Product Description
This book explores the recent history of the Saudi oil state, in an analysis of the struggle for social and political power in modern Saudi Arabia, including a discussion of the impact on the Saudi economy of the present crisis in the oil market. ... Read more

Product Description
The Saudi Green Book is a reprint of the famous report concerning relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Imam Yahya Hamid Uddin, Year 1353 [1934]. This edition makes available the original Arabic text of the so-called 'Saudi Green Book', issued by the Saudi government in April 1934, regarding the relations and conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen. The Arabic text is followed by the translation into English of the Green Book, received in 1936/1937 from the British Legation at Jeddah. The translation would appear to be by Mr A. S. Calvert, charge d'affaires at the Legation. The English text is published in its original hand-written form, as found in the Public Record Office, as well as in transcription. The comments on the Green Book of Sir Andrew Ryan, British Minister at Jeddah, are also published. ... Read more

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TheHistorical Dictionary of Saudi Arabia, Second Edition is an easily accessible reference guide to what is important in Saudi Arabia's past and present. This second edition has been completely updated to cover developments since 1993. ... Read more

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The photographs in this book were taken between 1860 and 1950, at a crucial period just before the ancient way of life in the region was swept away. The selection draws on all the known photographic collections, from the earliest travel photographers, through to the 1950s. These remarkable images are accompanied by historian William Facey s excellent text which places them in their historical context, plus detailed commentary on photographic techniques by photographic archivist Gillian Grant. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Images from the days of yore...
This is an important, unique collection of the earliest photographs taken on the Arabian Peninsula. It includes the earliest known photograph, taken of the city of Madinah, in 1861, by Colonel Muhammad Sadiq of the Egyptian Army.The photos are grouped by geographical sections of the country, and are preceded by two introductory chapters written by William Facey and Gillian Grant (with some duplication in subject matter). They cover both the development of photography itself, as well as those who utilized it in the Peninsula. There is the Islamic prohibition against "graven images," but based on the numerous photographs of people, clearly a lot did not object (as is equally true today). It was reported that Gertrude Bell, during her stay at Hail, was given full liberty to take any photographs she wanted.

As mentioned in the introduction, numerous photos are of the "snapshot" variety, lacking proper composition; the result usually of the early circumstances in which they were taken, and this does detract from the overall collection.Still, I found many others worthwhile. In particular, there were the "general views" of cities like Madinah (p 35), Buraydah (p68), Marat (72-73), Dumat al-Jandal (p88-89), and even an aerial view of the Hasa oasis, taken by Aramco in the `50's (p100). Equally impressive is the Hijaz railroad (p40), Bait Baghdadi, Aramco's first office in Jeddah (p51), a baby camel traveling in a "camel bag" (p 83), gazelles and cheetahs killed during the hunt (p84-85), the Ruwala tribe on the move (p86-87)

In my opinion there is little doubt that the finest photographer in the collection was Wilfred Thesiger. There is one of his crossing of the Empty Quarter in 1948 (p104), but there are numerous ones of his travels in the Asir and the Tihamah, in 1947, that I had not seen before.Particularly impressive are the brushwood houses of the Tihamah, which recall his photography of the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, many years later.

Overall, a worthwhile collection, and hopefully you can purchase it for somewhat less than the secondary sellers are currently offering it for.Another reason for a re-print?
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This is a very important collection because it consists of internal political telegrams which were never intended for international, or even external, examination. These telegrams provide a rare glimpse into the system of administration and the style of leadership of Sultan (King) Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Saud, ruler of Nejd-Hedjaz/Saudi Arabia from 1925-1953, and founder of the State of Saudi Arabia. The documents selected for this set are unusual in that they all originate from a single record class, HW12. The documents in HW12 are derived from wireless messages intercepted by British intelligence operatives at the Government Code and Cypher School, a department that was an intelligence-gathering unit formed in 1919. The level of secrecy attached to them meant they were not circulated within Whitehall and they were only released in 1997, this therefore, is their first large-scale  public exhibition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

