Reviews (6)

A good overview of the pyramids
Pyramid Illusions is an excelent book for anyone who wants to know the truth about the pyramids.This book is easy to read and not only gives a good overview of all the pyramids and their history, it tells how they weremade and eliminates many of the misconseptions about them.This is a mustread for anyone interested in anctient Egypt and it's most famouslandmarks, the pyramids.

You will find this book very interesting.
Pyramid Illusions is a book about the pyramids -- not just the great pyramids, but other known pyramids in Egypt. Gadalla takes a new, fresh look at their possible uses and their construction. His viewpoints goagainst conventional lines of thought. He does not believe that thepyramids (with one exception) were intended as tombs. He does not believein the traditional construction methods. A fascinating contribution to Egyptology
Pyramid Illusions: A Journey to the Truth challenges the common theories about the Egyptian stone pyramids.Pyramid Illusions is a culmination of original research, imaginative writing, and many useful illustrations tohelp the reader envision him/herself at the sites and interiors of theEgyptian masonry pyramids.By reviewing the facts on the sites, the readeris capable of separating the fact from the fiction and finding that thepyramids are not tombs, the stone blocks of the pyramids were man-made andnot quarried, ramps were not used, and slaves did not build the pyramids. Readers will become informed about the ancient Egyptian tombs and how theydiffer from the stone pyramids.They will learn how and when ancientEgyptians manufacture hard stones for jewelry, jars, vessels, statues, aswell as for the pyramid blocks, and much, much more.Controversial,articulate, challenging, Pyramid Illusions is a fascinating contribution toEgyptology. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Ancient Egypt - History    3. Ancient Egypt Archaeology    4. Egypt    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History / Ancient / Egypt    8. History: World    9. Middle East - Egypt    10. Pyramids    11. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    12. Ancient Egypt    13. Ancient World    14. BCE to c 500 CE    15. Children's & Young Adults - History    16. Egyptian archaeology    17. HISTORY-GENERAL HISTORY    18. Travel - Africa - Egypt   

Reviews (2)

Alexander's dream come true.
The pictures in this bookare outstanding.I was born in Egypt from Italian parents,during the golden days when so many nationalities prospered.For a very long period Alexandria was no longer an interesting place to visit or to discover.I think that the golden age has come back.The archeological discoveries,and the flow of foreigners coming into the cityis making Alexander's dream come true once again.
Atmospheric journey through a magical city
Michael Haag's book of photographs and text on Alexandria, Egypt, is an atmospheric journey through a city that he has sensitively brought to life and made magical.Through his eyes you taste something of the oldcosmopolitan city as it was in the the 1920s, 30s and 40s -- the citydescribed in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet.If you have everwondered about that evocative city, this book will present it to youtangibly in photographs.It is a wonderful book for the armchairtraveller, and also for the visitor to Alexandria today.I cannot praiseit highly enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alexandria (Egypt)    2. Guidebooks    3. History - General History    4. History Of Individual Cities    5. Middle East - Egypt    6. Travel    7. Travel Guides    8. Africa    9. African history    10. Local history    11. Social history    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Urban communities   

Reviews (2)

Champion Work
In June, 2006 my wife and I traveled extensively through all parts of Cyprus by rental car and carried 4 recently published guidebooks.Even with Lonely Planet and DK carrying 2006 copyrights, neither could hold a candle to Rough Guide (Sept, 2005).Marc Dubin's work is not simply that of a traveler writing a guidebook, but like an expert presenting an insightful, informative, and balanced work.It added immensely to our enjoyment and understanding of Cyprus.The highlights section for each chapter provided an excellent overview of each region, and for the first time I found the maps to be even better than the ones in Lonely Planet.The background information was outstanding for presenting a fair treatment of this divided island, with many excellent spotlights on pertinent Cypriot topics.
No better travel guide to Cyprus
At the time of this review, there is no other up-to-date travel guide for visiting Cyprus.The Lonely Planet's "Cyprus" 2nd edition came out right as the Nicosia/Lefkosia opened in 2003 and contains outdated information on the crossing from the Greek/Turkish sides - their 3rd edition is due out this summer.Regardless, LP will have a hard act to follow, since Marc Dubin has written the single most comphrensive travel guide to a country I have ever read.I just returned from a 10 day trip to both 'sides' of Cyprus and used literally almost every page.I wouldn't have been able to see half the things I did without this guide and by relying solely on the state-run information kiosks.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Greece    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Cyprus    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Europe / Greece   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Middle East - General    3. Pictorials    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. History / Middle East    7. Places & peoples: general interest    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. YEMEN   

