Reviews (5)

A springboard to savings
Bought this book a couple of weeks before traveling to Israel. Guidebooks invariably save you much more than the money you spend in buying them, and this book was not an exception.Found it very informative and easy to read. We visited Israel at Passover and Easter (Orthodox)--were there from April 17 through April 24, 2006.It was a busy tourist season and the book proved helpful in making first night's reservation in Tel Aviv (at Hotel Nes Ziona).[Next day we found a comparable but cheaper hotel (Hotel Eilat, not mentioned in Let's Go) not too far away and moved there.]Generally speaking, in lodging and eating we found prices higher than those cited in the book.This was expected as the book was printed in 2003 based on research done in August 2000 and the publisher had warned the readers they "may have different experiences since prices, dates, hours, and conditions are subject to change."Let's Go Israel covers Jerusalem, most favorite Israeli destination, extensively.Though I believe it should have mentioned the possibility of staying in West Bank (say in Bethlehem which is hardly 20 minutes from Jerusalem) and making day trips to the big city.
why all the hate?
I've been living in Israel for about four months... saw this in my friend's room and fell in love with it! Seems to be very well-tied-in with the culture, pointing out interesting items "off the beaten path"... Never saw the Frommer's but in any case this is a whole heck of a lot better than the Rough Guide I bought. Anyway, I'm going to probably buy this.

Outdated and Incorrect...
While there was a lot of great ideas and information in this book, the phone numbers and address sites that were listed were EXTREMELY inaccurate.The maps in it were excellent.I just think that it is very important to review the information and put in up-to-date material.Especially in this time of turmoil, this is the most recent publication in all of our searches for Israel trips.So as far as that goes, I guess it's better than nothing.I also think that there should be a choice of accomodations listed, as opposed to just Youth Hostels and "cheap-end" accomodations, my wife and I were often looking for moderate hotels, but there were never any listed in this book.Until an updated book is published, this should be the one that you go with if you are looking for a tourbook of Israel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - Israel    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. Israel    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Middle East / Israel   

Reviews (8)

Thorough and accurate
I spent about a month reading this guide and the Lonely Planet series while planning my trip to Egypt... Well, they were both OK, but the Rough by Dan Richardson is way more detailed and has more practical info on fees, schedules, hotels and workarounds if something goes wrong. Through the trip (Hurghada - Aswan - Luxor - Cairo - Suez - Hurghada) the LP was what I read in the evening before going to museums or tombs and RG was what I carried around in my pocket through the day. My estimate is that I saved not less than fifty times the cost of this book just because I knew most of the prices and situations in advance, before bargaining :) Rough Guide to Egypt
To the point, told you what you needed to know, without saturating you with information. I travelled with a couple of friends to Egypt and found their book to be more informative than mine, despite the fact that theirRough Guide was a little out of date when they bought it. It isespecially useful if you are looking for cheap accomodation in Luxor and toa lesser extent, Aswan, plus it also provided some decent maps of bothareas. One amusing snippet that caught my attention was the informationabout the back way into the Valley of the Kings (for the fit amongst youonly) - you turn right just before the ticket collection point atHapshepsut, passed the souvenir stalls and follow the path up the side ofthe hill. Once at the top and passed a hill on top, veer right again togo into the Valley of the Kings. Unlike the main entrance (where you arechecked to see you have tickets), you don't have to pay to get in this way,but you can't get into any of the tombs if you haven't bought the tickets -courtesy of the information in Rough Guide. The Egyptians check fortickets again at each tomb entrance, which from what I can remember, youare told about in the book anyway. Still worth it for the views though,especially of Hapshepsut, but DON'T GO TOO NEAR THE EDGE OF THECLIFF. WATCH WHEN THE BOOK WAS LAST UPDATED!!
I used this book while in egypt. I found it to be very outdated and did not have much of the relevent information that I needed. I am normally a big fan of the rough guides but this purchase taught me the lesson that you need to be aware of when the book was published. I did not realize the book was nearly three years old when I bought it. If they have not come out with a recent update then purchase a different book -time schedules change rather frequently and the more uptodate the book is the better off you are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - Egypt    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Africa    6. Egypt    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / General   

Reviews (2)

Yes, But It's Useful
I can sympathize with teh reader who found Raymond's book boring and therefore gave it a middling rating. I used the French edition of this book for an MA years ago and while I found it useful because it is of the school of social history that digs out the facts and figures and puts them out there for us to use, it is most definitely useful, not fun. A ghost writer would have been a nice idea to make it an appealing book for general readers. For the academic writer who is looking for facts and figures to bolster an argument, this book is very useful, as are many of Raymond's boring books. Thus, I improve the rating by a star because the content is academically useful, if not intellectually or emotionally appeally beyond academic pursuits. This one's for the professors, and others should surely avoid.

