Said argues that a "colonial mentality" has been institutionalized in the academic study of the Middle East and Islam, and subsequently has severely biased Middle Eastern foreign policy actions by the US, Britain and France. This backward mindset, Said argues, results in gross generalizations about, and the dehumanization of, the Muslim by Western powers.

Said's prose is pretentious and convoluted, and his rigid writing style gives the book the feel of a long term paper. The author sets forth his main argument within the first several pages, and the subsequent 300+ pages outline his supporting examples. As the book was written in the 1970's, and Said uses examples primarily from the 18th, 19th and early 20th Centuries, his argument ultimately fails to strike home and lacks relevance in today's society. He does, however, score some points against current "Orientalists" such as Bernard Lewis (which is very relevant today due to Lewis' impact on the Middle Eastern foreign policy and decision to go to war in Iraq during the Bush Administration). This fact reminds the reader that while the argument is less relevant today, the Orientalist mentality has not completely disappeared.

Said uses a caustic and condescending tone throughout the book, and many of his attacks are personal, and serve to both undermine the strength of his arguments, and to demean the author himself.

Overall, if one is a serious student of the Middle East and Islam, this book does provide one with valuable perspective on biases that may exist in other sources of information, both written and oral. However, for the casual reader, the book will be a difficult slog. ( )

Orientalism (Vintage) by Edward W. Said (1979)

Despite the critique, this book is still very influential in various studies, like (post)colonial history and literature.
This book is quite readable for an academic study, mainly because of the many examples he uses. But these examples are, in my opinion, also his main weakness: they are too long for the statements Said is making. I also missed a solution or a way to escape from Orientalism. Said doesn't point to the right direction for scholars to continue their research.
Nevertheless, this is a great book and I was quite blown away by it. ( )

I think one of the reviews describes the book as disturbing, which it is. Highly recommended for anyone opposed to the war against Iraq. ( )

If the book and the subject clicks, you see "Orientalism" everywhere. And how true! ( )