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Arabs
- A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes, and Empires
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 25 hrs and 34 mins
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Arabs
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Summary
A riveting, comprehensive history of the Arab peoples and tribes that explores the role of language as a cultural touchstone
This kaleidoscopic book covers almost 3,000 years of Arab history and shines a light on the footloose Arab peoples and tribes who conquered lands and disseminated their language and culture over vast distances. Tracing this process to the origins of the Arabic language, rather than the advent of Islam, Tim Mackintosh-Smith begins his narrative more than a thousand years before Muhammad and focuses on how Arabic, both spoken and written, has functioned as a vital source of shared cultural identity over the millennia.
Mackintosh-Smith reveals how linguistic developments - from pre-Islamic poetry to the growth of script, Muhammad's use of writing, and the later problems of printing Arabic - have helped and hindered the progress of Arab history, and investigates how, even in today's politically fractured post-Arab Spring environment, Arabic itself is still a source of unity and disunity.
What listeners say about Arabs
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- N. Dakkak
- 08-02-21
Highly recommended
An incredible and insightful history about Arabs through the lens of Arabic language. It does risk getting a bit orientalist and essentialist by the end (last 60 minutes) but a great listen nonetheless.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Justin Roxburgh
- 21-07-21
An extraordinary book with wonderful prose
I’ve finished 25 books since joining Audible 16 months ago. I’m listening to another 7 at the moment & have never bothered writing a review.
This incredible book however merits one.
Mackintosh-Smith has an extraordinary gift. His writing verges on poetry with the clever or witty, (often both) one-liners that pepper the story of the Arabs.
I’m not too sure why I even downloaded this book originally. I’ve never been particularly interested in the people or culture, (although as he points out there is no such thing as a homogeneous Arab people or culture), or the language.
However I loved it so much, I will now go down to Waterstones & buy a copy.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Khan
- 29-09-19
absolutely amazing!!!
loved it thoroughly! perhaps the most powerful book on Arab (&Islamic) history. would definitely recommend!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hashi
- 09-10-20
Best Historic Book Ever Written About The Arabs.
This book answered hundreds of historical questions that i had about arabs. In addition to that the writer wrote the book based on historical facts rather than oriental based opinion. Tim Mackintosh Smith indeed produced the best historical book ever written about the arabs.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ed L
- 08-01-20
Great historical overview of ‘Arab’ history
Excellent overview of ‘Arab’ peoples history over 3000 years. Audio could’ve been better by correct pronunciations of Arabic names and terms.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joel
- 14-01-22
An excellent review.
It is well researched and presented. The narration is very good and it held my attention for the 37 hour duration of the book. The author is clearly a perceptive and enlightened man, his views well worth considering.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike C Davies
- 22-04-24
Stunning and comprehensive historical epic
I highly recommend this book, if you have any interest in the Middle East, Islam or travel literature. I've read Tim Mackintosh-Smith previous Ibn Battutah books and his book on Yemen, bu this epic trumps them all. I had a working knowledge of Islamic & Arabic history but this book really fills in the gaps. Written and narrated in a very entertaining, and sometimes, very funny way.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mouhamad aboshokor
- 14-07-21
just amazing
As an Arab it was fantastic to have an outer perspective over the region that is both respective yet open, and while I don't agree with all of the conclusions, the points raised are very interesting, the writing is extremely smart, the flow is seemless and feels like a storytelling. but most of all the translation of Arabic quotes is outstanding. the book is a bit dark but feels so fucking real.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- sketch
- 14-06-22
Excellent
The book follows a compelling historical narrative throughout. Its content is practically comprehensive, providing an immersive description of the changing social and cultural history of the Arab (and Islamic) world, aswell as more a detailed analysis on religious and political affairs. The narration is clear and well performed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Husam Abdullatif
- 21-11-22
A masterpiece
This book is a masterpiece of scholarly writing that manages to catch the beauty of Arabic language history and literature to British english wit and sophistication. Being an Arab i never thought i may learn a lot from a book about Arabs written by a foreigner but this amazing Author is an Arab by his language study and immersion in the culture as well as a professional top grade English writer. i learnt a lot from him and i even discovered many Arab verses of poetry i never heard of through this superb book.
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