--- product_id: 4395126 title: "Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds" price: "309 kr" currency: NOK in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.no/products/4395126-crescent-and-star-turkey-between-two-worlds store_origin: NO region: Norway --- # Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds **Price:** 309 kr **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds - **How much does it cost?** 309 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.no](https://www.desertcart.no/products/4395126-crescent-and-star-turkey-between-two-worlds) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description "A sharp, spirited appreciation of where Turkey stands now, and where it may head." ―Carlin Romano, The Philadelphia Inquirer In the first edition of this widely praised book, Stephen Kinzer made the convincing claim that Turkey was the country to watch -- poised between Europe and Asia, between the glories of its Ottoman past and its hopes for a democratic future, between the dominance of its army and the needs of its civilian citizens, between its secular expectations and its Muslim traditions. In this newly revised edition of Crescent and Star , he adds much important new information on the many exciting transformations in Turkey's government and politics that have kept it in the headlines, and also shows how recent developments in both American and European policies (and not only the war in Iraq) have affected this unique and perplexing nation. Review: Excellent and Entertaining Overview - Stephen Kinzer is one of the most perceptive Western journalists around when it comes to 20th- and 21st-century history and politics in Turkey and Iran. There is so much misunderstanding of these two countries and their peoples in the West that Kinzer's books should be required reading in college classes. This book focuses on Turkey, the good and the bad, from the early 20th century until almost the present (with some quick looks back at Turkey's fascinating 4000+ years of ancient history). And it shows both sides of many events in Turkey's past. It also shows why Turkey is becoming more and more a country that the US should better understand and more closely align with. Moreover, like Kinzer's other books, this one is based on excellent research and much personal observation, and it'well written and entertaining as well. Recommended for any one who wants a better understanding of the world and of this endlessly intriguing country. Review: Good (if somewhat slanted) Guide to Modern Turkish Politics - As Turkey seems to veer ever closer to becoming an Islamist state with a strongman in charge, I wonder if author Stephen Kinzer would wish to revisit his thesis in this 2001 book, revised 2008, that Recep Tayyip Erdogan's accession to power over the past dozen or fifteen years represents a long-delayed flowering of democracy in a moribund oligarchy. Kinzer's book accurately portrays the current tensions in Turkey between Kemalists and Erdoganists (for lack of a better word for the AKP and its supporters), but I often found his descriptions of the former veering toward caricature and the latter tending toward hagiography. (You can't get far into the book without knowing where Kinzer's sympathies lie.) The truth is that both points of view have some validity, and there are conscientious voices on both sides. Kinzer's book is an accessible general guide to modern Turkey's problems (albeit with only six years since its revision it seems a bit dated, especially given Erdogan's recent election to the Presidency), and gives enough history and perspective that the general reader can better appreciate what he reads in the newspapers. The book also has many charming and illuminating anecdotes from Kinzer's many years of exploring Turkey - and those made me envious, as I have greatly enjoyed my two brief visits to Turkey, and have always wished I could spend more time there. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #746,563 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Istanbul Travel Guides #177 in Turkey History (Books) #224 in Islamic Social Studies | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 217 Reviews | ## Images ![Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71qDZGH5FgL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent and Entertaining Overview *by S***A on June 25, 2011* Stephen Kinzer is one of the most perceptive Western journalists around when it comes to 20th- and 21st-century history and politics in Turkey and Iran. There is so much misunderstanding of these two countries and their peoples in the West that Kinzer's books should be required reading in college classes. This book focuses on Turkey, the good and the bad, from the early 20th century until almost the present (with some quick looks back at Turkey's fascinating 4000+ years of ancient history). And it shows both sides of many events in Turkey's past. It also shows why Turkey is becoming more and more a country that the US should better understand and more closely align with. Moreover, like Kinzer's other books, this one is based on excellent research and much personal observation, and it'well written and entertaining as well. Recommended for any one who wants a better understanding of the world and of this endlessly intriguing country. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good (if somewhat slanted) Guide to Modern Turkish Politics *by R***N on August 26, 2014* As Turkey seems to veer ever closer to becoming an Islamist state with a strongman in charge, I wonder if author Stephen Kinzer would wish to revisit his thesis in this 2001 book, revised 2008, that Recep Tayyip Erdogan's accession to power over the past dozen or fifteen years represents a long-delayed flowering of democracy in a moribund oligarchy. Kinzer's book accurately portrays the current tensions in Turkey between Kemalists and Erdoganists (for lack of a better word for the AKP and its supporters), but I often found his descriptions of the former veering toward caricature and the latter tending toward hagiography. (You can't get far into the book without knowing where Kinzer's sympathies lie.) The truth is that both points of view have some validity, and there are conscientious voices on both sides. Kinzer's book is an accessible general guide to modern Turkey's problems (albeit with only six years since its revision it seems a bit dated, especially given Erdogan's recent election to the Presidency), and gives enough history and perspective that the general reader can better appreciate what he reads in the newspapers. The book also has many charming and illuminating anecdotes from Kinzer's many years of exploring Turkey - and those made me envious, as I have greatly enjoyed my two brief visits to Turkey, and have always wished I could spend more time there. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Opinionated but provocative *by R***L on August 12, 2009* I can certainly understand how some of the reviewers of this book felt it was too opinionated and preachy. After living in Turkey for the past year and a half it is a society in which its citizenry is strongly opinionated on the issues of Kemalist, Islam, democracy, entrance into the EU, etc. So, I found this book, actually a series of essays on the main topics affecting Turkey today, to be not only an accurate assessment but I found the writer's opinions to be thought provoking and insightful. I admire the fact that he speaks Turkish, has traveled and lived in this wonderfully complex country for what appears to be a long period of time. You may not agree with what he writes and this may offend those whose political sensitivities are a bit touchy. But he provides a coherent and concise overview of the main issues Turkey faces today. If there is one problem with this book, and it's not the author's fault, is that it is beginning to feel a bit dated. He does not cover the rise of the AK party and the current tension between the Kemalists and the Islamists. But he does touch on these issues in a more general way. Both this book and Mango's book on Turkey are excellent overviews of contemporary Turkey. I highly recommend you read either, or both, of these books before your trip to this fascinating country that is caught between the East and West. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.no/products/4395126-crescent-and-star-turkey-between-two-worlds](https://www.desertcart.no/products/4395126-crescent-and-star-turkey-between-two-worlds) --- *Product available on Desertcart Norway* *Store origin: NO* *Last updated: 2026-09-16*