Douglas A. Howard

For me: I thought it was rather light

For others: Could be a great starter, if you want an easy overview of a new subject.

This book does point out that Turkey is quite different from how it's commonly viewed:
* It is a manufacturing centre, a huge manufacturer of comparatively cheap products to be sold to EU countries or integrated into EU countries' own products.
* It is a genuinely Islamic country, but historically the practices have been mild: social, village-life orientated, "mystical" could be a good phenomenological term. The recent attempts at hardening Islamic practices have basically failed, but the government has scattered mosques everywhere.
* Turkey's educated population looks to the west, tries to migrate to the west, trades with the west, admires the west, engages in western customs.
* Turkey's un-educated population looks to the west, tries to migrate to the west, trades with the west, admires the west, wants Turkish football teams to succeed in European competitions.

This book is good in that it lays out such details. But, if you are beyond that already, then maybe choose another book.
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