I returned to this book recently, and am still amazed by its clear observations and relevance to our present time. Said argues that the West has created a body of knowledge about the Middle East through histories, studies, and art, which we consider this to be more real than the region itself. I always have difficulty with Said's convoluted prose, but the content of the book more than makes up for this. Anyone interested in literary criticism or International politics of any kind would enjoy this book. Those interested in epistemology will find it useful as well.