"A book of exquisite beauty and depth. Caton's keen sensibility and his gift for tuning in to the poetic dimension of spoken Arabic make the reader part of the sanctuary where he lived, a witness on the roads he traveled." --Veena Das, Chair, Department of Anthropology, The Johns Hopkins University
"An extraordinary work--beautifully crafted, deeply subtle, filled with an astonishing cultural sensibility. Few ethnographers have shown their research subjects in such subtle, passionate, and vulnerable depth. This is a brilliant, unforgettable achievement." --Arthur Kleinman, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University
"A superb study of an Arab nation and an engrossing portrait of a stranger in a strange land." --Publisher’s Weekly (Starred review)
