The latest edition of Melissa Rossi's popular What Every American Should Know series gives a crash course on one of the most complex and important regions of the world. In this comprehensive and engaging reference book, Rossi offers a clear analysis of the issues playing out in the Middle East, delving into each country's history, politics, economy, and religions. Having traveled through the area over the past year, she exposes firsthand the U.S.'s geopolitical moves and how our presence has affected the region's economic and political development. Topics include: Why Iran is viewed as a threat by most Middle East countries; What resource is more important than petroleum in regional power plays; What's really behind the fighting between Sunni and Shia; How Saudi Arabia inadvertently feeds the violence in Iraq and beyond; How monarchies like those in Jordan and Qatar are more open and progressive than the so-called republics. With answers that will surprise many Americans, and covering a vast history and cultural complexity that will fascinate any student of the world, What Every American Should Know About the Middle East is a must-read introduction to the most critical region of the twenty-first century.

Misunderstanding the Middle East -- Cheat sheet 1: basic concepts and building blocks -- Jogging through the millennia -- Pulling the pieces together -- European designs : hacking up the Middle East -- Cheat sheet 2: 1979 and beyond : a quick look at the issues -- Iraq : pardon our mess -- Iran : isn't the party over yet? -- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia : splitsville -- Kuwait : lines in the sand -- Yemen : in another world -- The United Arab Emirates : the land of possibilities -- Qatar : trail blazing -- Bahrain : a new profile -- Oman : awake at last -- Cheat sheet 3: the westerners -- Israel : fulfilling prophecies -- Disappearing act : the Palestinian Territories--the West Bank and Gaza -- Lebanon : the cedar devolution -- Syria : crumbling support -- Jordan : stuck in the middle -- Egypt : secret society.