"Syria and the Syrians" is a contribution to the attempt to understand the present through the lens of the past. It is an epic chronicle of a people and a land that has seen it all and knows it all, as told and retold by scholars of different backgrounds and disparate eras. While this chronicle displays implicit notions of heroism and a nostalgic glorification of a bygone era, it is about real history, a real people, and a real land. The history is life-like. It provides entry into the "mind" of great ages, a return to an aesthetic world, and an introduction to the actions and ideas that helped shape our thinking for generations on end. It is a breathtaking blend of triumph, adventure, failure, and survival. It is also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and contributions of a nation and a tribute to the important, perilous, and often-overlooked work of its people.