“Gracefully written, filled with historical insight, and accompanied by fine photographs, these chapters are a pleasure to read. The most contemporary deal with the adaptation of Islam to economic realities, and a revealing comparison of the Balkans and the Middle East. Of particular interest is the author’s explanation for the change in standing among Egypt, Iran, and Turkey over the past two centuries.” — Foreign Affairs
“Issawi stands out … as a master at knowing what data are available, how much trust to put in them, and how to use them to illustrate a point without losing the interest of the nonspecialist. His writing is readily accessible to the general reader.” — Choice