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Arabs

A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires
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( 1,215 ratings, 182 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Arabs by Tim Mackintosh-Smith offers a sweeping historical account of the Arab people, spanning 3,000 years. This book explores their cultural, political, and social evolution, highlighting key figures and moments that have shaped their identity and influence throughout history. It provides insights into the Arab world's richness and complexity without delving into spoilers.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3599
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a keen interest in the rich tapestry of Arab history and culture, tracing the journey from the earliest times to the present day. Tim Mackintosh-Smith offers an engaging narrative enriched with linguistic insights and captivating stories, making it an enlightening read for history enthusiasts and those curious about the enduring impact of the Arab world.

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A riveting, comprehensive history of the Arab peoples and tribes

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
SUNDAY TIMES AND TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Masterly and brilliant"—Simon Sebag Montefiore

"A book of vast scope and stunning insight."—Anthony Sattin, Spectator

“Commanding erudition and a swashbuckling style define this history of the Arabs”—Justin Marozzi, Sunday Times

This kaleidoscopic book covers almost 3,000 years of Arab history and shines a light on the footloose Arab peoples and tribes who conquered lands and disseminated their language and culture over vast distances. Tracing this process to the origins of the Arabic language, rather than the advent of Islam, Tim Mackintosh-Smith begins his narrative more than a thousand years before Muhammad and focuses on how Arabic, both spoken and written, has functioned as a vital source of shared cultural identity over the millennia.

Mackintosh-Smith reveals how linguistic developments—from pre-Islamic poetry to the growth of script, Muhammad’s use of writing, and the later problems of printing Arabic—have helped and hindered the progress of Arab history, and investigates how, even in today’s politically fractured post–Arab Spring environment, Arabic itself is still a source of unity and disunity.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Arabs by Tim Mackintosh-Smith is praised for its scholarly yet engaging narrative, offering brilliant insights and historical parallels on Arab identity and culture. Reviewers commend its commanding erudition and swashbuckling style, noting it as a comprehensive and important chronicle that deftly combines historical analysis with personal narrative. The book is celebrated for its ability to bring the Arab world's complex history to life, enriched by the author's unique perspective and deep cultural understanding.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300251630

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 December 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 26 color illus. + 4 maps

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 656

About the Author

Tim Mackintosh-Smith is an eminent Arabist, translator, and traveler whose previous publications include Travels with a Tangerine and Yemen. He has lived in the Arab world for thirty-five years and is a senior fellow of the Library of Arabic Literature.

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