Book Description

Did you know that... King John of England offered to convert to Islam and hand over fealty of his kingdom in return for help from the Moors? Goethe was much influenced by the Persian poet Hafiz, known to his 14th-century contemporaries as "sugarlips"? The world's oldest university was founded in Cairo - long before those in the West? Georgian architecture was anticipated in at least one Persian building of the 6th century B.C.? Freudian theories of dreams were propounded by Hakim Sanai of Ghazna centuries before Freud's birth? The idea of evolution appeared in the works of Rumi, who died in 1273? This book is packed with tidbits of new information, enchanting stories, anecdotes, and travelers' tales. The advice offered in the section "Eastern Customs - Western Travelers" is invaluable for the business traveler. The Middle East Bedside Book brings the full color and spirit of this region to life through the eyes of past and present writers, observers, poets, and travelers. Dress, medicine, backgammon, psychology, politics, chess, attitudes about women, honor, music - even toothpicks and tourists - are covered. Like every good bedside book, each entry entertains, absorbs, moves to laughter, amazement, and even tears. A timely look at common threads linking Western culture with the Middle East.