Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics

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We are walking too quickly down the road to physical and psychological utopia without pausing to assess the potential damage to our humanity from this brave new biology.

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In "Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity," Dr. Kass has written a book that grapples with the moral meaning of the biomedical technologies now threatening to take us back to the future envisioned by Aldous Huxley in Brave New World. In a series of meditations on cloning, embryo research, organ sale and the assault on mortality, Kass questions the wisdom of trying to break down our natural limits and remake the human body into an instrument of our will. He charts a course for avoiding the dehumanization of biotechnical "re-creationism" without rejecting modern science and its contributions to human welfare.

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Ambitious in scope, thought provoking, at times repugnant.......2007-01-21

Admirable in its scope, Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity is an accessible, thought provoking text which is bound to hold any readers interest; Luddite or techno-enthusiast. Biologist and Chair of the President's Council on Bioethics, Leon Kass, discusses the impact of biotechnology on every phase of human life, from embryonic beginnings to the technological possibilities of immortality. No stone is left unturned. Despite his own conservative viewpoint Kass presents oppositional arguments in a balanced non-vindictive manner. Because of this, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Dignity serves as a very helpful introduction to the pursuits and accomplishments of biotechnology as well as to the challenges posed to bioethics.

Kass's own position is not always persuasive and many, including myself, are bound to find his all too frequent appeals to Biblical authority out of place in this particular genre. Still, this approach serves Kass's overarching project of undermining undue confidence in technocratic rationalism. In the tradition of C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man, which Kass frequently cites and serves as an essential compliment to this text, Kass works from outside the rationalist framework in order to subvert it. A position, Kass admits, which is difficult to argue from. Because of this, many of his arguments rely on pathos appeals, in particular the "ick" factor evoked by many of the desired ends of biotechnology, such as cloning. Further, Kass's conception of human nature which he seeks to defend in the name of human dignity comes right out of the book of Genesis and is therefore bound to ostracize many modern secular readers. Despite these debilitating flaws, Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity is a worthwhile read. Though the particular arguments it advances may be revolting to many readers, it is bound to expand the horizons of thought on the very controversial, relevant, and worthwhile topic of biotechnology and its ethical implications. Recommended.

Heart Felt Discussion of Life Issues.......2006-05-04

Life and dignity of it concern this author. As well, science and its advancement concern him greatly. What this book concerns itself with are the intersection of the two.

What Kass fears are that the two are moving in opposing directions, i.e. that science has moved beyond boundaries of investigating life in a dignified, respectful manner of life into an self fulfilling control and power over life.

He offers some foretaste of what could come in this statment: "Genetic technology, the practices it will engender, and above all the scientific teachings about human life on whit it rests are not, as many would have it, morally and humanly neutral. Regardless of how they are practiced or taught, they are pregnant with their own moral meaning, and will necessarily bring with them changes in our practices, our institutions, our norms, our beliefs and our self-conception. It is, I submit, these challenges to our dignity and humanity that are at the bottom of our anxiety over genetic science and technology."

He summarizes his concerns with the future of science in terms of boundaries and limits: pursuring limitless goals which many in culture has concerns about; props up artificial boundaries that are not true to life, thus working out of touch with reality; unsensitive to defeiencies of human reason and mysteries of life, its very subject.

He writes with concern that is balanced, spending time to put forward the other side's opinions and objections and desires and rights. And that's his real point, that we consider his main concern of life and its dignity.

Worth the read, although it is somewhat tedious at points, especially first half till get to current euthanasia and abortion.

Moral, ethical and spiritual dilemma..........2005-04-02

Sometimes unfortunate sequence of events unfolds where things reach a boiling point and there are no obvious winners such that hearts end up being deeply wounded on both sides of the debate. The vicious cycle of mistrust and hate then keeps propagating, bitterly dividing people who in essence have similar noble intentions of compassion and upholding dignity of life and to mitigate human suffering but are looking at the same goal from different directions and are deeply caught in passionate emotions such that rational thought and desire toward compromise is relegated to the background. In times like these one needs to stand back and look at the big picture and at all the factors in play, not with the intent of vindictiveness and finger-pointing, but with the intent of bringing people together and to determine the direction in which a nation is headed.

