A Middle East Mosaic

Bernard Lewis A Middle East Mosaic: Fragments of Life, Letters and History

I scooped this book up in Tokyo at Narita Airport in January just before I got on the plane to head to training at Fort Bragg. However, I didn't open it until June. I wish I had done so sooner, as it is rather interesting. Basically, it is a collection of writings spanning several Centeries that compares what Middle Easterners say about Westerns and what Westerners say about Middle Easterners. It is a very relevant idea and it does a very fine job of exposing the often outrageous biases and prejudices that we have towards each other.
I have not finished this book. Though it is not really the sort of book that one would finish per say. Instead it is something to be referred to periodically for the sake of perspective.