This book explains the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict from Biblical times ....to Mahmoud Abbas. The book points out historical misunderstandings in side-bars topped by a picture of a pharaoh wagging a finger and saying "Tut Tut!" It doles out trivia beneath a cartoon of a smiling sphinx. It contains subheadings such as, "Hello Haganah" and "Too Many Jews, Not Enough Space."

Mainstream, broad-based texts usually bend so much toward even-handedness that they end up offending partisans on both sides. What a surprise, then, that this Idiot's Guide is not so idiotic. An excellent guide to beginning to understand the Middle East.

Historically sound, this book is written from a Jewish prespective ( )