Both scientific and religious considerations meet face to face at the beginning of our lives, through our daily lives and should therefore be considered together during the process of dying as well. During times of illness what constitutes medical intervention sustaining life and what in considered an unalienable right of every living being has to, unfortunately, be defined by mortal human beings. In this regard people of faith may differ from secular individuals and even religious bodies have to narrowly define these boundaries out of necessity of not leaving unambiguous guidelines.

1. If a person facing questions regarding end of life decisions has a living will or a durable power of attorney or when a person entitled to make decisions by proxy exists then in a democratic society the individual's wishes should trump all other considerations.

2. For patients who are not terminally ill, the moral argument to end life prematurely loses credibility and also one reaches a very slippery slope where the risk of things going awry is immense. On a secular level the argument boils down to individual rights vs. the responsibility of an individual towards people who would be personally affected by the decision and also towards common good of the society as a whole. Even if immense suffering can be demonstrated in the case of an individual inflicted by a chronic debilitating illness, this may serve as an example to others justifying suicide and legal precedence in this regard would open up the chances of people falling through the cracks. Ultimately, for any given society and nation, the law of the land reflecting the wishes of the majority of its people and upheld by an independent judiciary must be respected.

3. In the case of an unconscious person facing life and death issues where there is no reasonable hope of recovery (as evidenced by unbiased objective and subjective medical evidence) the patient's spouse followed by parents and siblings would be required to make the decision regarding actively initiating medical intervention to sustain life or to withdraw continuing medical interventions and therefore initiate the process of dying. Withdrawal of medial support certainly invokes more ethical and moral questions than the initial decision to not initiate support. In this regard the first priority would be the duty to honor the patient's implicitly or explicitly expressed wishes and the enormous burden of proof in this regard rests with the legally responsible family member making the decision. A consensus among family members after weighing in on the medical evidence presented to them by the physician regarding the overall prognosis is critical in order to obtain closure for all involved people. If there is a dispute among family members and the judiciary is involved in determining the patient's wishes and to exclude possible conflict of interest - an independent judicial system strictly interpreting the law and being completely independent of influences from the other two branches of the government is vital in upholding justice not only for the family members but ultimately for honoring the patient's wishes. The focus should never shift from the patient. If there is any reasonable doubt then a culture of erring towards life is desirable but has to be very carefully weighed against the grave concern of not honoring the patient's wishes and this burden lies with the responsible family member or members. Part of this burden of proof shifts to the judiciary when there is a dispute regarding the patient's wishes. However the legal process should never be influenced by the other branches of government and intervening for one individual opens up several ethical and moral questions regarding conflict of interest for those branches as well. At the end of the day if one truly believes in the dignity of every human life then no single individual should be used as a tool for religious, political or economic gains no matter how big the stakes. Rather, it should be a non-confrontational discussion at an ideological level.

4. What constitutes medical intervention is always debatable especially with rapidly advancing medical technology and new procedures and interventions being available. In terms of withholding food and water given my mouth, there appears to be little justification but when the same is accomplished by a medical procedure then that would appear to qualify as a medical intervention but probably morally justifiable for basic needs such as food and water and even for supplemental oxygen administered by non-invasive means. Ultimately religious or secular moral beliefs combined with weighing in on the overall prognosis and inevitability of death should be considered before either initiating or withdrawing support. Again taking into account what that person's implicitly or explicitly expressed wishes would trump all other considerations. In this regard ending the suffering and therefore preserving the dignity of the individual at the end stages of life when death is inevitable could be argued as a noble cause and prolonging the process and stalling the inevitable could be argued as going against the wishes of God for people of faith. For patient's lacking perception of pain (as collaborated by the medical evidence) then the argument of initiating a painful process of dying would also not be valid and if a person is believed to feel pain despite contrary medical evidence then debating that in a public arena would only compound the person's pain and suffering and undermine the dignity of that individual's life. For people of immense social and religious stature, love and respect for the individual would inculcate the desire to sustain life by artificial measures but the overall prognosis and hope of recovery to a point where that person would be able to regain the ability to resume the responsibilities would also need to be taken into consideration. If the process of dying is inevitable and drawing near then it is comforting to see serenity and calmness in letting go and to be One with the Creator.

