From Beirut to JerusalemFrom Beirut to Jerusalem
Score Classic
What it's about
Thomas Friedman went to Beirut as a young reporter in 1979, in the middle of Lebanon's civil war, and later moved to Jerusalem, where he covered Israel through the first Palestinian uprising. He describes what he saw, from car bombs and massacres to everyday life in a war, and tries to explain the tribes, faiths and politics that keep the Middle East in conflict.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award. It's a vivid, readable eyewitness account that made Friedman famous.
You'll love it if you liked
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
DispatchesGood to know
It ends in 1989, so it's a historical account now. Friedman's views on Israel and the Palestinians are debated.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #116 of the 198 history books we rank
- #242 of the 762 classics we rank
- #762 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Thomas L. Friedman
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The Path to Power
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Homage to CataloniaExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is From Beirut to Jerusalem worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award. It ranks #762 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is From Beirut to Jerusalem about?
Thomas Friedman went to Beirut as a young reporter in 1979, in the middle of Lebanon's civil war, and later moved to Jerusalem, where he covered Israel through the first Palestinian uprising. He describes what he saw, from car bombs and massacres to everyday life in a war, and tries to explain the tribes, faiths and politics that keep the Middle East in conflict.
How long does it take to read From Beirut to Jerusalem?
About 8 hours (311 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has From Beirut to Jerusalem won?
National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1989).
What should I read after From Beirut to Jerusalem?
If you liked it, try The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe or Dispatches by Michael Herr.