Lebanon (Cultures of the World) - Hardcover

Sheehan, Sean

4.38

8 ratings by Goodreads

9780761402831: Lebanon (Cultures of the World)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0761402837 ISBN 13: 9780761402831

Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, 1997

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Diversity is the spice of life, and the highly regarded Cultures of the World series celebrates just that in fully updated, and expanded editions. As has always been true of these outstanding titles, an abundance of vibrant photographs -- including those new to this edition -- stimulate the imaginations of young readers as they travel the globe. A new chapter on the environment focuses on politics and economics as well as on endangered species and the effects of industrialization. Additional authentic recipes add general interest while new maps offer further, easy-to-find facts in About the Geography, About the Culture and About the Economy sections.

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From School Library Journal:

Gr 5-10--Two series entries that emphasize aspects of everyday life. Each volume opens with a pithy, half-page summary and then goes on to discuss the geography, history, government, and economy of the region. The last half of each book considers lifestyles, religion, language, arts, leisure, festivals, and foods, including a recipe for a typical dish. Lebanon presents a nuanced picture of a war-torn country struggling to reestablish itself as a nation. Sheehan explains how its Arab identity is coupled with "confessionalism," a system whereby people identify themselves by religion. The author also manages to defuse the term "jihad," describing it as not only "holy war" against an enemy, but also as an individual's struggle against baser instincts within. Jordan contains lively, informative passages as well, including sections that quote poetry, explain the role of emotional speech, or point out differing notions of personal space. Too often, however, statements seem opinionated. Do all wealthy Jordanians scorn native handicrafts? Is it true that Jordanian men "hang out" in the streets while women are at home "working hard"? It's not that what South says is necessarily inaccurate, but rather that the comments are sweeping and impressionistic. This title would be best used in tandem with other more strictly factual accounts. Overall, both books are lively and well written. Full-color photographs abound, page design includes lots of white space, and interesting sidebars break up the texts. "Quick Notes" present the basic facts about each country on a single page. Unfortunately, maps are few and poorly labeled.

Ellen D. Warwick, Winchester Public Library, MA

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