Hope for the future.......2005-04-01

Moral questions regarding sanctity of life are sometimes larger than life itself. The debatable question is how to define life itself. Is a person in persistent vegetative state not alive? That depends on whether you consider life as being synonymous with the seat of consciousness - which is highly debatable. Yes, the mind defines our thoughts and shapes our identity but it can also be argued that the cerebral cortex should not be taken as what determines the distinction between life and death since the mind is only a part of every living individual. On the other hand questions regarding quality and dignity of life are not mutually exclusive from the question of end of life issues. Every individual should have the power to determine their end of life choices but only within the realms of the law of the land. It agains boils down to the urgent need for religion to meet with the realities of an ever changing modern world in a non-confrontational manner and if the need be, redifine the law of the land by the appropriate process.

Paperback edition blues. Time for a new editor........2005-03-21

There are so many publishing errors in the first paperback edition (2004) of Leon Kass's book that it is almost unreadable. It is obvious that no one even bothered to look at the book before sending it to retail.

Do a quick read of Chapter One and you will see what I mean. Sentences are left entirely unfinished from one page to the next, leaving the reader wondering how much other text has been omitted. Although page 35 starting with the word "nogoly" is pretty classy, my favorite example is the transition from page 37-38. Here, Dr. Kass is begins to frame an argument, but the sentence is never completed. Then, the next paragraph begins, "Crudely put, the argument could be stated this way." What way? Of course the irony is all the more poignant because this series of publishing mistakes follows Dr. Kass's meta-observation about the technology used in producing this very book. Good stuff.

I would not be nearly as concerned had this book not been a god-send for my present research project. But $17 later, I guess I have to track down a hardback copy in the hopes that I can actually read what Dr. Kass has written.

Altering the face of humanity.(Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Human Dignity: The Challenge of Bioethics)(Book Review): An article from: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life

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Altering the face of humanity.(Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Human Dignity: The Challenge of Bioethics)(Book Review): An article from: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life
Marc D. Guerra
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This digital document is an article from First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, published by Institute on Religion and Public Life on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 2317 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Altering the face of humanity.(Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Human Dignity: The Challenge of Bioethics)(Book Review)
Author: Marc D. Guerra
Publication: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life (Refereed)
Date: February 1, 2003
Publisher: Institute on Religion and Public Life
Page: 59(5)

Article Type: Book Review

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Excoriating technology.(Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics)(Book Review): An article from: The Hastings Center Report

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Excoriating technology.(Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics)(Book Review): An article from: The Hastings Center Report
Alastair V. Campbell
Manufacturer: Hastings Center
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This digital document is an article from The Hastings Center Report, published by Hastings Center on January 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1434 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Excoriating technology.(Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics)(Book Review)
Author: Alastair V. Campbell
Publication: The Hastings Center Report (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2004
Publisher: Hastings Center
Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Page: 44(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Yossi Klein Halevi, born in America and now an Israeli citizen, embarked on a spiritual quest in order to appreciate the religious dimensions of conflicts in the Middle East. Beginning in 1998, he undertook "an attempt at religious empathy" in order "to test whether faith could be a means of healing rather than intensifying the conflicts in this land." Halevi, author of the critically acclaimed Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist, chose "to pray and meditate with my Christian and Muslim fellow believers," as "a conscious refutation of the way we religious people of different faiths have always judged each other--by what we believe about God, rather than how we experience God's presence." The holy days of each religion form the structure of At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden, and Halevi's encounters with Sufi dervishes, Muslim sheiks, monks, nuns, and laypeople are entertaining, poignant, and sometimes fearsome. The stories do not separate "spirituality" from "politics"--or history, psychology, or theology. His commitment to describing an integrated experience of the many aspects of religious life helps to make the book a successful exercise in empathy, and a book of lasting literary value. --Michael Joseph Gross

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A brilliantly observed memoir of an unprecedented and remarkable spiritual journey.

