The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright

THE HUMAN SCALE by Lawrence Wright is a suspenseful thriller set in the Middle East. It is a tough read emotionally because of the violence involved and its relationship to real current events. It is also difficult to follow all of the characters, although Wright provides a list. This novel received starred reviews from both Booklist (“profoundly insightful thriller, creating involving, conflicted, and thoughtful characters trapped in horrific predicaments”) and Publishers Weekly (“an uncomfortable and unforgettable plunge into the heart of a devastating conflict.”). For some additional background on Wright’s thinking, see the interviews in which Wright participated at Live from the LBJ Library: Part I and Part II. Overall, THE HUMAN SCALE made me think of how informative it was to read (at another teacher’s suggestion) Fast Times in Palestine by Pamela Olson; written over a decade ago, a new paperback has been released recently. As Wright points out, we need to let go of what he calls “durable stereotypes” and work towards peace.