more about their stories. Thanks to my fellow Pittsburgher for the push!

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent inside view of a different culture. Very well written and an excellent perspective

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having spent a bit of time in Amman, Damascus, and Jerusalem myself, I really enjoyed reading Orbach's impressions and experiences there. I don't speak Arabic and only spent a week or two in each city, so his deeper perspecive and conversations he had was fascinating for me.

Like another reviewer said, despite the fact that Orbach has more of a Jewish background, I felt he was pretty unbiased so far as that goes. I've read a number of books coming more strongly from either a pro-Israel or a pro-Palestinean perspective and appreciated this relatively balanced viewpoint.

One section I found very thought-provoking was Orbach's discussion of the sort of thinking that should be done on the part of American government before intervening in another country, and the need for increased understanding of the needs, interests, and desires of local stakeholders. As he points out, even if the long-term goal of a military intervention is greater peace, stability, and democracy, it's essential to recognize that in the short-term this will cause significant destruction, fear, death, and uprooting of the lives of individuals. This of course wouldn't be the only factor in a decision to intervene, but shouldn't be discounted and a greater effort should engage in dialogue with citizens about their hopes and desires.

I also found his description of Syria prescient considering current events. He describes the balance that was maintained between the regime and individual citizens, with the regime allowing individual to achieve a reasonable degree of peace, success, and happiness - as long as they do not question the regime. "It is possible for a police state's citizens who are not a part of the regime's power base to achieve success and happiness. However, citizens' interests are only a priority for authoritarian regimes as they relate to maintaining stability and the status quo." He predicts that "should they decide to challenge the regime's ownership of the public domain, then the regime will come into the people's private worlds with crushing force and brutality to demonstrate its might."

Overall, a fascinating book written on the eve of the Iraq war, and a great way to come to a fuller understanding of the daily lives, hopes, and dreams of ordinary middle easterners.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my review on Amazon:

As another American who lived in Amman, Jordan, I really enjoyed reading Mr. Orbach's book. I shared anecdotes from it with friends and coworkers, and we all enjoyed a chuckle about what it's like to be a foreigner living over here. This book is a great way to learn about the Middle East from the perspective of someone just like yourself who is seeking answers that a lot of people in the Western countries are too scared to look for, unfortunately.

Well-written and insightful, Mr. Orbach highlights the need for real change in American foreign policy, and exquisitely humanizes his friends, neighbors, and fellow students. Jordan is extremely safe these days; it's not Iraq by a long shot, but reading this book will give you an understanding about what many Arabs dream for, regardless of country: a family, a stable job, and a visit from Celine Dion. :)

To turn the table around, I want more Arabs to read this book, too. The changes in perception that Mr. Orbach undergoes when confronting notions about Israel and Palestine are remarkable, and I think that if more Arabs could read an example of a man from Mr. Orbach's background changing his mind about so many difficult things while he's over here, it would help prove that our Western ideas can change.

I've spoken to some regional distributors and importers about this, and hopefully Jordan will be seeing more copies of this book in more hands, soon!

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if Ben, a friend of mine from high school and college, had just written about the food and the scenery and the transportation, this book would have been a fantastic portrait of an all-too-misunderstood region. But in addition, he depicted everyday life, as he lived it, in the heart of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Israel. People praying, greeting, studying, working, living in the shadow of American decisions and yet finding joy and hope. I admire Ben's courage and honesty as he traveled and interacted with all kinds of people, some of whom admired America, and others who didn't. In some ways, this book is about identity--not just Ben's, but the identity of individual Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, and how these individuals cannot just be lumped under a term used way too much by Americans--"Arabs." Ben strives to understand his neighbors and help them understand a gentler side to America--he is truly a diplomat, if only unofficial in title. Thanks, Benja, for an incredibly in-depth, detailed, human portrait of life in four middle-eastern countries. I hope you're planning another book!