While religion has fuelled the often violent conflict plaguing the Holy Land, Yossi Klein Halevi wondered whether it could be a source of unity as well. To find the answer, this religious Israeli Jew began a two–year exploration to discover a common language with his Christian and Muslim neighbours. He followed their holiday cycles, befriended Christian monastics and Islamic mystics, and joined them in prayer in monasteries and mosques in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden traces that remarkable spiritual journey. Halevi candidly reveals how he fought to reconcile his own fears and anger as a Jew to relate to Christians and Muslims as fellow spiritual seekers. He chronicles the difficulty of overcoming multiple obstacles注eological, political, historical, and psychological注at separate believers of the three monotheistic faiths. And he introduces a diverse range of people attempting to reconcile the dichotomous heart of this sacred place柠struggle central to Israel, but which resonates for us all.

Customer Reviews:

An honest, humble, inspiring adventure.......2006-09-08

I just love this guy. Starting with a simple urge to connect with his neighbors, Yossi Halevi embarks on an awkward, fascinating, dangerous journey through Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. He discovers a series of surprising characters who dream, not just of peace between Jews, Muslims and Christians, but of spiritual friendship. And the story of these fragile, budding friendships becomes an adventure of almost overwhelming power.

I want to quote from one episode, where Halevi and a madcap Jew called Eliyahu Charanamrit McLean attend a mosque in Karawa village on the West Bank:

"This mosque was a family project: Everyone here belonged to the Abu-Laben clan. They were working class people; the shaykh himself was a car mechanic.

"What do the other Muslims think of you?" Eliyahu asked.

"That we're crazy," replied Saud's father. "They think we chant the name of 'Abdallah' instead of 'Allah"". Laughter.

I asked Saud what he experienced during the zakir [or dance of remembering God]. "That our hearts kept getting closer and closer to God," he said, with the Sufi vagueness I'd so often encountered from Ibrahim. ...

Ibrahim, not to be poetically outdone, added "Our souls went up to heaven like clouds".

"When you pray together," said the shaykh's father, "you form one heart".

I felt sad for this forlorn Sufi Shteibl. Here was an Islam with which we could make peace, yet it was almost absurdly perepheral. Still, maybe the fact that a handful of Muslims and Jews had danced together was enough for God to work with; perhaps He would magnify our prayers, widen the circle of ecstasy." (p. 104-105)

Halevi is realist enough to claim no easy victories. As the level of sectarian violence rises again, his network of friends retains little but hope and prayer. It's a marvelous book.

A study in courage.......2006-05-17

One problem with writing intelligent books on religion is that religion demands the author experience it. Halevi takes this difficult challenge and seeks common ground with Christians and Muslims. To find this common ground he is willing to push his boundaries, go beyond his fears to find a common ground.

In his efforts he encounters a Catholic order of religious that seeks to return to the Jewish roots of Jesus as a common ground for Jewish-Christian relations; a Catholic monk of the Melkite rite (Jerusalem rite) seeing Arab-Jewish understanding through the Arab Christian; a common ground of genocide with Armenian Christians; a common ground of love with Sufi sheiks ...

Throughout his search runs a thread of the common monotheistic underpinnings of the three major religions of Israel. A second thread is a more universal acceptance that includes the great Eastern traditions - Buddhism and Hinduism. The third thread is the history of the Jewish people and the reality of strife in Israel. Through these threads, Halevi challenges the reader to confront his or her prejudices in the political and religious arenas.

The net result is not a great book, but one I highly recommend because of the issues raised and the author's personal willingness to share his experience in addressing the issues.

Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew's Search for Hope with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land.......2005-10-08

This is a must for all ethnic groups to read.

Hope.......2005-09-10

The title is exact. Halevi is an extraordinary person: a mystic deeply rooted in his Jewish faith but who can share a common search for peace and religious experience with Christians, the historic persecutors of Jews, and with Muslims, who have now become the "enemy." I know three of the communities of Christians he shared with and the descriptions are accurate so I can assume the Muslim sections are just as fair. Anyone searching for religious and mystic truth that is non-violent but serious about faith and God will love this book.

