The Cultural Heritage of Arabs, Islam, and the Middle East

This book provides first-hand information about who Arabs are, how they interact within Arab society, their mores, customs, habits, cultural obligations, and taboos. Topics covered in the book include:

• Arab identity and social character
• The concept of honor, dishonor, lost honor, shame, retaliation, and the restoration of honor in Arab society
• Arab dignity and pride
• Fatalism
• Social etiquette and social interaction within Arab society
• Doing business in the Arab world (what Americans must know in order to succeed in the Middle East)
• The historical roots of Islam, its founder and prophet, Muhammad, and Islam’s basic tenets
• Usama Bin Ladin and his appeal within the Arab world
• The impact of the Israel factor on Arab-American relationships

The book is a must-read for Americans in the post-September 11th era to understand Arab perceptions of Americans, what they find positive and admirable about the West, and what they find offensive and unacceptable.