Lebanon: A Country in Fragments

I enjoyed the level of detail in this book immensely. I am grateful someone put so much time, energy and effort into what I'm sure is a very small demographic of people who would be interested. Thanks to the author, and if you're considering a good recent book on Lebanon, this is an excellent, well written, if not verbose and academic from time to time, but still a stellar book with loads of detail. I am not an academic by any means so entirely possible I just had to use the dictionary so often because the book was written for other academics. Regardless phenomenal book, thank you for putting so much into it.

This is a marvelous and comprehensive read on this remarkable, beautiful and impossibly complex country. It bogged down a bit early on in the intimate detail of Lebanese politics, and I’d have liked a bit more historical context (it really focuses on post 2005). But it really came alive as it delved into the deep and rich cultural uniqueness across the country. It also made clear a series of issues (like the recently garbage crisis) that I barely understood. I read it in preparation for a recent trip, and it is as good and well written a volume on this country I love as I’ve read.

The book is amazing - it explains pretty much every aspect of contemporary Lebanon, from politics to private life. It was written before the 2020 Beirut explosion, but you can learn why this calamity would not be so surprising to the Lebanese. You can also see why the collapse of its currency was just a matter of time. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book. Having visited the country last fall, I wish I had read it before my departure. Interesting coverage of every part of the small nation, sociology, culture, international relations etc. made it a fascinating adventure.

If you like trite sayings interspersed with historical content then this book is for you - the author is excessively wordy to the point of annoyance. While he might possess great knowledge of his subject, getting to the subject is a plodding journey. For example, calling the interaction between two countries "like a dysfunctional marriage" or an official who was dismissed "out in the cold" (and other such irrelevant comments) etc detracts from any useful information in the book. First book on the Middle East I cannot/will not finish - stopped about 1/4-1/3 through it

Satisfied.

Great book!