About Turkey

is a treasury of information about life in Turkey, written by an expert on the history, politics, and economy of this land�one of the longest continually inhabited places in the world. About Turkey gives you an insider�s view of life styles, current affairs, the status of women, commerce, industry, and much more. It presents a detailed look at Turkish society as only a native and a scholar can know it. will help anyone interested in Turkey make sense of what you read or what you see on the Turkish streets and in the countryside. It is also a passionate statement of Turkish points of view on internal and international politics. In these pages you will learn about the unique role of the �Father of modern Turkey,� Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and you will come to understand why his memory remains a dominant force in the daily life of Turks. is, indeed, �everything you always wanted to know about Turkey.� Dr. Rashid Ergener is an economist with degrees from Yale and Oxford. He has also been the guide for some distinguished guests, including a number of world leaders. After a 20-year career as professor of economics at the prestigious Bogazi�i University in Istanbul, Rashid Ergener has turned his passion for Turkish history and culture into a second career as one of the most sought-after tour guides for visiting diplomats and dignitaries, as well as for discriminating Western tourists. He is the author of several books, including a book of poetry and Anatolia, Land of Mother Goddess, an account of some of the earliest civilizations founded in the land now known as Turkey. Dr. Ergener is the founder and president of the Turkish Friends of �atalh�y�k (the oldest-known, city-sized settlement in the world).