There are some true and false facts in this book.
The auther of this book invetigate only one side of the story.We should keep in mind that always there are good and bad things in any country in this world. I believe the author need to be more objective. For exampleSaudi Arabia a developed country, therefore, there are large number ofexpatriate employment. There are more than 4 milionexpatriate working inSaudi today, hence, I believe that there will some problems. But I can notsay that Saudi citizen treated theexpatriate worker as a slave.In theother hand, the author talk about what happend to some of the expatriateworker in Saudi Arabia, but he did not talk about what they did and stilldoing such as drugs,and crime.Thank you

Naif Alromi Email-nha102@psu.edu ... Read more

Product Description
This 1977 report prepared for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate relates much of the history that affects international relations today. For the United States, access to secure supplies of foreign oil has become an increasingly vital policy goal with the decline of domestic production and our growing dependence on oil imports. This study evaluates the relationships between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the United States and Iran in terms of their contribution to access to oil. ... Read more

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Saudi Arabia and Yemen are two countries of crucial importance in the Middle East and yet our knowledge about them is highly limited, while typical ways of looking at the histories of these countries have impeded understanding. Counter-Narratives brings together a group of leading scholars of the Middle East using new theoretical and methodological approaches to cross-examine standard stories, whether as told by Westerners or by Saudis and Yemenis, and these are found wanting. The authors assess how grand historical narratives such as those produced by states and colonial powers are currently challenged by multiple historical actors, a process which generates alternative narratives about identity, the state and society.
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Kingdom Without Borders is the first book to explore the driving forces behind Saudi Arabia's new era of expansionism. Having established a far-reaching political and religious influence, as well as an impressive media empire, Saudi Arabia has become a kingdom without borders, holding both local and international actors in a tight embrace. This phenomenon has yet to be seriously-instead of sensationally-studied. In this volume, contributors soberly reassess the changing nature of state and society, considering not only the multiple leaders who have risen within Saudi Arabia in recent years but also, thanks to a second oil boom, the consolidation of outside forces that now threaten to subvert the state.

Bringing together leading scholars from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia,Kingdom Without Borders combines both a top-down and grassroots approach to examining the country's growing regional and international influence. Contributors also trace the impact of Saudi Arabia on the religion, economics, and politics of Yemen, Lebanon, and the United States, linking the transformation of local contexts to the external actors of globalization. With a thorough investigation of the history and contemporary manifestations of Saudi expansionism,Kingdom Without Borders presents a unique opportunity to view Saudi Arabia's power project within the interrelated realms of local politics, religion, and media genres.

Product Description
David Long’s portrait of Saudi Arabia depicts the kingdom as one of the least understood countries in the world. Encompassing all facets of Saudi life—the land and people, their religion and culture, the country’s history, politics, economics, and foreign policy—the book presents scholarship in a highly readable narrative. Drawing upon extensive firsthand experience, Long depicts the often contradictory impulses of a country committed both to modernization and to the values of a traditional society. Alongside his discussion of oil and the Saudi economy, for example, is a chapter on the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Makkah, a subject about which little has been written in English but one that is far more important to the millions of Muslims worldwide than the kingdom’s oil wealth. At every turn Long looks at issues from a Saudi point of view as he explores the kingdom’s successes, failures, and, most of all, its remarkable resiliency in response to the pressures of social change. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Informative but not critical enough
This book is very informative and takes one on a tour of Saudi life and Saudi politics, including the essential problems facing Saudis Fuedal royal family.

The main downfall of this book, along with so many on Saudi, is that it is not ciritcal enough of this country where the status of women is the worst on earth.In Saudi women can drive, they cant leave the house without written permision of a male, only 4% of Saudi workers are women, in essence this is a fascist country but those being persecuted arnt a race, they are instead a sex.Thier is something profoundly wrong with a country who sends male delegations to international womens conferences(every other delegate is female).The Saudis laws are so archaic, and so backwards and none of this is detailed in this book.Instead the author refers to the country as 'traditiona'.Hmmm, if traditional means the total suppression of half of humanity then I guess thats accurate, except I always thought traditional simply meant conservative, as in Sicily or Mexico.

