orichalcum

Because this book, The Arab Mind,, is at the top of the recommended reading list for U.S. officers, sergeants, and diplomats posted to the Middle East.

And as far as I can tell, it bases its conclusions on research done in the mid-1950s. Bad research, but let's put that aside for the moment.

Imagine, for a second, a book about "The American Mind" based on data from the 1950s. Americans, it might say, are openly racist and minorities are legally second-class citizens. Women generally remain at home and are viewed as less inteligent and competent than men. Most people don't move more than a few miles from their birthplace.

Sometimes people mock universities and academics, talking about how much more effective and in touch think tanks and other governmental advisory organizations are.

But there's a reason why they mention in the article that no respectable university would use that as a textbook today. And that's for people who won't necessarily be using it as a guideline to interact with actual Arab people!