The Arabs

A History

By: Eugene Rogan

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 27 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In this definitive history of the modern Arab world, award-winning historian Eugene Rogan draws extensively on Arab sources and texts to place the Arab experience in its crucial historical context for the first time. Tracing five centuries of Arab history, Rogan reveals that there was an age when the Arabs set the rules for the rest of the world. Today, however, the Arab world's sense of subjection to external powers carries vast consequences for both the region and Westerners who attempt to control it.

Updated with a new epilogue, The Arabs is an invaluable, groundbreaking work of history.

©2009 Eugene Rogan; revised introduction and postscript copyright 2016 by Eugene Rogan (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Rogan eruditely furnishes Western readers with a background to current events." ( Booklist)

A must listen for anyone interested in current events

This book is an excellent overview of Arab history and should be listened to by anyone interested in, and confused by, current events in the Middle East. The only way to understand the present is to study the past. Well written, and well narrated.

Amazing capturing storyline!

Where does The Arabs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most captivating books I've listened to. I was skeptical about a 27 hour long book but I truly wanted this book to be even longer.

The storyline was so well done and fair. Zooming in on individual stories and zooming back out to the larger macro-political view.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Despite this being factual based, the book captured many "character" like stories throughout. For example, the story of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Muhammad Ali.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Glimpse of hope in a dark past.

Any additional comments?

Would have loved to hear about some of the major revolutions around the Arab world such as Omar Al Moukhtar and Sultan Basha Al Atrach but the book had so much to offer to offset this.

Very interesting and informative

Really enjoyed the book. The history regarding the second Iraq war was at best incomplete and one sided, and at worst biased to reflect the author's political views. The result was contradiction and confusion. The book was excellent up to the epilogue and the post script where it lost some of it's historical integrity.

Biased but worthwhile

This is a good way to understand the Arab view of the last 200 odd years. It's extremely biased, though, once it gets past WWII. I'd say it goes from being a history of the Arabs to the Arab take on Israel with all the usual half-truths.

As just one example, in dealing with the peace negotiations of 2000 and 2001 the author says Israel offered more than ever before, but it wasn't enough. The author doesn't give an actual percentage or an explanation of why it wasn't enough. It is more a statement of opinion than an historical analysis or explanation. Throughout, he states it as a fact that Arafat wanted a two state solution without considering the alternative view that might explain Arafat's decision to not make peace in 2001.

That said, even going back to 1967 and particularly 1973 there are some interesting tidbits that I never knew before and do provide a different, useful perspective. I recommend this, but you have to be prepared to either get annoyed if you disagree or be aware of the bias if you don't already have an understanding of the history.

Fantastic performance, informative history

Derek Perkins's narration is stellar. The book itself is quite good, but if I have one complaint, it is that too much focus was placed on military clashes large and small, a bit too little on the social and political fights that gave rise to the armed sort. But still a fascinating book.

Simply outstanding. A must-read.

Excellent. Written by an Oxford historian who really knows how to write. Highly recommend it.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

This is a long book, but all of it kept my interest. It is the history of the Arabs, starting in the 1500’s till the early 2000’s.
I read the long review by “ Nostromo” , on which I based buying the book and of course my interest in world history.
I cannot add to his review, except that I highly recommend listening to this book.
Eugene Rogan is an outstanding historian and the narrator, mr. Derek Perkins is as good as always to listen to.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

Superb

Quality explanation of a nation that I am still learning about and do my best to understand. Thank you!

Excellent Education

I am grateful for the author's treatment of this important subject. I now understand the common threads that tie together events remembered as distinct. Many nations have had a hand in creating the environment that made it possible for people to commit so many atrocities. We in the west should commit ourselves to learning about this region from sources other than the press and politicians.

Excellent Book

A great overview of the history of the Arabs, and must read for anyone interested in learning that region.