From the Bookshelf of Libyan Readers…

[close] I would give this a 3.5. It's definitely the best Libyan history book I've read, but the standard isn't exactly high. Sometimes I feel the author expects you to take his word on unclear issues (e.g. general society/tribes in pre-independent Libya), yet never really discusses his sources. And he also accepts the modern/pre-independent dichotomy peddled by virtually all Libyan scholars. That position has a number of issues...ranging from a weak, tribalist basis to simply contradictory facts.