Reviews (3)

Great guide!
I used this guide for travels in Lebanon this past summer, fortunately, before the war.I explored Beirut and Tripoli, and this book provided excellent information on both cities.I found everything from hotel descriptions to guides on inter-country travel via bus and taxi to be accurate and helpful.Whatever information you could require for travelling through Lebanon and Syria is found here.Overall, a solid and reliable guide to an amazing region.

"As you wish"
"As you wish" is the response to most questions in Syria, making the LP Guide very necessary. It contains excellent information on rarer sites and ruins along with very good historical information about them. Best book for all your travel needs (in Syria, of course!)
I've just arriving from a travel to Syria. I've travelled a lot and I've ever used LP guides. This is one of the best. During my travel in Syria sometimes I had asked to myself: where can I find this, that, those...allthe answers, the most weird too, are in this book. During my visit to thedead towns (near Aleppo)the guide wared me about wild dogs. So, you can'tbelieve it, I'll find the dog. The guide don't say how can I save my pourlegs...but this wasa my problem not of the book. Is like to have a friendwith you who knows everything about this country ... Read more

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

Subjects:  1. Aphrodite (Greek deity)    2. Description and travel    3. Lebanon    4. Middle East - General    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Middle East    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Aworth reading personal ordeal, mirroring Lebanon's,
This is a personal ordeal worth reading.
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Subjects:  1. 1931-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Captivity, 1984    5. Historical    6. Hostages    7. Hostages, American    8. Lebanon    9. Levin, Jerry    10. Levin, Sis,    11. Middle East    12. Travel    13. U.S. - Middle East Relations    14. United States    15. Journeys    16. Levin, Sis    17. Relations with hostages    18. Syria   

Subjects:  1. Iraq    2. Jordan    3. Kuwait    4. Lebanon    5. Maps, charts & atlases    6. Syria    7. United Arab Emirates   

Reviews (5)

Great Book
Beirut Fragments is the only work on the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) that covers the lives of ordinary Beirutis. Whereas almost all other books are loaded with interviews with politicians and analysts and are decorated with conclusions trying to understand the causes of the war and assess its consequent destruction, Jean Said Makdisi, the sister of the late famous Palestinian writer Edward Said, describes with skill her daily stressful life in Beirut during the Lebanese capital's dark days.
Brilliantly captures life in beirut, the war years
I was born in Beirut after the war started and left for the US just a few years after it ended. A few years ago I came across this book in a used-book store (sadly now closed) in Boston. It is incredible how well it captures the life and feelings of the people who stayed on in the city through those days. The day to day decisions, the scheduled cease-fires, the love of life that permeated through all the killing.
good portrayal of a beautiful city destroyed by civil war
I don't believe I've ever written a book review before but I wanted to recommend this book.I have not yet traveled to Lebanon but I have done alot of reading about this country and hope to visit soon.The book really gave a good picture of what it must have felt like to have lived in Lebanon during its civil war.I read the book in 2 or 3 days, couldn't put it down...After I read it, I sent it to a Lebanese friend of mine.He said it reminded him very much of his childhood.The Lebanese people are a wonderful people.So courageous...Able to find humor and beauty and wonder and appreciation in the most ordinary of things.Able to survive through years and years of turmoil.They have such an ability to adapt...and create strong community. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beirut (Lebanon)    2. Civil War, 1975-1990    3. Description and travel    4. History    5. History: World    6. Lebanon    7. Makdisi, Jean Said    8. Middle East - History   

Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. Lebanon    3. Middle East - General    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Pictorial works    6. Pictorials    7. Travel    8. Photographs: collections    9. Photography / General    10. Photography / Photo Essays    11. c 1960 to c 1970   

Subjects:  1. History / Israel    2. Middle East,history of Middle East,description of Middle East,Lebanon,Judea,Samaria,Galilee,Syria,Youhannah El Karey of Nablus,travel,journey,Thomas Jenner   

Subjects:  1. Middle East - Egypt    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Egypt    6. Italy    7. Lebanon    8. Syria    9. Travel writing    10. Turkey   

Reviews (7)

Make this one your textbook...
Having travelled a lot using the LP guides with no problems I can only recommend them... but even if your not planning a trip to Lebanon- this book is amazing as a reference to the region; making order out of the chaos of Lebanon's recent history in an unbiased and moderate historiography- unswayed by religous or cultural persuasion and remaining sensitive to Lebanon's unique history of generally fruitful co-existance and co-operation between some 15 different religous/cultural groups who inhabit and interpret such a dramatic and tiny country, especially in a region characterised by the sometimes not-so-happy collision between east and west. This is an extremely valuable guide for travellers, people with an interest in the Mediteranean and the Near East, or for that matter, any one of the 13 million Lebanese descendants living outside of that tiny piece of heaven. The section on Mount Lebanon was particularly good, though the author could have covered more of the awesome hiking trails and forest overlooking Beirut to be found in the Metn valleys (midway between Jenkins & Jousiffes Mt Lebanon & Chouf)... but no body's perfect!! :) This book is excellent and very well written- the authors deserve great credit.

