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Connecting to the world outside

Tuesday, I had the treat of listening to a presentation by Bob Keith, Janesville's very own Iraq reporter, at Hedberg Public Library.

Yes, someone from Janesville picked up and went to Iraq and reported back on his findings. The Gazette ran his blog on our Web site, and he has a site of his own, too.

Listening to his presentation, I was reminded how much I love learning about other cultures. Next to going somewhere myself, the next best thing is to hear from someone who did -- either by talking to a traveler in person or reading a book.

Someday, I'd love to travel around the world and write about my experiences. For now, though, here are some good books I've read to learn about Middle Eastern culture:

Iraq:

-"Live From Baghdad" by Robert Weiner: OK, this is more about reporting Iraq than living there (it chronicles CNN's experience as the first station to report on a war live from behind enemy lines), but it's an interesting account of the run-up to the first Gulf War.

-"Naked in Baghdad" by Anne Garrels and Vint Lawrence. Again, an account of a journalist in Iraq -- this time writing about the present war -- but Garrels includes a lot of scenes of daily life in Baghdad.

Iran:

-"Lipstick Jihad" by Azadeh Moaveni. The subtitle for this book is "Growing up Iranian in America and American in Iran." It's about the author's experiences as as Iranian-American journalist who moves to her homeland and realizes it's nothing like she thought.

-"Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi. It tells the story of a brave teacher who dares to teach Western literature to her students. It's a fascinating look at the life of Iranian women.

Afghanistan:

-"The Bookseller of Kabul" by Asne Seierstad. The author follows an Afghani family for three months, tracking the region's recovery from war and political upheaval and the family's struggle between tradition and modernity.

Any other suggestions?