Nooshin (music, City University, London) has assembled essays that discuss the power of music in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. The introduction gives an excellent overview of the role that music has played in political and social manifestations of power and resistance to authority. The essays discuss the way that music has been used to support governments and subvert them. The role of Umm Kulthüm is restoring national pride in Egypt after the disastrous six-day war begins the essays. Other authors discuss the ways in which religious music can subtly change attitudes or be a protest against orthodoxy. Gender and race are also defined through music in Tunisia and among Syrian Jews. The examples are from countries such as Tajikistan and Iran but the power of music and its manipulation by governments or their opponents can be found in every society. The question, asked but not answered, is why melody evokes a response so much stronger than words. The collection is both informative and thought-provoking. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)