RESET

A stern critique of American foreign policy and a concise colorful and compelling modern history of Turkey Iran Saudi Arabia and Israel. —NPRReset introduces an astonishing parade of characters: sultans shahs oil tycoons mullahs women of the world liberators oppressors and dreamers of every sort. Woven together into a dazzling panorama they help us see the Middle East in a new way—and lead to startling proposals for how the world''s most volatile region might be transformed this paradigm-shifting book Stephen Kinzer argues that the United States needs to break out of its Cold War mindset and find new partners in the Middle East. Only two Muslim countries in the Middle East have experience with democracy: Iran and Turkey. They are logical partners for the United States. Besides proposing this new power triangle Kinzer tells the turbulent story of America''s relations with Israel and Saudi Arabia its traditional partners in the Middle East and argues that those relations must be reshaped to fit the new realities of the twenty-first century.Kinzer''s provocative new view of the Middle East—and of America''s role there—will richly entertain while moving a vital policy debate beyond the stale alternatives of the last fifty years.Praise for ResetA radical new course for the United States in the region. —Foreign AffairsIntriguing. —The EconomistFresh and well informed. . . . [A] lively character-driven approach to history. —The Washington Post