This is the first academic study to discuss the immigration of Arabs to the U.S. Hitti describes the social and educational conditions of the immigrants and the religious problems and issues that arose as a result. An appendix is given listing the various religious communities in the U.S.

Hitti has written a brilliant history of a land into which more historical and cultural events were crowded than any area of equal size. Syria has invented and transmitted to mankind such benefits as monotheistic religion, philosophy, law, trade, agriculture, and our alphabet.