Less taste, more filling
It's difficult to give this book a bad review, as it's a masterful, scholarly...collection of facts. The problem, and I don't believe it's entirely one of translation, is that there is little narrative throughout the book. It's a big book full of facts. Quite often, this reader got so bogged down in how many hectares Qahira covered as opposed to Fustat, or how many suqs were built in a given decade, that I lost track of where I was in the book. The only good narrative begins at the section where Maqrizi's era starts. But it doesn't hold out. I just sort of trudged on, feeling I wanted to finish, but without any joy in the reading or the discovery. It's too bad because Al Qahira is one of the world's great cities and a fascinating topic. I wish Raymond had gotten someone to ghost write. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cairo (Egypt)    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Middle East - Egypt    6. Middle East - General    7. ASIA    8. African history    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. Egypt    11. History / Middle East    12. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

This book is an excellent choice for visitors to the Holy Land who want to take an in-depth look at the area's historical sites. Among this Oxford guide's special features are 150 site plans, maps, diagrams, and photographs; routes through the Old City of Jerusalem; a brief historical outline; and a glossary of essential terms. Read more

Reviews (3)

The Real Da Vinci Code!
If you really want to separate the wheat from the chaff - this is the way to begin. Unique guide for archaeology minded traveler to Israel
Unique guide for archaeology minded traveler An excellent guide for the layman.
We recently returned from two weeks in Israel where we traveled around on our own with this book and the Lonely Planet Guide.Our trip would have been much poorer without The Holy Land.The strength of the book is itsdescription of almost every ancient site of interest in Israel with linemaps of the present structures and historical descriptions of the sites. The author includes quotes from ancient historians and medieval pilgrims aswell as citations to the Bible.He approaches all the sites with respectbut does not hesitate to call the authenticity of some sites into questionwhen the historical or archaeological evidence does not support it.Hepoints out that greater faith can be placed in the Christian sites wherethere was evidence of pre-Constantinian veneration, before the questions ofpilgrims "excited the imaginations of local guides."For me thismakes the more credible sites such as the Holy Sepulchre and the house ofPeter even more moving.Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Archaeological Site Guidebooks    3. Archaeology    4. Excavations (Archaeology)    5. Guidebooks    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    8. Palestine    9. Social Science    10. Travel    11. Travel - Foreign    12. Archaeology | Ancient    13. BCE to c 500 CE    14. Biblical archaeology    15. Israel    16. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    17. Travel & holiday guides    18. Travel / Middle East / Israel    19. c 1000 CE to c 1500    20. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Editorial Review

Every great city deserves a book like this one: a sweeping chronicle by an author whose motives mix passion and bewilderment. Over the course of four and a half millennia, Cairo has eluded all who would try to pin it down, reinventing itself time and again: "It has survived countless invasions, booms and busts, famines, plagues, and calamities." Author Max Rodenbeck, a correspondent for the Read more

Reviews (26)

Not just another travel guide
Max Rodenbeck, who has lived much of his life in Cairo, reveals the city through its long and varied history--from the Creation myth of On to the year 2000 with its "quickening sense that Cairo is on the verge of change."When I finished this book, I felt I understood more about the place and the people, about the evolution of the city through many eras.In the final chapter, writing about the contemporary political situation, Rodenbeck provides a list of the events that point to "looming dangers":"The Iranian revolution and civil war in Algeria, continuing Israeli colonization of the Occupied Territories, the Gulf War, and the arrival of American troops on Arab lands..."With the September 11 and other terrorist attacks around the world, the on-going war in Afghanistan, the American occupation of Iraq, and other events that have further destabilized the region, I wonder what Rodenbeck would now say about the prognosis for this city that both fascinates and irritates him--as only one's home town can.

Not bad but not what i expected
I'll be visiting Cairo next month so i wanted to read something about this city.The book is not bad when it comes to history.The author explains the political,economical and social changes with accuracy and insight.However he lets out,what i believe, important history about the city.He doesnt go into details regarding The Citadel or the islamic buildings in the city.He just mentioned them when it is relevant to the story his telling.I felt that, as i was going to be a first time visitor to the city, i wasnt getting all the neccesary info or inside scoop on the monuments ,buildings and landmarks that makes Cairo a great city.I think the author falls short in this regard.But as an introduction to the city itself is very good and gives color to the account.