An informative book but not the whole story.For a more thorough investigation of Saudi women read 'Nine Parts of Desire'.

Succinct Review
This slender book appears to be the published version of a thesis. It covers in brief but reasonably complete form the several aspects of Saudi Arabia, its history, the governing family, the economy, politics, the oil story, the Hajj and security. Its prognostications for the future seem reasonable. I was forced to question its accuracy in every category when I found the date of Abdul Aziz's deceasegiven as 1950. Many have followed the leader in stating that he was born in 1880, as does Long, but it is was in fact the year 1876, probably in October or November, that he first saw light and he died in 1953.. The photographs are reproduced on the text stock, thusreducing their intrinsic value.I find the book overpriced. Its page total is 154, which is less thanthe total given in the blurb.

Best book I have ever read.
A high level writing I have ever meet. I hope every people will introduce with this book to acquire knowledge about SAUDI ARABIA.

Best book I have ever read.
I high level writing I have ever meet. I hope every people will introduce with this book to acquire knowledge about SAUDI ARABIA. ... Read more

Product Description
DENIED is a well written timely account of what happened to an American consultant who entered into a five year agreement to set up a Public Relations Project for the King and Minister of Information for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The journey takes the writer to Saudi Arabia before the Gulf War and carries the reader through the 1990's until after the horrific events of 9-11. The author predicted much of what could happen in post war Saudi Arabia and feels that if a 'proper' Public Relations Program had been started prior to the Gulf War and continued, just maybe 9-11 might have been prevented.Some of the Saudis involved in the project are seen often on American TV news programs and are frequently involved in much controversy as more and more Americans are 'telling' their own personal stories of disaster. The fallout of exposure of these dealings with the Saudi Royal Family has changed the way many Americans view their Gulf War ally. This book details the Saudi influence on the U.S. State Department by use of correspondences from Senators, Congressmen, Ambassadors, a six page restricted Saudi document and a Diplomatic Note from Saudi Arabia to America. The facts presented are so compelling that a letter sent to His Royal Highness Prince Bandar by a prominent U.S. citizen stated: 'Once this book is published it will not be possible to counter its message and the impact it will have on Arabs in America.'Because of this letter the writing of this book was discontinued for six months and is now finished because the Saudis need to know that their days of 'owning' enough influence to do as they please in America are coming to an end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awesome book from a great new author!
This book is great, it shows just what really goes on with government cover-ups. In addition to Mr. Dicksons reader friendly writing style he also includes actual scanned correspondance with various polical figures which really helps convey his frustration with how "helpful" our government is to the average citizen. It's certainly an interesting book to read, especially with all that's been going on with terrorism and the war in Iraq. It's a good read even for those of us that can bore quite easily by current government events. With recent developments in the news and now Dickson's account of an international trade deal gone wrong it shows the Saudi's can't be trusted. This book is going to have a very negative affect on how American's look at Saudi Arabia, kind of ironic since Dickson was originally hired by them to set up a public relations campaign to help how we (as American's) view their society. With a little spicing up in the action department I beleive this nonfiction account could be turned into an awesome fictional "based-on fact" movie! ... Read more

Product Description
Al-Jawf on Arabia's northern desert frontier-an area hitherto neglected by historians-is brought vividly to life in this far-reaching survey of its historical, cultural and archaeological siginificance. Written by one of the most important figures in the region's recent history, this book is a valuable addition to the historical literature of Saudi Arabia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

In pursuit of the original cultivation of the olive tree...
I was once told by a Saudi friend that the cultivation of the olive tree began in the Al-Jawf basin, and that today millions can still be seen under cultivation.In part this was the impetus for a great northern journey, covering this portion of Saudi Arabia that I undertook in Feb. 2003.But what could serve as a guidebook to the region?

