Tea with Hezbollah-Review

Publisher: Doubleday Religion, 2010
Pages: 288
ISBN: 0307588270


From Goodreads:


Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.



This enlightening book, Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies Table Our Journey Through the Middle East, delves into the reason behind one of the most widely known biblical stories: The Good Samaritan. However, it is not "another religious-fanatic" book. Dekker and Medearis traveled across the Middle East, meeting with various fighters, religious leaders, and common civilians, in order to unearth the true teaching and belief behind The Good Samaritan story Christ spoke of in hopes of unearthing the truth behind loving ones enemies. These two men interviewed a wide range of officials and posted the interviews, word for word, within the book. Raw emotions and thoughts are woven throughout this journey.

What may seem as just another one-religious-based book, is in fact an account of a journey to uncover the commonalities between Christians and Muslims as well as Americans and those who reside in the Middle East and shed light on the growing situation in the Middle East. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a deeper knowledge of the religious basis of the people who are living in the midst of war in the Middle East. It was a quick-paced narrative paced with thought-provoking insights. I was pleasantly surprised to gain a new understanding and perspective through the eyes of numerous individuals living in a world unlike mine. I devoured this book in a matter of a couple days. Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis do not disappoint!


My rating: 4 lattes because it was a quick read with enough thrill to keep me wanting to turn the page and continue reading. It was enjoyable to gain new insight into the ideas of some of those who live in the Middle East. Dekker did a fabulous job on writing an excellent nonfiction thriller.