Finserra reviewed Power, Faith, and Fantasy by Michael B. Oren
Review of 'Power, Faith, and Fantasy' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Ambassador Oren's book is stellar. It would be misleading to call it a survey of U.S. - Middle East diplomatic relations from Barbary to Bush, since that would hide the book's breadth, as well as its depth and thematic cohesiveness. After 9/11, it is easy to see our relations with the Middle East and its peoples as starting after WWII, but our relationship with that region is far deeper, as illustrated by Amb.Oren. A taste of the themes he reflects upon are the role of Barbary in our decision to unite the States and fund a navy, the "Jewish" post once reserved at the State Dept vs. later Arabists, the slow drum beat of Protestant restorationism that preceded G.W. Bush for 150 years, the contribution of missionary education to anti-colonialism and support for nationalism in the region (later compromised by oil needs), and the impact of American Middle East romaticism …
Ambassador Oren's book is stellar. It would be misleading to call it a survey of U.S. - Middle East diplomatic relations from Barbary to Bush, since that would hide the book's breadth, as well as its depth and thematic cohesiveness. After 9/11, it is easy to see our relations with the Middle East and its peoples as starting after WWII, but our relationship with that region is far deeper, as illustrated by Amb.Oren. A taste of the themes he reflects upon are the role of Barbary in our decision to unite the States and fund a navy, the "Jewish" post once reserved at the State Dept vs. later Arabists, the slow drum beat of Protestant restorationism that preceded G.W. Bush for 150 years, the contribution of missionary education to anti-colonialism and support for nationalism in the region (later compromised by oil needs), and the impact of American Middle East romaticism on American culture (from recreations of Egypt at county fairs to The Sheik to Art Deco to Midnight at the Oasis).
