I expected this book to a highly pictorial, light guide to Israel – and, as the title proves, to those areas of Israel the likes of Corbyn, Monbiot and George Galloway want to call by another name. I didn't expect it to take me back to Petra and elsewhere in Jordan, but yay for the value for money.

I also expected contention, and this delivers tenfold – the first section of the actual guide itself beyond the preamble is the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem, stirring the pot of whose land this is and whose temples these are before we've properly started. This says the Islamists found a run-down dump when they started building what they needed – other records will prove that throughout the Middle East Islam left just as many sh*t-holes that they only wanted when the Israelites claimed them. Either way, without belonging to the specific cult or religion the only way to see the key sites is through a book like this, so at least we can see what we're missing out on.

Elsewhere the book is fine, friendly and optimistic – admitting there is a lapse in the peace now and again, and agreeing the bare bones of the history, but not ploughing a furrow it cannot step out of. I do feel the region is one that will bring in travellers who like a lot more depth than this book offers, with its listing of about two eateries per city, and much less history than a single panel of welcome at the sites could cover. But the tourist who just wants this colourful bare-bones approach to their holiday experience or planning is well served.

There are flaws here – the walk to Petra's monastery didn't strike me as terribly arduous, and not to the extent it has to be said so twice here. It kind of fudges things when it mentions the Armenian genocide. But there is also information – who the heck from Leicestershire knew there would be a Belvoir Castle in these pages?! A strong four stars, even if my own packing would be a Rough Guide or something similarly wordy.