Middle East 101, Week VIII

The Six-Day War, with guest of honor Michael Oren

Major Announcement

I’m back at my desk and back at work. Scribbling away, I am. You will henceforth be receiving your newsletter on its regular schedule, beginning tomorrow.

Thank you, everyone, for your understanding and your patience. I was very touched by your encouraging messages. I suppose I just really needed a few days of rest.

The slipcovers are looking good!

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Middle East 101

This week, we’re looking at the Six Day War. The reading list is just one book: Michael Oren’s Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East.

And yes, folks, he’s coming to discuss it with us. His Chief of Staff sent us the sweetest note accepting the invitation: She made it sound as if he’d like nothing more.

Because this is too exceptional an opportunity to hoard, anyone who has read the book through beforehand is welcome. You needn’t have been with us for the whole class. The Zoom link is at the bottom of this newsletter. (I’ve cleverly hidden it below the paywall.)

Usually, I agonize over the reading list, trying to choose among many excellent books and articles, but not this week. Oren’s book is canonical. From the day it was published, it was widely understood to be the best book ever published about the war and almost certainly the best that will ever be published.

If you’d like to read even more, try these books: