To-Read List

This magisterial work traces Palestine's 4,000-year history from the Bronze Age to the present, using Egyptian, Assyrian texts, archaeology, and diverse sources. Nur Masalha uncovers the region's multicultural heritage and Palestinian identity, challenging distortions by Biblical lore and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. It demonstrates that Palestine is rooted in ancient history, not a modern invention.

Vali Nasr examines Iran's political history to reveal its grand strategy of resistance, shaped by the 1979 revolution, Iran-Iraq War, and U.S. containment. Behind the theocratic facade lies pragmatic pursuit of security against external threats and internal challenges. Drawing on interviews and memoirs, he traces its evolution under Khamenei, regional proxy networks, nuclear posture, and economic costs of sanctions.

Henry Kissinger examines the historical and cultural roots of international order, contrasting the Westphalian system from 17th-century Europe, China's central imperium, political Islam's religious supremacism, and America's democratic idealism. He analyzes how these paradigms shape global power dynamics, legitimacy, and contemporary challenges in relations between regions like Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the US.

An authoritative examination of how the Taliban survived and adapted to regain power in Afghanistan. The book traces the roots of religious extremism in the region, analyzes the Taliban's support base in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and explores how Western policies, military decisions, and corruption in Kabul enabled the Taliban's return to power.

The Revolutionists is a gripping account of 1970s radical extremists who terrorized the West through plane hijackings and hostage-takings, featuring figures like Leila Khaled, Carlos the Jackal, and the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Drawing on declassified files and interviews, Jason Burke explores their world of loyalty, betrayal, and commitment to radical change amid Cold War events like Munich Olympics, Entebbe raid, and the shift to religious fanaticism.

A comprehensive history of the Ottoman Empire from its origins in the thirteenth century to its dissolution after World War I. The work traces the dynasty's rise from a frontier principality to a world empire, examining its Turkish, Mongolian, Islamic, and Byzantine heritage. It challenges Western narratives by positioning the Ottomans as integral to European history, exploring their religious toleration, cultural achievements, and eventual turn toward exclusivity and ethnic cleansing.

A sweeping history of international relations and diplomacy spanning from the 17th century to the present, with emphasis on the 20th century. Kissinger analyzes the balance of power, realism in foreign policy, and the differences between American idealism and European realpolitik, incorporating personal accounts of his negotiations as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.

The Mitrokhin Archive II reveals the full extent of KGB operations worldwide during the Cold War, drawn from Vasili Mitrokhin's secret notes smuggled from Soviet archives. It details Soviet penetration in Africa, Asia, Latin America, sponsorship of insurgencies, terrorists, and influence on Third World leaders, showcasing KGB spycraft, active measures, and intelligence failures like the Afghanistan invasion.

The book examines the untold story of Bangladesh, from the 1971 Liberation War to contemporary politics of identity and Islamism. It reveals how linguistic nationalism evolved into a deception, critiquing the 'Joy Bangla' narrative through empirical social science lens by economist Prof. Kausik Gangopadhyay.

Land Between the Rivers chronicles 5,000 years of Iraq's history, from the cradle of civilization in Uruk and Mesopotamian city-states through empires like Akkadian, Alexandrian, and Ottoman, to the fall of the monarchy in 1958. Bartle Bull explores themes of religion, freedom versus tyranny, cultural exchange, and enduring conflicts, linking ancient events to modern challenges in this richly detailed narrative.

Senior journalist Khaled Ahmed examines Pakistan's policies on terrorism amid international pressure. Despite joining the US war on terror post-9/11, Pakistan is seen as a terrorist haven. The book explores origins and activities of terrorist groups, the state's role, and ideologies of founding figures, alongside how religion is embedded in Pakistan's political and social framework.

A comprehensive account of KGB operations based on handwritten notes secretly compiled by senior KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin. The work documents Soviet intelligence activities from the 1930s to 1980s, revealing methods of espionage, infiltration, and covert operations targeting the West, including technological espionage, agent cultivation, and assassination.