Rings true!
As an American ex-pat living in Cairo for the past four years--with all the resultant emotions and biases inherent in that--Rodenbeck's history has taken my somewhat jaded view of Cairo and reinvested it with a sense of awe and appreciation.Three-fourths of the way through the book, I have a long list of sites to visit--places I hadn't heard of, let alone seen--and an increased understanding of this complex city and its contrasts.Rodenbeck fills the book with wonderful bits of trivia ( it was possible in 16th century Cairo to make a living as a professional farter!) to round out his broader explanation of the sweep of Cairene history.Other reviews take him to task for his lack of thoroughness, but that was not his goal.If you're looking for a highly readable and insightful overview of Cairo from the end of the last Ice Age to the present, this is the book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cairo (Egypt)    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Middle East - Egypt    7. Travel / Middle East / Egypt   

Reviews (4)

Powerful and Moving
This book starts out good and then just gets better and better with each new Pilgrimage. Wright takes the reader on a journey with such descriptive writing that one wonders if his degree is in literature, instead of theology and history.Wright deals with the idea of Pilgimage on the road to Damascus, at the Jordan, in the Wilderness, in Galilee where most of Jesus minsitry took place, in Jerusalem, on the mountain where God is experienced in transfigurative ways, Gethsemene, where the agony of purpose takes place, the Cross (the best chapter), the empty tomb and then reflections on current day Israel.This book will take you away and cause you to feel like you were on the mountain, at the Jordan and was a witness of the cross.Wright's reflections are insightful, powerful and moving.Get this book.

More Than a Theologian
This will be brief. It is simply a statement about my "hero" in a sphere for which he is often not known, especially in the States.This book is the heart of Tom Wright, the pastor. Written as a pastor to part of his flock going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, it breathes the spirit of pastoral concern. At the same time it reveals a real knowledge of the Land - its history, geography, culture, and current struggles. For those who think that they know NT Wright, whether as friend or foe, it reveals what I like about him most - an academic who left the daily world of academia for pastoral ministry.And what a pastor he must be to his flock - now in the diocese of Durham.I have been to the "Holy Land" forty times and have read dozens of books on Israel, past and present. I will treasure this one more than any of them.I am in the process of buying up all of the copies I can, since it appears to be out of print.
It can happen to you
As N.T. Wright notes, "It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you."Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Church of England    4. Middle East - Israel    5. Palestine    6. Religion    7. Religion - Christian Life    8. Sermons    9. Sermons, English    10. Christianity   

Reviews (6)

Buy it, read it, leave it at home (or in your hotel room)
If you're going on a cruise or tour and have one day in Venice, forget it - don't bother with this book.But if you have any time to spend, this guide will provide you with some context for everything you're going to see.And if you don't want context, don't want to understand the city, why not just go to the casino in Las Vegas?The gondola ride will be WAY cheaper. Best City of Venice guide
On my first trip to Italy, I spent 8 nights in Venice with this book and was not disappointed with any aspect of the descriptions, histories, and cultural commentary of the book, however, this was my first time booking a 'recommended' hotel and got burned bad.This is why in all the Knopf books I have reviewed, I consistently state that unless you are talking about a world class place, like the Cipriani, you must use another resource to get your hotel and restaraunt picks.While I love the Knopf guidebooks for Cities, Venice is a little 'tough'; compared to Rome, Paris, London, Dublin, or Munich and NewYork(Cities I have been to or live in).Therefore I offer the following caveat to the traveler beyond recommending this book unconditionally.Venice is tough, and really is a theme park.What I mean by this is the following:Venice lost half its native population from like 1920 to 1980.It then lost half of what remained of its native population from 1980 to 2000.Venice, (the main islands), has no industry, employees, or even citizens left not completely relegated to tourism.And the tourists do come.There were so many Americans in Venice that it felt like a mall on Long Island.The result is that every Venetian you meet is, shall we say, a little edgy having to deal with hoardes of foreigners from 7 am till 2 am, 7 days a week!I saw more locals being abused by tourists in Venice than anywhere else, so the locals get back at you with scams, charging for every little thing, and otherwise looking to shave am extra buck off of you at every turn.Most of the time I do not mind this, because frankly you couldn't pay me enough to do their jobs, but the only time I have every really been fleeced was in Venice.No Cote D'Azure, or Miami, or New York, clip joint could compare to Venice The Best In-Depth Guide to Venice
The Knopf Guide Venice provides a colorful picture-packed in-depth guide to Venice and the surrounding attractions of the Venice Lagoon. Like all the Knopf guides there is an extensive introduction giving the historical background to Venice. The individual tourist attractions are described in great detail with copious illustration. I wish more photographs were used rather than drawings. This minor fault is common to all the Knopf guides. There are good sections describing Murano, Burano, Lido and San Michele (the Cemetery Island) as well as the obligatory tourist attractions. Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Europe - Italy    3. Mexico    4. Middle East - Egypt    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Reviews (1)

