Beautifully written, lively and engaging, this book will give both old hands and first-time visitors a very 3-dimensional analysis of Jordan and where it stands five years after King Hussain's passing.

Eugene L. Rogan, St Antony's College, Oxford

In a deft combination of analysis and direct reportage, Alan George has provided an excellent account of contemporary Jordan and of the different pressures, internal, regional and global, to which it is subjected. At once sympathetic and critical, his book shows how the modern state and society of Jordan have been created, where power lies, the limits to that power, and the diverse forces operating within that country.

Fred Halliday, London School of Economics

A highly readable introduction to Jordan, its people and politics, intersected with enlightening interviews with Jordanians from a range of backgrounds. A must-read.

Joost R. Hiltermann, Director of the Middle East Project, International Crisis Group

Alan George has painted a shrewd, candid and unsparing portrait of contemporary Jordan. It is certainly the sharpest and most informative study of the country currently available.

Peter Sluglett, University of Utah, Salt Lake City