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A History of Iraq | 
 enlarge | Author: Charles Tripp
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy Used: $7.99
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New (42) Used (33) from $7.99
Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 91167
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Pages: 386
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1
ISBN: 052170247X
Dewey Decimal Number: 956
EAN: 9780521702478
ASIN: 052170247X
Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
To understand Iraq, Charles Tripp's history is the book to read. Since its first appearance in 2000, it has become a classic in the field of Middle East studies, read and admired by students, soldiers, policymakers and journalists. The book is now updated to include the recent American invasion, the fall and capture of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent descent into civil strife. What is clear is that much that has happened since 2003 was foreshadowed in the account found in this book. Tripp's thesis is that the history of Iraq throughout the twentieth-century has made it what it is today, but also provides alternative futures. Unless this is properly understood, many of the themes explored in this book - patron-client relations, organized violence, sectarian, ethnic and tribal difference - will continue to exert a hold over the future of Iraq as they did over its past.
Book Description
To understand Iraq, Charles Tripp's history is the book to read. The updated book includes the recent American invasion, the fall of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent descent into civil strife. Tripp argues that the history of Iraq throughout the twentieth century has shaped where it is today.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 ... June 27, 2001
33 out of 43 found this review helpful
Overall, I would characterize Charles Tripp's book as a chronological monologue that tells the story of what happened, starting from the beginning and going along in chronological order with meticulous attention paid to dates, and names of political figures. Reading this book often became a monotonous affair, as the author explained the names and dates of yet another coup d'etat or of yet another rebellion in Kurdistan, each coup and ethnic rebellion not significantly different from the one before it. In terms of clarity of presentation that this book achieves, I would say that while it is very good at describing what happened, it is much less clear at explaining why things happened. It often presupposes that the reader possesses background knowledge of Middle Eastern politics or of other disciplines. For example, the book talks extensively about the war between Iraq and Iran, but fails to explain the nature of the Iranian revolution, and how such a revolution would affect the Shi`a in Iraq. The book talks about the Gulf War, but does not explain that the reason for US intervention was largely economic. Perhaps these questions do not pertain directly to Iraq, but I think that providing some background information about other countries' interests and situations (when these countries came in contact with Iraq) is necessary in order to understand what was going on. Another thing I found frustrating is that the book did not explain what the real difference between Sunnis and Shi'a is about, and why the Sunnis have always been in control of the Iraqi state, even during Ottoman times. Another issue that I found particularly bothersome is the lack of emphasis in the book on explaining why Great Britain chose to define the borders of Iraq to be the way they ended up being. Why was Kuwait separated from Basra? At no point does the author address this question. Overall, I would have appreciated this book more if the author spent less time talking about what, who, and when, and more time explaining why. In terms of assessing the pedagogical value of the book, I would say that because this book doesn't make connections between histories of various developing nations, does not define general themes and trends, the book itself becomes much more meaningful when read in conjunction with another book on Third World Development, Howard Handelman's The Challenge of Third World Development, for example. When read in this way, Charles Tripp's "History of Iraq" becomes a colorful and clear illustration of the many issues that concern developing nations. From legacies of colonialism (national borders, rulers, elites, etc), to the use of patronage by third world countries' governments, to the impacts of agricultural reform, to ethnic and religious conflict, and the involvement of the military in the political affairs, this book serves as a real world illustration of the many themes that pertain to Third World development.
 No, no, no... September 22, 2001
I. Tremayne (London, UK)
31 out of 33 found this review helpful
The previous review is grossly unfair. The book is supposed to be a concise history, not an exhaustive analysis of every single issue and event in Iraq. There is an excellent list of suggested sources should the reader wish to engage in further research on any topic. The book is erudite and well-written. It does not assume that the reader has an extensive knowledge of the Middle East. Two friends borrowed this book for coursework and I had a hard time getting it back, actually.
A sound work March 10, 2004
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Not shallow, not too deep. A very good short history.
As the topic is vast, this is a excelent book for a person looking for a solid framework of facts. Almost every part of it could be written in length, but this is not the point of a concise one-volume history.
 Glosses over some of the more controversial parts... December 3, 2004
Lee L. (Washington DC)
10 out of 16 found this review helpful
But this is still an excellent place to start if you'd like to know more about Iraq.
Tripp tells the story of Iraq through the many incarnations of the Iraqi state. This makes for a very organized, readable account. A bit more accessable than some of the other Iraqi history books.
Even though Tripp underplays the importance of the U.S. role during the past 25 years (for example...not informing the reader how the U.S. had placed spies in UNSCOM therefore undermining the inspections process), he is realistic in his assessment of Iraq's future. He notes that a system of corruption and patronism has been in place for as long as Iraq has been a state, and that any change in Iraq will have to take place over a long period of time.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Iraq, and also to those people so enthusiastic about the war, etc. who think that the U.S. can go in and wave some magic wand to fix everything. Either way...it's an interesting read.
This book blew me away and made me smart February 2, 2005
Max Delmore (Student)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I am a college student that knew nothing about Iraq before I read this. Soon after getting through Charles Tripp's text, Iraq immediatelly became clear and approachable and I now find it a much easier country to follow. Anyone who wants to obtain an immediate foundation on Iraq mustn't look any further than Charles Tripp's A History of Iraq. Take a week out of your life to read this thing and you will be much better for it. Also, Peter Sluglett's books are solid too.
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