I have never read a book about the Hittite civilization before so its somewhat hard for me to compare this to any other popular history regarding the subject. That being said, I enjoyed this quick read and found it to be perfect for getting a good overall view of what we know about the ancient Hittite civilization. The chapters are arranged by subject: general history, state and society, life and economy, warfare, languages, races, religion, literature, art. Each chapter succinctly frames what archaeology and cuniform translations can tell us about this rugged mountain culture. I deeply appreciated the author's attention to skepticism regarding theories of dubious nature. He did a good job of laying out the various perspectives and historiography of each era of discovery regarding Hittite dig sites.
My favorite part of the book deals with burial rites. Some of the cuneiform tablets uncovered at the Boghazkoy site relate very specific funeral protocols that mirror in many ways the funeral of Patrocilus in the Illiad. These sorts of details lend credence to the accuracy of the Homeric cycle. Unfortunately, the Hittites have not left behind any evidence to suggest a rich literary culture, not even an oral tradition like that of the ancient Greeks.
They were however, apparently handy with the chariots though. Some technical cuneiform tablets show that the Hittite chariot was possibly four wheeled and slow but also could handle three riders: one driver, one defender, and one spearman. In open pitched battle, their chariot formations dominated the field of war.
Another interesting part of the book deals with Hittite myth, only two of which are really flushed out. One being the storm god defeating the dragon and the other being a take on the disappearing god myth. In the disappearing god myth, the god of growth and/or fertility goes missing, and all things fail to reproduce. Only once awakened by a bee sting does he rouse, but he's really grumpy and destroys half the world in his temper tantrum. Once he is appeased does nature start to get back on track. Climate change comes to mind for some reason.
I look forward to discovering more about the Hittites, although the bibliography Gurney provides looks very academic and intimidating. Perhaps I will find a more expansive general history of the culture. Until then, its off to learn about the Sumerians. ( )

Homeric Achaeans, and even particular Trojan personalities, were found in the Hittite tablets by E. Forrer. Gurney concedes that a "composite picture" was made, but denies that it is "history". His own argument is couched and academic: "Phonetically none of these equations is altogether impossible, provided we are willing to accept the hypothetical...and provided also the name Alexander is regarded as a Grecized form of the Anatolian Alaksandus...".[57] And "a full discussion of all the possibilities which present themselves would be beyond the scope of this book." And "...that the place was somewhere in the vicinity of the Troad is therefore highly probable." [57]This may in some way be "accurate" but it is not helpful language.

The Hittites appear in the Bible as a Palestinian tribe. In fact, however, the author points out that their homeland has been discovered in the heart of the Anatolian plateau. [59] Esau was said to have Hittite wives [59; Gen.xxvi.34, xxxvi.1-3) and the passage in Numbers xiii.29 is difficult to explain. The Bible clearly describes Hittites in the hill country near Hebron [Joshua i.2-4], which makes no sense if the Hebrews are camped in the plains of Moab.