I recently read this book and was totally blown away by it. I was surprised by this since my favorite genre is fiction. I have, of course, enjoyed some non-fiction writing, but never an 800-page historical account. Nevertheless, Martin Gilbert's work was captivating, enlightening and very VERY enjoyable. Reading it was like watching a very exciting movie. Many emotions are evoked as you move through the chapters, and when you finish one, you simply want to move on to the next. 

The London Times writes about this book: "A Bayeux tapestry in its day-to-day presentation of events, but a 'Guernica' in its impact." I think this is exactly what I enjoyed most about it, while noting down all the important events, Gilbert personalizes the conflict, no longer in abstract numbers but in individuals and their suffering. A remarkable accomplishment, erudite and human, that helps the reader understand not only what happens, but the reasons behind the events. 

I now am looking for something similar covering the modern history of the Middle East. My interest has been sparked by several books I've read recently which have made me notice how ignorant I am about those countries and would like to start learning. Does anyone have a suggestion?