What real faith is all about. Amazing........2005-02-14

Yossi Halevy thinks he is only writing about interfaith connections in the holy land, but in fact the most inspiring aspect of the book is the delicate portrait of his own faith in God, where this deep faith takes him, and the grace of goodwill and wisdom that it creates inside his soul.

A freethinker in the Holy Land: With original pictures

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A freethinker in the Holy Land: With original pictures
Walter Van Nostrand
Manufacturer: Truth Seeker Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, and the Desolation of Palestine and the Desolation of Palestine, With an Account of The

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History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, and the Desolation of Palestine and the Desolation of Palestine, With an Account of The
[Unknown]
Manufacturer: Moore, wilstach & moore
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LZQCQA

$The Holy Places: A Narrative of Two Years\' Residence in Jerusalem and Palestine. With Notes on the Dispersed Canaanite Tribes, by Joseph Dupuis. Volume 1$
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The Holy Places: A Narrative of Two Years\' Residence in Jerusalem and Palestine. With Notes on the Dispersed Canaanite Tribes, by Joseph Dupuis. Volume 1
Hanmer Lewis Dupuis
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402153260
Release Date: 2002-03-12

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This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1856 edition by Hurst and Blackett, London.

$The Holy Places: A Narrative of Two Years\' Residence in Jerusalem and Palestine. With Notes on the Dispersed Canaanite Tribes, by Joseph Dupuis. Volume 2$
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The Holy Places: A Narrative of Two Years\' Residence in Jerusalem and Palestine. With Notes on the Dispersed Canaanite Tribes, by Joseph Dupuis. Volume 2
Hanmer Lewis Dupuis
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402153244
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Product Description

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1856 edition by Hurst and Blackett, London.

Jerusalem in the Mind of the Western World, 1800-1948 (With Eyes Toward Zion)

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Jerusalem in the Mind of the Western World, 1800-1948 (With Eyes Toward Zion)

Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
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Binding: Hardcover

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This fifth volume of the With Eyes Toward Zion series brings together 19 internationally renowned scholars to interpret how Jerusalem returned to the world stage in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The rediscovery of the Holy Land coincided with the greatest era of Christian missions and the birth of Zionism, and the face of Jerusalem began to change markedly. This volume explores those changes, looking at the influx of travelers and explorers to the Holy Land, and the evolving theological concepts among the various religious groups. This discussion of the rediscovery of the Holy Land delves into an issue that is at the forefront of current world discussion: the meaning of Jerusalem to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Palestine and Syria: With Routes Through Mesopotamia and Babylonia and the Island of Cyprus: Handbook For Travellers; with 21 Maps, 56 plans, and a Panorama of Jerusalem - Fifth Edition, Remodelled and Augmented

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Palestine and Syria: With Routes Through Mesopotamia and Babylonia and the Island of Cyprus: Handbook For Travellers; with 21 Maps, 56 plans, and a Panorama of Jerusalem - Fifth Edition, Remodelled and Augmented
Karl Baedeker
Manufacturer: Leipzig: Karl Baeker, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000JBZ1K4

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Downright Dishonest
Unbelievable! An Anti-Semitic Travel Guide!
At Long Last, And Well Worth The Wait!!
At Long Last, But Well Worth The Wait!!
At Long Last, But Well Worth The Wait!!

Palestine With Jerusalem
Henry Stedman
Manufacturer: Bradt Travel Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841620017

Book Description

Palestine is a tiny country, yet within its borders lie a significant part of the Holy Land and, from the Samarian Mountains to the Dead Sea, a surprising variety of landscape.

Divided from Israel by the Green Line, Palestine has much to offer the visitor, not least the warmth of the Palestinian people that belies their turbulent history. In addition to the attractions of Jericho and Bethlehem, and the modern-day cities of Nablus and Ramallah, the Bradt guide extends out into the mountains and hills giving details of hidden monasteries, deep gorges and barren deserts. And then, of course, there's in-depth coverage of Jerusalem.

This guide includes background history, from the birth of civilization to the new millennium; the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Jerusalem in detail; accommodation, food and transport; safety and security; activities from floating in the Dead Sea to walking, cycling and Turkish baths and 22 maps and town plans.

