the book of loay safi, who is very little known in the arab world, presents a very interesting view of the modern arab history and to the arabs quest for modernity. first of all, it views the modern political history of the arabs as reactions to the occidental-type modernity and its challenges, thus, joining other arab authors such as G.Tarabishi. But what is more interesting in Safi's book is that he analyses the poltical phenomenas in the arab world using modern political science tools and approaches, specifically the parsonian functionalist theory. very little authors in the arab world use this methode of research, generally such studies are confined to historical,philosophical or epistomological views like M.ABED Al Jaberi or Hisham Sharabi. That gives the book a new and intriguing perspective, and I strongly recommend it.