699One could spend several lifetimes studying the literature about the Middle East and
still only have skimmed the surface. This bibliography lists many of the works con-
sulted in preparing this book. It is not comprehensive, but many such bibliographies
are available elsewhere. For example, the library of the Middle East Institute in Wash-
ington, D.C., has posted several excellent bibliographies, arranged by country and
topic, at http://www.mideasti.org.
In addition to the books listed below, the well-written and reasonably detailed
Country Notes prepared by the U.S. Library of Congress were consulted for this vol-
ume. The historical studies for Middle Eastern countries are available online at
http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed. Note that some studies are reasonably current while several have
not been updated since the late 1980s or early 1990s. The U.S. Department of State
provides regularly updated reports, including historical background and current devel-
opments, on individual countries in its Background Notes series available at www
.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn.
Dozens of think tanks, universities, and special interest groups around the world
have programs devoted to studying the Middle East. Many of these produce useful
information for novices and experts alike. Many of these programs, however, promote
specific points of view, often under the guise of independent analysis. Finding non-
partisan, unbiased information about the Middle East—particularly on the Internet—
can be almost as difficult as finding peace and harmony in the region.
Books
Ajami, Fouad. The Arab Predicament: Arab Political Thought and Practice since 1967.
Updated ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Brumberg, Daniel. Reinventing Khomeini: The Struggle for Reform in Iran.Chicago: Uni-
versity of Chicago Press, 2001.
Cleveland, William L. A History of the Modern Middle East.3rd ed. Boulder, Colo.: West-
view Press, 2004.