In English there is scant material. This volume is a translation from the Arabic, with revisions and corrections since its first publication. It is a scholarly work, replete with footnotes, written with that oft-leaden hand. It is also sponsored by the al-Sudairi Foundation, and hence must be somewhat bowdlerized. Given these caveats, it is an authoritative, comprehensive guide to a large `white spot' on the map for many Westerners. The prehistory of the area is covered, with its stone pillars and circles, whose meaning is still a source of speculation. There are good pictures and drawings of these, along with the stone implements of the period. This area was part of the Assyrian and Nabatean Kingdoms, and was eventually incorporated into the Roman Empire by Trajan in 106 AD. It remained, more or less under the control of his successors until the rise of Islam, and the subsequent creation of their own empire. The region's significance in the First, Second and Third Saudi states is covered in separate chapters.

There is also a chapter covering the Western travelers to the Al-Jawf basin. Although Gertrude Bell bypassed this area on her way to Hail, William Palgrave, Charles Doughty, the Blunts, Captain Shakespear, and Harry St. John Philby, among others, all visited the region.

There is a special section on the traditions of the people of the region, including their sense of humor - the area is known by the Bedouin as the "valley of flatulence," allegedly so name as a tribute to the generosity of the inhabitants, who offered more than ample meals, with the subsequent consequences. There are also numerous other historical and modern pictures of the area.

And those olive trees?Alas, the exigencies of the 21st Century overwhelmed us - specifically, the American invasion of Iraq which was only a month away at the time of our visit.With the heightened emotions, we found it best to pass through, and sleep in the comparative safety of the open desert.
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Product Description
This volume deals with the last two and a half years of the Prophet's life. In addition to the three major expeditions to Hunanyn, Ta'if, and Tabuk, it describes in detail the circumstances surrounding the illness from which he died and the subsequent crisis of leadership faced by the nascent Muslim community. The author depicts with admirable fairness all the various opinions and divisions that existed within the community. He also presents a vivid picture of the Prophet's physical appearance, his personal life, and his marriages. Among other topics discussed in this volume are all the deputations that came to Medina; a summary of all the expeditions and raiding parties; and his scribes, freedmen, horses, camels, goats, swords, coats of mail, and so on. It also covers the apostasy of Musaylimah, Aswad, and Tulhahah and the Prophet's attempts to deal with them.

The translation not only preserves the original lively flavor of al-Tabari but also, in its annotations, draws extensively on both parallel Arabic sources and the intensive research of recent years. Readers who seek a deeper understanding of the Prophet's personality and of the reasons for antagonisms engendered among various factions will find this volume most informative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Better than i thought !
Finally a book detailing the Sassanids. Usually translations of old historical works make an insipid reading but Bosworth has done an excellent job here. Footnotes added throughout the text clear up a lot of things and add tremendously to this interesting and turbulent era. The reader may misjudge the book to be a lesser work as Tabari bases his words on hearsay. However, it should be emphasized that Arabs were reknowned for their amazing memory. So much so that the words of the Quran were for many years kept in memory rather than being written down on paper. Tabari does not even fail to mention a good length of the names of every narrator's forefathers. In essence the book is about the Sassanids. It tells in good detail of a variety of events from the lives of Kisra. This book has my full recommendation to the reader who wishes to know more about this otherwise poorly documented dynasty.

Years 9 through 10
This is the Final chapter in the life of Prophet (PBH). This volume covers the Farewell Hajj, false prophets, personal features of Prophet Muhammad (PBH), his daughters, his complexion and physical faetures and finally election of Hz. Ebu Bakr to Caliphate with various narrations of the election procedure. Hz.Ali's responses to the election and his delayed approval is also covered. Most of the narrations are repeated in many other Islamic books for Tabari is one of the major sources of the Islamic History yet to read these series will give you additional knowledge to compare references and the context it is written. ... Read more