What are the origins of the Syrian crisis, and why did no one do anything to stop it?

Since the upsurge of the Arab Spring in 2011, the Syrian civil war has claimed in excess of 200,000 lives, with an estimated 8 million Syrians, more than a third of the country's population, forced to flee their homes. Militant Sunni groups, such as ISIS, have taken control of large swathes of the nation. The impact of this catastrophe is now being felt on the streets of Europe and the United States.

Veteran Middle East expert Charles Glass combines reportage, analysis, and history to provide an accessible overview of the origins and permutations defining the conflict. He also gives a powerful argument for why the West has failed to get to grips with the consequences of the crisis.

"If news moves fast, assessments have not, which is one reason why we should all read Syria Burning . [But] there is another, better reason to read this book. Glass has been traveling in and writing about the Middle East since the 1980s . His view on how the conflict has escalated and why it has not taken the turns many others anticipated make for enlightening reading." - Observer

"Cutting through the misrepresentation that plagues most media coverage of the region, Glass clearly explains the current conflict, drawing on his extensive reporting experience in Syria." - In These Times

"Glass has tackled an enormously complex war and its context . If we learned and took to the heart the history outlined in Syria Burning, perhaps we wouldn't repeat it." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Glass offers a brief but necessary look at the country's past." - History News Network