[Gina-maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars because I really thought it was a great book, but then again I may be a bit biased because I read it while I was visiting Jordan for 5 weeks, so I was familiar with the landmarks and places the author would often speak about. To me, I thought the book was interesting because I was able to relate to many of situations while being an American in Jordan because that was exactly what I was. I was able to relate to his cultural frustrations, tourist excitements, and language barriers, and more. It was as if he were writing about my experience which was cool. But other than being able to relate to the author, I thought the story and the overall message of the book is fabulous, especially because there are so many stigmas between American and Muslim relations.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a journalist based in Pittsburgh who is interested in traveling to the Middle East and learning Arabic.

This book provides a great overview of Middle East history for people who might not be familiar with the region. But the gem of this book is that it provides a down-to-earth, insider's view in a complex place. It is funny while remaining respectful of the people and culture of the region. It also documents the personal growth of the author himself and shows how his studies in Jordan and Cairo shaped his understanding of the Middle East. I appreciate what I learned in this book and am sure it will come in handy for anyone interested in traveling there.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, I have to admit some bias, because I have worked with the author's wife. However, this is a very good book by a first time author which helps explain and illuminate Middle Eastern cultures. This book is very readable and told from the author's perspective as a graduate school student and self-appointed citizen ambassador of the United States travelling in Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank. I recommend this book to anyone, and especially to someone who is looking for a good primer on understanding the modern Middle East.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years before I went to Jordan, this guy did and then wrote about it. Very interesting take on life in Jordan, not entirely accurate to my experiences, but things change in 6 years (he was there in 2002) and men's lives are different than women's. In truth, only in his writing on women was I really disappointed, but as an outside male he didn't have the access to that part of life that I did. For a great overview of Jordan society from an outside/American perspective, it's pretty interesting and a nice read.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real good work by Benjamin. Middle East has always been someplace I wanted to know more of, the way the author shows his days as an American in Jordan, Syria and rest of the area is exceptional. The way he has gone about explaining the way people of the Jordan live and an insight into their lives is really good. Syria in all its glory and beauty has been well described. The thing I like the most about this book is the way it showcases the life of a normal person and the perception of the people on various things in life. Great work!!

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book and had a lot of insight into the Arab "street" in the midEast. I got tired of the format after a while because there tended to be too much of the author's self-awareness and of his tendency to want to shape the reader's thoughts. I would have preferred a somewhat more neutral narration without all of the author's personal opinions. However, the subject itself is interesting.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into the Middle East from the perspective of an American grad student. Very hopeful in its affirmation of the importance of unofficial U.S. ambassadors to the Middle East such as study abroad students in Amman (that's me!). It was cool to read this while studying in Amman. Definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to understand the Middle East a little bit better (especially if you are interested at all in politics).

[Leanna Pohevitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While we certainly politically differ in some ways, I appreciate the insight of another active traveler making their way through the Arabic speaking world while defending American wars in the region. He also made me laugh out loud with some of his descriptions that hit really close to home and spoke directly to my experiences. Overall, I'm glad I read it. I feel a bit more informed about a country I have yet to travel to.

[Dianne Danehey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and hopeful

The author gives a fascinating look at the everyday lives of Jordanians, Egyptians, Palestinians and others in the Arab East. His determination to speak Arabic and learn about the nuances of life in different cultures was inspiring. His comments on how the United States would be seen after the Iraq war were prophetic.

[Orozco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping I would
Find a book like this some day. As a lover of Arabic culture I enjoyed all the experiences that Benja spoke about. I wish I could one day follow his steps, he's such an inspiration. I enjoyed the book so much. It has some sense of humor in it. I hope he keeps on writing.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really found this book so very interesting. Seeing as how I'm living in the middle east right now, and am an American, it was a very timely book and it helped me see this area in a new light. A very good read if you like informational books. A great look at the Arab culture.

[Samanvay Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a candid account or shall we say an outsider's inside view of the Arab East.Benjamin Orbach,s narrative is simple yet informative and brings to the fore the daily life in this region which is continuously dealing with a stereotypical view from the rest of the world.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a colleague's first published novel based on letters from his travels in Jordan, Egypt, and the Middle East. It's a nice introduction to the region from a SAIS graduate.

[Tommy]

accurate representation and witty style.

[Matt Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little canned, but overall an insightful intro to the middle east which informed my recent vacation well.

[Deb Prvanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Enjoyed his writing style. Helps me to feel prepared for my visit to Jordan.