For someone who has a vague understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what book would you recommend?

Question

....don't be smart and say the Bible.

Answer 1

i would not recomend a book at they all have their own agenda

Try reading  a variety of newspapers on the subject to get an unbiased view

Answer 2

"Exodus" and "The Haj" by Leon Uris.

Answer 3

Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid - written by Jimmy Carter. A reasonably balanced view, written by a former American President! Not too difficult to understand, either.

Other than that, I would recommend anything by Noam Chomsky on the subject - another fair and balanced source, he is a Jewish academic but has sympathy for the Palestinians - very fair. Another balanced American Jewish academic is Norman Finkelstein.

Chomsky and Finkelstein are both a bit heavier reading than Jimmy Carter's book, though. Edward Said has a more artistic approach, but his is a very personal view, and doesn't really give a two-sided overview so much as a personal story.

So, in order starting with the best book for a beginner I would say:

Jimmy Carter - Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid

Noam Chomsky

Norman Finkelstein

Edward Said

Update: I looked through Carter's book again briefly. If you're mostly interested in the very current situation, check out Chapters 14 and 16. And no, these are not anti-Israel sources, as the guy below says. They are balanced, which is unfortunately enough to get them derided in our media and often ignorant public.

Answer 4

"Relationship Rescue" by Dr. Phil

Edit:  The first guy's list is good if you only want an anti-Israel view.  Look into those people before you buy any books.

Edit again:

Edward Said was a pro-Palestinian activist and was caught on camera throwing a rock at Israeli soldiers.

Norman Finkelstein - Is very critical of Israel is and banned from entering the country.

Noam Chomsky - thinks all the world's ills are caused by the US and Israel and has defended Holocaust deniers.

Jimmy Carter is just an all around moron.