Insiders's guide to Kabul
The new Bradt Mini Guide to Kabul is a well written insider's view of Kabul. It offers the traveller everything he/she needs to know to survive and enjoy Kabul and its environs, from security concerns to the best espresso cafe. The content is informative and well-organized. The lively prose and diversity of subject matter makes the book a good read, even for the armchair traveller curious about life in this war torn city.Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southwest    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Afghanistan    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Middle East / General   

Reviews (7)

Classic adventure... and mostly true!
I confess: Richard F Burton is one of my heroes. In part, it's because much of my life has been spent in his traces, from India, through the Middle East, to Baltimore and the Great Plains.
Sir Richard Burton - a man not of his time
Excellent writing about an arduous journey to meccah. While not the first European to enter the holy city, he was the first to pace off dimensions and publish an extensive survey of the area, the city and the muslims' sacred meterorite. Very interesting subject material particularly in the 21st century.

bibliography & note
India:Read more

Subjects:  1. Arabian Peninsula    2. Description and travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Mecca    5. Mecca (Saudi Arabia)    6. Medina (Saudi Arabia)    7. Middle East - General    8. Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimage    9. Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimages    10. Saudi Arabia    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. Travel    13. Travel - Foreign    14. Classic travel writing    15. Islam    16. Other prose: 19th century    17. Pilgrimage    18. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (1)

Don't Leave for Jordan Without It
Jordan is a country that is known to most Westerners mainly for its front-line role in the Arab-Israeli conflict; for the spectacular Nabataean temples carved into cliff-faces at Petra; and as the scene of Lawrence of Arabia's adventures during the First World War.Now that it has a formal peace treaty with Israel, more westerners are making their way to Jordan.Those who do will find the Blue Guide to Jordan an invaluable companion.I also recommend it highly to armchair travelers who just want to learn more about this little-known but intriguing country.Read more

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

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Greece    3. Israel    4. Travel & holiday guides    5. Turkey   

Subjects:  1. 20th Century Description And Travel    2. Ancient - General    3. Antiquities    4. Bible    5. Bible.    6. General    7. Middle East    8. O.T.    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Sinai, Mount (Egypt)    11. Sociology    12. Travel    13. Williams, Larry R    14. Williams, Larry R.    15. Journeys   

Reviews (1)

Learning Can Be Fun!
I got this book along with several others for my first grader. We homeschool and are studying Ancient Egypt. We loved this book! This was by far my son's favorite. It is easy to find "photos and facts" types of book on Egypt, but this one adds a bit of fiction and adventure to the mix. It is kind of like the Magic Tree House books, but in a picture book format. The book is an adventure story with factual information listed at the bottom of each page (I guess sort of like Magic School Bus type books too). I will definitely be checking out the others in this series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Civilization    5. Egypt    6. Fiction    7. History - Ancient    8. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    9. Time travel    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Adventure & Adventurers   

Reviews (3)

Could have been much better
This book has some interesting facts about Jerusalem.But it does not tell us much about sightseeing in the city.And it definitely needs some maps.
This is not a travel guide !!
Buying this book was a complete waste of money !
Send it back to the publisher for corrections
Failed to meet reader expectations for accuracy!Read more

Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Jerusalem    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history    8. History / Middle East    9. Israel   

Reviews (3)

Iraq in a Nutshell
Ms. Roraback's "Iraq ina Nutshell" as well as her entire Nutshell Note series should be required reading in our Public Schools. Ms. Rorabacks' written workwill "open the eyes " of readers wishing to learn and experience the present middle east including information regarding itsorigin, social and cultural way of life. The "Iraq in a Nutshell" book is extremely organized, professional and informative. Ms. Roraback has a profound way of sharing information while beingcompletely objectiveboth politically and religiously . Our present perceptions of the middle east are generally based on both myth and strero-type. Ms. Roraback has managed to show us a new a clear image of a people and land we know little about. I highly recommended this reading.Daniel Burke, Los Angeles, Ca.

