For nearly twenty years, Aaron David Miller has played a central role in US efforts to broker Arab-Israeli peace. His position as an advisor to presidents, secretaries of state, and national security advisors has given him a unique perspective on a problem that American leaders have wrestled with for more than half a century: Why has the world's greatest superpower failed to find a solution for peace in the Middle East? Here is an insider's view of the peace process, filled with unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with all the key players, as they disclose the inner thoughts and strategies that motivated them. The result is a book which shatters preconceived notions about tackling the complicated issues of culture, religion, domestic politics, and national security that have defined-and often derailed-a half-century of diplomacy. "What is unusual about this memoir when compared with other, similar ones is how lively, even irreverent, it is. Mr. Miller is a fine raconteur who fills his pages with real characters and sly observations." "Miller's writing is both approachable and deeply smart; this and his absolute failure to take sides mean that this work will doubtlessly influence and enrage-and certainly inspire." "A book of great significance owing to its breadth, objectivity, and judgment. Readers may come to share the author's sense of the great importance of peace and the 'humility and uncertainty' needed for its realization." "William Hughes, a professor of political science, narrates with impeccable pronunciation and subdued passion…imparting to his performance a sense of urgency that draws in the listener. The best narrators convey the 'can't-put-it-down' effect that Hughes produces so well here."
