Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life Hardcover – March 18, 2003

This is the story of the author and how she became the Queen of Jordan, and her work in that role. Born in America, as Lisa Halaby, Queen Noor was a Princeton graduate who quickly found herself in love with King Hussein after a chance meeting 2 years after she graduated. He was recently widowed, and after a whirlwind romance they were married. They had 4 children together, and the book covers her time as Queen and the work that she and King Hussein did to bring peace to Jordan and the countries around them. King Hussein died of cancer in 1999 and Queen Noor continued her work for Jordan long after.This was a very well written book. I am always intrigued by stories coming from this part of the world because I know so little about it. It is always interesting to hear personal stories and read their point of view. Queen Noor gives a personal account of her time as Queen and also the unrest that took place during her rein from the 1970s through the late 1990s and how she and King Hussein fought to settle that unrest. She was very involved with the political aspects of her country. You can tell from her writing how much she loved her husband, her adopted country, and her life as a leader in Jordan.Worth the read.

One of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m half Jordanian and I grew up hearing the songs dedicated to King Hussein and dancing to them. I remember seeing her on Larry king live when I was in 9. This book was very sentimental to me. I nearly cried when I read his mentioning of her in his last letter. She also shed gave me thorough understanding of the palistinian Israeli conflict. I nearly cried at the end when I finished the book. Worth the read for sure and I’ll always keep the book.❤️❤️❤️

Wish everyone would read Queen Noor's book. So much of what we have been told even by own government has been untrue, and harmful to Jordan, and undeserving for all that King Hussein did and tried to do to avoid the Iraq war. My eyes were opened and I admire her for her strength, perseverance, and power as a good human being.

This book is definitely a very good read. Of course it's a love story, a bit of a privileged life, and often quite serious, BUT it makes clear the issues in the Middle East. So important to understand. Of all the books I've read, and there are many, this one fits in the "Important" category. It should be a best seller. I highly recommend it.

I am always asking, "what did the author edit?" She wants her husband and her adopted country to look the best in this book. Since the book has ended, she spends most of her time in England.....Times and politics change, so Queen Noor is not in favor as she was once.The memoirs were well written, but a timeline of events and a map would have helped me understand the region and the events of which she was writing.

I bought this book as part of my quest to learn more about Jordan after a recent visit there but only read it after my second visit to that country.I had already read Avi Shlaim's Lion of Jordan ( Lion of Jordan: The Life of King Hussein in War and Peace (Vintage) ) and King Abdullah II's book ( Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril ), so was not looking for an historical account, but for something more personal. Queen Noor's book is certainly a personal account, with enough historical context. Her love for her husband and her adopted country are both obvious and her writing gives some personal insights while maintaining the privacy of the royal family of Jordan and that of her own family.It is an easy book to read and will provide another perspective from which to view Arabs, Muslims and the Middle East - something which is greatly needed.

Queen Noor is inspiring. The book (because it is so interesting) leaves the reader wanting to know more about her, the Royal family, Jordan, and the Middle East. However, Queen Noor is easily the most fascinating figure in this story and I'm so glad she wrote her story now, not later as she contemplated. After reading the entire book, the only criticism I had was that she compared the American GOVERNMENT'S views with European CITIZENS' views (concluding that Americans are more narrow minded about the situation with Israel). My reaction was that she should compare governments with governments and people with people. Although our government is pro-Israel to an extreme, I think most of the general citizens believe our government should be neutral (just as the European citizens believe). However, we never have any political candidates who stand on that platform. Anyway, I'm sure it was an unintentional mis-comparison and though it struck a nerve, this was a good read. The reviewers who say she does not open up enough (in my view) miss the point of her reserved character, the Muslim honor and privacy belief system, and Noor's dignity. For goodness sake, she even said she almost never held hands with her husband in public. Why would she disgrace her family honor now by publishing a tell-all book? Instead, she showed her intelligence, but also her respect for her husband, family, and country. I agree her politics are slanted to her view (and to her country's view) but face it, it's her book.

After visiting Jordan last November and visiting Queen Noor workshops I bought her book of her life as the wife of King Hussein. I found the politics fasinating, details of which are not reported in the media. Her life style I thought was very priviledged for a poor country. Her love for the country and her husband and his eventual death was very moving. It actually brought me to tears.

Fascinating. What an extraordinary life. Well worth reading.

I am only a quarter of the way through this book and i simply can not put it down. I have a few books on the go but this one is never out of my hands. A wonderful woman with an extraordinary tale to tell. Very inspiring.

enternainment good reading

What a down to earth lovely lady Queen Noor is, I couldn't put this book down, a recommended read for anyone!