This May Help You Understand the World: A Timely Book for Those Confused by the Problems of a Troubled World

The premise of this book is excellent- it's a book perfectly pitched at filling in the background for anybody who's watched or read any recent international news and been embarrassed to admit that they're not quite sure what a 'Sunni' and a 'Shia' are, or what the fuss is between China and Taiwan.

For the most part it does its job very well indeed, and in convenient little packages of no more than half a dozen pages per question, I have the beginnings of a background knowledge on each of the main subject headings: Iraq, US voting politics, Fair Trade, The Environment, Israel and Palestine, Darfur, Russia, China, and Nuclear Proliferation.

A couple of little weaknesses: while Potter's writing is very strong when it comes to historical politics, a couple of questions are answered weakly, in particular "is Bush really stupid?" which is a two-page attempt at satire without any facts or figures, and seems a bit out of place. Also, Lawrence Potter throws in the occasional flippant remark, some of which is well timed but the occasional comment seems very inappropriate when surrounded by serious talk of death and religion.

I can honestly say that i have a much greater understanding of current affairs.

This book should become a series, there is so much more to cover.

What a fantastic book! I was browsing the shelves of Waterstones yesterday in the hopes of finding some interesting travel literature, when I came across this book. The cover caught my attention automatically, as I have long wondered exactly what IS the difference between a Sunni and a Shia muslim, and felt stupid during intellectual conversations for admitting that I don't *actually* know what Saddam Hussein was meant to have been guilty of. I got this book home and had finished reading it within two hours - the style of writing is so easy to read, and at times had me laughing out loud (something I was totally not expecting!), whilst all the while feeling good about myself for actually finally being able to understand what they're talking about on the news. It literally is a 0-to-clever book - at the pub last night I engaged in a particularly in depth conversation with my Arab friend about the appalling treatment of the Marsh Arabs in Iraq - and I actually knew what I was talking about for once!!

I would heartily recommend this to anybody who is intruiged by world events, or who just wants to feel that bit smarter when that type of conversation takes off! It's excellently written, giving just the right amount of information for it to be extremely interesting, and never boring. I never thought I'd understand how global trading, or the American Government works but this book has made it all seem simple and accessible. Definitely a great read!

I cannot give this book enough praise - if you buy any book in 2008, make it this one!