Perfect reference!
I returned to Lebanon after many years away.This book had everything!My family (who have never left Lebanon) were also amazed by the detail and accuracy of the book (even the cost of a Taxi from Homs to Beirut to within 50 cents US).Insightful and straightforward.Arranged very well.There is very good detail, even on places that the Ministry of Tourism is scant on.Highly recommended!

Living in Lebanon, loving Lonely Planet
When I decided to move to Lebanon three years ago, I bought the first edition of this book, and it was like a bible for my husband and me as we got our bearings, traveled around the country, and branched out on our own.We still use it as a reference when we go back to visit our favorite places.The information is clear and easy to follow, the historical sections, information about the culture, and practical information are all up to date and accurate.All in all, this is an excellent resource for anyone coming to Lebanon.Enjoy your stay! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Asia - Southwest    3. Guidebooks    4. HotelsInnsetc.    5. Lebanon    6. Middle East - General    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. General    3. Lebanon    4. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Reference - General    3. Reference - Tips    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. ASIA    7. Lebanon    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Lebanon    2. Syria    3. Travel / road maps & atlases   

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

Reviews (6)

Great detail about Syria, but less about Lebanon
I like this guide for its detail about Syria, but the information about Lebanon is sketchy in comparison.If you plan to visit both countries I recommend getting a separate Lebanon guide in addition to this one.I also agree with another reviewer who said that this guide is less practical than others, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.Still, it's very well-written and pleasurable to read while you are viewing the sites.

Great detail about Syria, but less about Lebanon
I like this guide for its detail about Syria, but the information about Lebanon is sketchy in comparison.If you plan to visit both countries I recommend getting a separate Lebanon guide in addition to this one.I also agree with another reviewer who said that this guide is less practical than others, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.Still, it's very well-written and pleasurable to read while you are viewing the sites.

Informed, eye-opening, witty, beautifully written
This is an excellent guide in every practical sense, but it is also something very much more, for it entirely draws you into Syria and Lebanon, it paints them before your eyes and immerses you in their atmosphere, so that like reading a good novel you feel you are actually there.I cannotpraise too highly the artistry with which Mr Haag has composed this book,and I thank him for having provided me -- in the person of his guide --with his knowledgable and most enjoyable company throughout my visit. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Lebanon    3. Middle East - General    4. Syria    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel / Middle East / General   

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

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. British    7. General    8. Great Britain    9. History    10. Lebanon    11. Royalty    12. Travelers    13. Women travelers   

Reviews (1)

How Western Modernization fails in the Middle East
At first sight, Ober's book might seem only relevant to alumni, faculty and students of the International College (IC), an American school in Beirut, Lebanon.
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Subjects:  1. Beirut    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Cross-cultural studies    4. Education    5. General    6. Lebanon    7. Multicultural education    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Philosophy    10. Pluralism (Social sciences)    11. Travelers   

Reviews (1)

Best guide book on the market
I travelled to Syria and Jordan this November, armed with my first Footprint guide book, and I'm now a convert. It is especially good in giving out well written historical background and cultural titbids that just make the trip so much more rewarding. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are sooooo shallow by comparison. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Guidebooks    3. Jordan    4. Lebanon    5. Middle East - General    6. Syria    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Middle East - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. ASIA    6. Jordan    7. Lebanon    8. Maps, charts & atlases    9. Syria    10. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (1)

Magnificent Illustrations
Lossing is directly responsible for the kindly view that the Shakers came to have in the eyes of America. This was the original article along with his sketches and illustrations which were finished out in water color before the wood engravers went to work. Absolutely astonishing details. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Shakers    2. Description and travel    3. History    4. New Lebanon    5. New Lebanon (N.Y.)    6. New York (State)    7. Religion    8. Religion - Denominations - Religions    9. Shakers    10. Religion: general