by Richard Stoneman :              A traveller’s History of Turkey

Stoneman’s book is a MUST for tourists and travelers alike. This slim volume covers 5,000 years of Turkish history and will give you an even better appreciation of this unique country that sits between East and West. It’s an “easy” read and well-organized.

by John Freely :                        An Architectural Guide for Travellers

You needn’t be a student of architecture to find this book useful for planning what ancient sites you want to see while in Turkey. If you’re planning to visit Ephesus (Efes, then the maps, the explanations of the site, and its history are worth the purchase of the book alone. On other sites, the book provides sketches and photos that help you envision what the lumps of dirt you’re looking at once were.

by John Freely:                         The Companion Guide to Turkey

Another useful tome on Turkey by author of Classical Turkey.

by Jeremy Seal:                                   A Fez of the Heart

Jeremy Seal lived and traveled throughout Turkey. It’s difficult to say if you’ll enjoy reading it before or after you leave home. It offers a British perspective on the Turkish experience with the added benefit of being well written. 

by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik:       Acts of War

Tom Clancy is best known for his novels that have been made into movies: Patriot Games, Russia House and the Hunt for Red October. His Op Center books have his trademark of military details and history. Visitors to Turkey will enjoy this thriller that takes place in, well,  Turkey. The early pages of the book provide a nice overview of Turkish history in this century. Beyond that it will give you some insight of the geopolitical significance of Turkey in the Middle East and U.S. interests there.

by George E. Bean:                               Lycian Turkey

Although George Bean wrote this guide nearly 50 years ago, it’s still an important book for those interested in finding and visiting the old Lycian, Roman and Greek ruins that Turkey is world famous for. Many of his books are out of print, but I found Lycian Turkey in the bookshop at the British Museum (London). Aegean Turkey is also an important book. You best bet would be to try your local library. 

by Aubrey De Selinco:               The World of Herodotus 

Mr. de Selinco’s love and admiration for the ancient Greeks is contagious. He writes about the Greek world in Herodotus’s time and shares his insights with readers. It’s scholarly, but written for those who simply have an interest or curiosity about the ancient Greeks.