Reviews for Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey Through the Middle East

The average rating for Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey Through the Middle East based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-01-29 00:00:00 Gary Thurgood-parkes This is a book that can surely make an impact. Well..., it certainly did on me! This book has been my first (of many more to come) attempt to understand the people of the so-called Middle-East region and the Arab world. It deals with one American 'un-official ambassador's' attempt to understand the people and their thoughts, views, ways of living, etc, of mainly Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and the territory of West Bank (Judea and Samaria). It gives an idea of how and what people perceive in the region at the individual level about the West's Foreign Policies in the region, since a part of the book was written during the onset of the war in Iraq in 2003. It also speaks about the way of life in the region and what the west can learn from it, and the same time understanding that foreign policies cannot by themselves make the required change in the region. The book is written in simple language, and imparts emotions of the people around, which I believe was very important, and is very well managed, balanced and well put; so much that it literally got me in tears at some points. On the personal front, while having developed a certain understanding of why one needs to be kind and compassionate of another, this book helped me in understanding the problems faced by the people of this region in a much deeper way, at an individualistic level, possibly at its core. The book contains dialogues in English (but many of which were originally held in Arabic, as per the writer) although quite a few Arabic terms and phrases have been left about for the much needed effect that imbibe in the writing. A glossary has been included at the end of the book. I admire Mr. Orbach's efforts in his abilities to visit the places mentioned in the book, and more-so thank him on especially writing about it and getting it published, considering the much-needed requirement of the people around the world, of knowing and understanding, perceiving it with the right conscience, and hopefully making a clear path to a peaceful solution for peace in this wonder-filled Arab world.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-09-18 00:00:00 Ons Nava This book was recommended as part of my armchair travel reading, but it is so much more than that. He makes the Middle East... for lack of a better word, accessible. He introduces us to specific regions, specific people and families, and reminds us that while people may have different cultures and ways of doing things, we all really want some of the same things -- to love and be surrounded by those we love, to earn a living, to gain some enjoyment from life. I was able see many different points of view, which is so important with a slanted media that chooses what images to show us and what stories to tell us. In my mind, the Middle East was a place that I heard about on the news but really knew nothing about. This book made the area come alive to me. The people he met in his travels were compassionate, hospitable, hard-working, and so many of the men he met just wanted to be able to earn enough to fulfill their dream of getting married but they were barely scraping by. Sure, he ran into a few people who took advantage of him -- or tried to -- but you can find that anywhere. What impressed me most of all was his ability to show with examples why there is so much unrest in the area, what with occupation and displaced populations. He doesn't oversimplify, and he doesn't claim to have all the answers. What does do is ask a lot of good questions and offer a lot of thoughtful and intelligent things to think about. We need more Benjas, and I am so much better for having read this book.