Customer Reviews:

Downright Dishonest.......2001-11-24

Wish I could put no stars for this one. The author provides a lot of "history" in this travel guide but what is provided is often downright dishonest. One particularly galling example is when Stedman describes how Israel used the "excuse" of Egypt's blocking the Straits of Tiran to Israeli vessels, to attack Arab countries, including Jordan, in 1967. Putting aside the question of whether Egypt's hostile action was an act of war, it is a well-established fact that Israel pleaded with Jordan to stay out of the fighting, and it was only when Jordan began shelling West Jerusalem that Israel responded on the Jordanian front. So Israel definitely did not attack Jordan--it was first attacked by Jordan.
Well, this is one example of many where facts are just plain put aside to discredit and delegitimize Israel. Don't buy this poison!

Unbelievable! An Anti-Semitic Travel Guide!.......2001-11-15

This book should have no stars. I picked this book up at the bookstore and was shaken as I read it. Two short examples will explain why. In his description of why the Jews of Eastern Europe faced pogroms and discrimination (contributing to their desire to return to their historic homeland), the author states that they were "long resented in their adopted countries, as powerful and wealthy minorities frequently are". It is certainly well-documented that the Jews of Eastern Europe were anything but powerful and wealthy! This is a vicious, anti-semitic canard. Later in the book, when extolling the friendly and welcoming attitudes among the region's Arabs, he nonetheless advises readers to "remember the phrase 'Mish Jehud' (not Jewish)" in order to stay safe. What would he advise Jewish readers of his book to do?

Incidentally, far from being even-handed, the author's description of historical events actually omits significant facts in its zeal to paint Israel, over and over, as "the bad guy". For example, he omits Arab aggression and open calls to destroy Israel in his depiction of the events leading up to the Six Day War.

At Long Last, And Well Worth The Wait!!.......2001-07-03

There are many travel books on Israel. Only a few of these grudgingly add Palestine (usually with Palestine in small letters, almost as an embarrassment or an afterthought). I was very intrigued to find this gem of a book, dedicated specifically to Palestine and Jerusalem, and was absolutely delighted once I delved into its content.

For me, the first forty pages or so are worth their weight in gold. There is a very good, concise history of Palestine & Israel and, of course, Jerusalem. The impressive thing is that it is short enough to read, clear enough to be easily understood, and covers the whole history of the area... and best of all, does it without prejudice or bias. I have been very unhappy with all the lengthy one-sided books available on this subject, most of them starting from a specific time in history that benefits the opinion of the writer. Kudos to Stedman for his even-handedness and willingness to cover the whole picture. Also, the three major religions (Islam, Christianity, Judiasm) are described in a way that promotes understanding of the evolvement of the religions and the main likenesses and differences between them. This should be required reading for all college students! It makes it much easier to understand why each side believes as it does and why there is such conflict today between the Palestinians and the Israelies.

That being said, once the concise history lesson is over in the beginning of the book, Bradt gives what he calls a "warts and all" view of Palestine. He has been to Palestine on a number of occaisons and has grown to deeply respect these people. He puts the traveller at ease by covering very useful and diverse locations and travelling options. Everything from main foods of the area to border crossings, from getting to know the people to avoiding being mistaken for an undercover Israeli officer, from wonderful sites in the cities as well as off the beaten path... this guide can take you there.

I am very impressed and deeply grateful that someone finally took the time to create and publish this book. Considering the writer even had some maps "created" so they could be included in this book shows the length of his dedication to covering the whole of the subject.

At Long Last, But Well Worth The Wait!!.......2001-07-03

I enjoy reading, but this is the first book that I've felt compelled to write a review on. I hope that even people who do not anticipate being able to get to Palestine will check out this book for the understanding it provides.

Palestine with Jerusalem (The Bradt Travel Guide)
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Palestine with Jerusalem (The Bradt Travel Guide)
Henry Stedman
Manufacturer: Bradt Publications
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Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBP5B6

The romance of the last crusade: With Allenby to Jerusalem
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The romance of the last crusade: With Allenby to Jerusalem
Vivian Gilbert
Manufacturer: D. Appleton
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Binding: Unknown Binding

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