Between Memory and Desire: The Middle East in a Troubled Age

by R. Stephen Humphreys

Middle Easterners today struggle to find solutions to crises of economic stagnation, political gridlock, and cultural identity. In recent decades Islam has become central to this struggle, and almost every issue involves fierce, sometimes violent debates over the role of religion in public life. In this post-9/11 updated edition R. Stephen Humphreys presents a thoughtful analysis of Islam's place in today's Middle East and integrates the medieval and modern history of the region to show how the sacred and secular are tightly interwoven in its political and intellectual life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Islam, Middle East, Politics

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

A specialist in the history of Southwest Asia and North Africa, R. Stephen Humphreys was the 'Abd al-Aziz al-Sa'ud Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[Atomic Bombshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much more pleasant read than "A Political Economy of the Middle East" by Alan Richards, yet I suppose you read each of them for a different purpose. The two books together do provide you with a considerably rich understanding of the issues at hand, both past and present, in this dynamic region of the world.

[Elena Guberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Easy to read but informative. Great quotes.

[Ryan]

need Andrew to explain this to me

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content, but poorly organized and repetitive in certain spots.