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Title: Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds by Stephen Kinzer ISBN: 0-374-52866-7 Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux Pub. Date: 04 September, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.89 (53 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: No Turkey of a Book!
Comment: CRESCENT AND STAR is a fun, informative read. Turkey is becoming a popular destination for Westerners (unless they're Greek and mad about Cyprus) and this book shows us why.
Turkey has been in the middle of things politically and culturally for so long, and yet the country and its people are pretty much a mystery to most Americans. Mention Turkey, and images from MIDNIGHT EXPRESS spring to mind. But every person I know who has visited has had great things to say: the people are hospitable, it's cheap, there's a lot to do and see, and the food is superb.
It's also important for us to understand our allies, and Turkey has been courageous enough to stand with the US even though it's been criticized for doing so. Turkey also shows us how Islam and secular society can co-exist. This is important now, as Muslims become a stronger political voice, in the US and in Europe.
Rating: 4
Summary: Compelling and insightful, but sensationalist
Comment: This synopsis of the history and current issues of modern Turkey is compelling and insightful, despite at times being a bit sensationalist and biased.
I just returned from a couple of weeks in Turkey where I spent a lot of time just talking to folks. I must admit that on many issues Kinzer was right on -- or at least highlighted the hottest topics even if his take on them didn't always completely line up with what I picked up from the people there. It certainly gives a reasonable introduction to what people are thinking about and the issues that they face.
It's clear that Kinzer loves Turkey and after spending some time there I can concur that there's much to admire. Sadly however there are a number of faults in the writing style that are a little disappointing.
First, Kinzer is a New York Times reporter and the book reads like that -- it would be a very different book were it written by a historian or a sociologist. Sometimes there's a bit too much skimming of the surface for a work this long.
Second, there's a pretty clear agenda to it (like, say, the New York Times). There are times that Kinzer seems to have already decided the fate that he thinks Turkey should take and projects this back on the people there. The issue that I noticed the most contrast with what I read and what I heard was the issue of joining the EU and pushing the culture further west. The Turkish that I met -- even some among them in what would seem to be a very westernized segment of society -- are much more cautious about this move than Kinzer implies. There's a real fear of compromising or destroying that which is distinctive in Turkish culture.
But then there are issues where he's right on. I often used the book as a guide on interesting topics to let conversations tend toward. Specifically the issues surrounding Greek / Turkish relations seemed to be very near to what people really felt.
Anyway -- on the whole a good read, but it really feels more like a compelling series of articles on modern Turkey than a well researched book on the cultural issues.
Rating: 5
Summary: good coments
Comment: This boook discribes Turkey's problem very well. Stephen Kinzar understands Turkish problems effectuivelly. I am glad thathe wrote this book therefore many people can understand even Turkey's own people why Turkey is still strugling with it's own problems.
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Title: Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey by Andrew Mango ISBN: 158567334X Publisher: Overlook Press Pub. Date: November, 2002 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer ISBN: 0471265179 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: 18 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey by Nicole Pope, Hugh Pope, Nichole Pope ISBN: 1585670960 Publisher: Overlook Press Pub. Date: 05 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Ottoman Centuries by Lord Kinross ISBN: 0688080936 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 01 August, 1979 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: My Name Is Red by Erdag Goknar, Orhan Pamuk ISBN: 0375706852 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 27 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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