Reviews

From Beirut to Jerusalem by Đặng Ly, Thomas L. Friedman

emmareeser's review

Go to review page

informative

4.0

ncollier's review

Go to review page

informative medium-paced

3.75

rdubs's review

Go to review page

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

trisha76's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.25

just_j08's review

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

diloream's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

maggierutz1187's review

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective tense

5.0

drdreuh's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny informative fast-paced

3.5

The first half of Beirut to Jerusalem is a series of morbid funny (I'm sure theres a better term for this) anecdotes from life in Beirut. I've come to understand that this is Friedman's style. Maybe its more effective for people who have never lived in a low-income country.

The second half was a bit more useful for understanding the current political economy of Israel and its neighbors. Its here that Friedman's belabored efforts in the first half of the book about being a Jewish person in the Middle East make sense, because he's quite critical of Israel's encroachments. 

For me and my purposes, the first half went a bit too long and the second half went a bit too fast. 

oldie's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative fast-paced

3.0

thehoserpolice's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

Great read! Interesting insights and observations from the author who lived in Beirut during part of the Lebanese Civil War and spent time in Israel during the first Intifada. Interesting insight into the Jewish-Arab relationship in the Middle East.