A Must-Read for Every American
I am amazed at how clearly, concisely, and objectively this book explains the complex history and politics of Iraq in just 60 pages!As a high school history teacher I strongly recommend this book for every household, classroom, and White House bookshelf.

Excellent, informative and well written!
I have a few of these "Nutshell Notes" books and I have even visited the website, www.nutshellnotes.com and I must say that these books do a superb job of telling it like it is--no fluff, no confusion, no words that I have to look up in the dictionary every other sentence, just pure, concise information. Read more

Subjects:  1. Iraq    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Asian studies   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful View of Ancient Thebes
This book gives a great view of the New Kingdom ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes.It provides intimate details into the lives of the workers at Deir-El Medina, the monumental temples, beutiful tombs, and its unique history.The Strudwicks do a wonderful job expalining how Thebes went from a small Egyptian town to a huge capital that would leave an unforgettable mark on Egyptian Culture.

different from all other guides; extremely descriptive
This book differs from the usual guides, as it describes the historicalevolution, from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period, of the tombs andtemples of Thebes (modern Luxor). The authors provide detailed and accurateinformation about life in the city. Subjects covered include the Valley ofthe Kings, that of the Queens and of the Nobles. Issues such as tombdecoration and burials of private individuals are addressed. This is anexcellent, recommended, must-read book for all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Guidebooks    3. Middle East - Egypt    4. Thebes (Egypt : Extinct city)    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    8. Ancient World    9. Egypt    10. Middle & Near Eastern archaeology    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Middle East - Egypt    2. Pictorials    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Egypt    6. Photographs: collections    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Middle East / Egypt   

Reviews (3)

Great summary
I purchased the LPG Middle East before traveling to Kuwait to work for 6 months. I found the content fairly well prepared me for what to expect, and hence I managed to survive my time there.
Getting there and getting away...
Ive come to see the lonely planet books as usefull in three ways. One as a traveling guide, which seems to be its intended function. Atleast when it comes to its books to the middle east it fulfills this role. Second, as a book which provides a nice long summary of the countries with history, culture, paracticalities and interesting information which is essential to read if one is to truly "visit" another country. And finaly, as guides to read in their new editions after one has already visited the place. Middle East on a Shoestring
When one takes the initial steps of such an exotic trip as the middle east, a guide is needed to educate yourself on everything. Even the experienced traveler will find their trips to Europe did little to preparethem for the Middle East. This is why this guide does so much for theindependant, and is so invaluable. Lonely planet has a history of helpingpeople travel on a meagre budget, however gives a warm and caringintroduction as to why indulging yourself occasionaly in the more expensivetreasures can make your vaction. The authors expell the myths of all aroundviolence in the region and firmly warns you where not to go. The religionand customs sections are so informative that I found myself prepared forthe basics of Islamic life and ready to learn more. This book inspired meto take the unbeaten path and to still take in the wonderful tourist draws.Ive browsed through the two other major guides on the middle east, theydont compare to the thorough down to earth writing that Lonely Planetproduces. Occasionaly, there could be more entries on Long Distance Travel(getting there and away) and there could have been more mention of thesmaller budget tours that are offered in the region, however I stillcontend that this is the best pick for Middle East travel guides for alltraveler of all Budgets. ... Read more

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

Features

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Reviews (16)

Almost Amusing... Fails to Delivers
'In the Rose Garden of the Martyrs' is more or less enjoyable to read, but not quite as advertised. It is definitely a personal account which adds much flavor to the book but tends to be choppy and seems to lack any real purpose.
Are we talking about the same Iran?
The book is so biased. It gave me this impression that the author closes his eyes to all aspects of Iranian culture and sees only what he wants to see: miserable, uneducated people possessing unrealistic ideas. This false attitude gives him some self satisfaction of being an European, which I believe makes his book intolerable.
Good.
I received the book in a decent amount of time and it was in perfect condition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1971-    2. 20th century    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. De Bellaigue, Christopher,    7. Description and travel    8. Iran    9. Middle East - General    10. Middle East - Iran    11. Political    12. Social life and customs    13. Travel    14. Biography & Autobiography / Political    15. Bargain   

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Islamic    2. Cairo    3. Cairo (Egypt)    4. Egypt    5. Guidebooks    6. Islam - General    7. Islamic antiquities    8. Middle East - Egypt    9. Middle East - General    10. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    11. Travel    12. Travel - Foreign    13. Architecture / History    14. Islam    15. Islamic studies    16. Memorials, monuments    17. Museum, historic sites, gallery & art guides