American journalist Rossi continues her series of books setting out basic facts and history about various aspects of modern society which have somehow eluded the news media that most of her compatriots consult. Her topics include jogging through the millennia, European designs to hack up the Middle East, pardon our (the US) mess in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates as the land of possibilities, the disappearing Palestinian Territories, the Cedar Devolution in Lebanon, and Egypt's secret society. Sidebars, charts, maps, and monochrome photographs help tell the stories. Annotation 2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
