What is the author's tone in From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman?

The book is written in the first person since the author is one of the main characters of the book. He is telling of his own experiences in the Middle East and in many cases the reader feels he is at Friedman's side during some of the stories. Friedman seems to bend over backwards to be objective when he is in Lebanon and he is known for his objectivity, even by the PLO. He describes what life is like in Beirut and how one copes with it.