Reviews (4)

Qatar section terribly out of date
I bought this book to prepare for my relocation to Qatar (from Australia).
Great tips for Kuwait & Bahrain
I purchaed this book as was traveling extensively between Bahraina and Kuwait - and it was perfect for this. I found the information contained within to be very accurate, and useful in planning my trip.
Useful, but way out of date...
I bought this book for a recent business trip to Qatar, and was dissapointed to find quite a number of things that were very out of date.The phone system has been updated since publishing, and now all numbers are 7 instead of 6 digits.you can fix most by adding a 4 at the beginning of most listed numbers, or a 5 for cell phones.Also, some crucial info, like the address to the US Embassy, was wrong.The Embassy moved several years ago.I found most of the societal and historical info to be very handy in preparing for the trip, however, so it was worth it for that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

Sweet, touching, gem of a book
A highly accessible, personal, intelligent and honest look at the experience of a Jewish Buddhist. What I particularly liked about this book was that he (Fischer) used personal anecdotes that illuminated the intersection between his two beliefs. They seem to peacefully coexist. His description of his travel through Israel was vivd and enticing. His enjoyment and wonder were palpable. By the end of the book, I was ready to board a plane. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (11)

Tedious with Gratuitous Obscurity
I wanted to enjoy this book.The premise is interesting.The author is fascinated by Ibn Battutah and his travels.He sets off to follow in IB's footsteps.The author draws references from many bizarre sources presumably to help clarify or explain some of his experiences, but what it ends up being is gratuitous obscurity.I carefully sought out his references, but I did not feel rewarded.I noted with interest how often the author clarified that he was not married and did not wish to be and that he is not a Muslim and did not wish to be.These two issues arose many times.I was interested in the Eye of Joy and a couple of his jokes, but overall I felt the author was trying to impress the reader with his wide knowledge of obscurity rather than share an experience with his reader.

One of the best
Mr. Mackintosh-Smith can write!!
Worth the effort
If you are interested in the genre of travel writing where it merges with history then this book is worth the effort that it takes to read it. It takes a chapter, or two, to get used to the style of writing. Unlike so many other books of this type the editor has permitted the author to keep the quirks of style that allow the reader to acknowledge the presence of the individual rather than the blandness found in so many other books. As a result you gain an insight into the worlds of the author and IB. The fact that Mackintosh-Smith speaks fluent Arabic gives a depth to the book that is rare in similar works.
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Subjects:  1. 1304-1377    2. Description and travel    3. Ibn Batuta,    4. Middle East    5. Middle East - General    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Voyages and travels    9. Travel / Middle East / General   

Subjects:  1. Travel & holiday guides    2. United Arab Emirates   

Reviews (1)

Excellent mixture of history and travelogue.
Jewish Time Travel is a wonderful and unexpected combination of chatty travel narrative and serious scholarship. Mae Sander's first book gives us a window into Jewish life in four periods and places where culturescollided, and takes us to revisit those places with her today. In Israel,France, Spain, and Italy, we learn details of the past that are usuallyavailable only to those who are willing to spend hours in graduatelibraries.But the author distills this material for us, and her book is apleasure to read and re-read.Read more

Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Europe - General    3. France, Southern    4. Historical Geography    5. History    6. Israel    7. Jewish - General    8. Jews    9. Middle East - Israel    10. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    11. Palestine    12. Reference - Guides (General)    13. Spain    14. Travel    15. Travel - Foreign    16. Travel Guides    17. Europe    18. History / Jewish    19. Jewish studies    20. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Throwing some light on the Holy Land
This is the only one of H. V. Morton's books I've read, although I own one or two others. I suppose I must be slow on the uptake or too busy reading other things, not to have read further. This book was five stars all theway. I've still got the taste of the dust in my mouth.Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. History    3. Middle East - Israel    4. Travel    5. Travel - General   

Editorial Review

"Egypt," wrote the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, "is the gift of the Nile." John Wilson amplifies Herodotus's theme, showing how the rich soils of the Nile made possible the growth of civilizations from the earliest native dynasties to the late Roman empire. He also provides compelling biographical sketches of players who are even now famous--Nefertiti, Amenhotep, and Tutankhamen among them. Although it needs some updating because of recent discoveries, Wilson's book, first published in 1951, remains among the best one-volume introductions to the history of ancient Egypt. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best all around book on Ancient Egypt
Of all the one volume surveys of Ancient Egypt that I've read, this remains my favorite for its easy, flowing style. It may be old, but it doesn't seem a bit dated. I reread this book periodically and wouldrecommend it strongly. It is enjoyable as well as informative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Egypt    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. General    5. Sociology    6. Cultural studies    7. Middle & Near Eastern archaeology    8. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Reviews (2)

Reflects Cairo's Magnificent Complexity
If you know Cairo at all, whether glancingly or in depth, you will be grateful for the richness and detail of Maria Golia's book. No other work on the city captures so much of its unimaginably crowded present. Its past is skillfully woven in, but as Golia notes in her introduction, others have written about Cairo's past. Few outsiders can report so well on the day to day life of this incomprehensibly vast city. True, it's not a tourist's guide, but anyone who loves cities and their history will find this a rewarding text.

Good Introduction to the psyche of Cairenes
I grow up in Cairo. I was suprised how the author learned all of that information that she put in the book. The book provides information that one cannot know unless he/she lives long enough with the Cairenes. The book is very interesting. It descibes many aspects of social life in Cairo. The book discusses details about events, such as marriage, Islam, dating, etc. An early, interesting chapter discusses a brief introduction to the history of Cairo.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Middle East - Egypt    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. African history    6. Cultural studies    7. Egypt    8. Travel / General   

Subjects:  1. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Subjects:  1. Ethnic relations    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. Europe, Eastern    4. General    5. Guidebooks    6. History    7. History Of Jews    8. Holocaust survivors    9. Jews    10. Middle East - Israel    11. Travel    12. Travel - General    13. Central Europe    14. Eastern Europe    15. Jewish studies    16. Travel & holiday guides    17. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Commercial - Advertising    3. Interior Design - General    4. Middle East - General    5. Aerospace & aviation technology    6. Aircraft: general interest    7. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    8. Middle East   

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel & holiday guides    5. Travel / Middle East / General    6. United Arab Emirates   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Description and travel    5. History - Ancient    6. History - Middle East    7. Israel    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Palestine    11. Social life and customs    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Subjects:  1. Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B    2. Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B.    3. Arab countries    4. Description And Travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Middle East - General    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Ttravel   

Subjects:  1. Middle East    2. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    3. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    4. ASIA   

Reviews (5)

If you go to Iraq, you need a lot more than a book ...
This book was published pre-war and at least one of the authors was a long-time advocate of lifting sanctions and ally of John Pilger. It's terrible on the Kurdish regions. HoboTraveler.com in Iraq Using This Book.
It is the only book available with any hotels listed. Life in Iraq
I read this book by chance, it's title grabbed my attention. Why on earth would anyone be crazy enough to travel to Iraq (other than journalists / aid workers / soldiers)?I searched hard to find the usual travel-guide fodder: How to get into the city, what to see, where to eat, where to stay.Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Iraq    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Middle East / General