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.

An investigative account of OpenAI's rise and the AI industry's global impact. Hao examines the extraction of computational resources, data labor exploitation in the Global South, and environmental costs of AI development, drawing on interviews with Silicon Valley engineers, Kenyan data workers, and Chilean water activists.

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.

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 first volume of a two-volume biography covering Gandhi's life from birth through his 21-year period as a lawyer and civil-rights activist in South Africa, where he developed Satyagraha and transformed from a Western-trained Indian lawyer into a global leader of non-violent resistance.

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.

A powerful history detailing military clashes between Islam and Christendom. The work examines the struggle between the Islamic world and Christian Europe, exploring the historical conflicts and interactions between these two religious and political spheres across different time periods.

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.