Despite a lifetime of history and social studies, I managed to remain ignorant about the ways of the not-too-distant rest of the world. In our little American island, I suspect the majority of us know little more than bare basics about world cultures and history.  Hearing first hand stories of people from different countries and times tremendously helps add detail and life to our hollow knowledge.

These are three books I’ve stumbled upon recently that each opened my eyes to other cultures and world events.  They’re all beautifully crafted books that take place in roughly the same time period (1940’s-present day). They masterfully paint a picture of the human side of the political unrest that still profoundly affects the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Continue reading →