This is what is resting on my bedside table these days.
It is 1286 pages long, not including the endmatter. Just looking at it makes me nervous. I’m thinking it may actually be more efficient to learn about the Middle East by living there for a year or two, since it will probably take me that long to read the book. It’s in 9-point type.
So far, I’ve read two pages. Admittedly, they were engaging and non-intimidating. And if I continue to read two pages a day, I’ll be able to give a full review of the book by June 2011.