Well written, accessible and readable study of the crusades from both Christian and Muslim perspectives. Asbridge seems very interested in the motivations for the crusades (and the reactions it caused in and around Palestine) and is especially careful and precise in describing these motivations.
He offers a nuanced and realistic view of the effects of the crusades and in the conclusion he mentions some very important points about how to view those two centuries now.
Asbridge occassionally seems to get too enthusiastic when introducing a new "player" (the rise of Saladin, the arrival of Richard I in Palestine) but it doesn't influence his analysis and does make for fascinating and even exciting reading.