Recommended reading on Syria

I just finished reading historian David Lesch's excellent book Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad, which was published in autumn last year. Lesch is among this country's leading Syria scholars, he has interviewed Bashar al-Assad on numerous occasions, and has done quality work on the Middle East for years.

The book is a manageable 240 pages, not counting back matter, but I feel it could have been shorter. (In all fairness, I say this about most historical/political books written for a general audience.) However, the text is accessibly written, so beginners won't have any trouble. Among the best chapters is the seventh, wherein Lesch reviews the international dynamic in which Syria is situated.

If one is looking to move beyond news coverage and delve a bit deeper into the Syrian crisis, this is the book I would suggest.

http://www.amazon.com/Syria-The-Fall-House-Assad/dp/0300186517