Although the focus is on geopolitics rather than regional geography, the aim of the book is to provide a reorientation, while maintaining an essential continuity with W. B. Fisher's book of the same name, the seventh edition of which was published in 1978. A comprehensive account is provided of the physical and human geography of the region and, in this, certain sections from Fisher's book have been retained. Based on the geography, a geopolitical assessment is then made of the states of the Middle East and of the major issues, such as water and conflict, which illustrate the interplay of geography and politics. With comprehensive illustrations, this is a lively and much-needed book, based upon a well-respected work, providing an excellent synopsis of the complexities that make the Middle East such an intriguing and important global region.