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Foo_Fighters_Dave
Joined: 09 Dec 2016
Posts: 162
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 Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:06 am Post subject: Books about Saudi and Middle East History |
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Hi,
Could anyone recommend any books about the history of Saudi Arabia or the Middle East? |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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the best book by far that I've read about the moden ME history is Robert Fisk's Great War for Civilisation. It's brilliant.
My review here: http://arukiyomi.com/?p=4400
If you're wanting to go back a bit, you'd not do badly to pick up copies of both The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence and Arabian Sands by Thesiger. |
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Mikalina
Joined: 03 May 2011
Posts: 140
Location: Home (said in a Joe90 voice)
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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Totally agree with sicklyman re: Robert Fisk's book.
I found Robert Lacey's The Kingdom informative for the very beginnings of the Sa'ud dynasty and the development of the country. Stops in 1980 but definitely 'sets the scene'. |
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ayatollah
Joined: 16 Jun 2017
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 2:49 pm Post subject: Bob Fisk |
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OK. The book is a terrific insight into ME affairs, but Bob is renowned for making stuff up.
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Mikalina
Joined: 03 May 2011
Posts: 140
Location: Home (said in a Joe90 voice)
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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| 'Axes to grind' - one of my favourite idioms...... |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| Mikalina wrote: |
I found Robert Lacey's The Kingdom informative for the very beginnings of the Sa'ud dynasty and the development of the country. Stops in 1980 but definitely 'sets the scene'. |
Yep, it's great. Also really enjoyed Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson.
https://www.amazon.com/Lawrence-Arabia-Deceit-Imperial-Making/dp/0307476413 |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Bob Fisk |
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| ayatollah wrote: |
| Bob is renowned for making stuff up. |
Well, whether you like it or not, he's actually renowned for being one of the stellar reporters of the age. Hardly anyone is aware that he's made stuff up even if it is true.
In any case, non-fiction should be read with a critical eye, let alone a newspaper/correspondent's view of things.
Fisk's book spans 30 years and has over 1000 pages in it. If, let's say, a quarter of it was true, it would be worth a read. The bits that most chilled me are unquestionably true because the events themselves are well known.
Just because you can't ride in the passenger bay of an Apache helicopter doesn't mean everything Fisk writes is a lie. He's got an agenda, just like everyone else, but as you say, his writing is still "a terrific insight into ME affairs". |
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Sheik Yerbuti
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Location: the promised land
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:28 am Post subject: |
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The Bin Ladens. If you can find on kindle quite the read. Mostly about the
patriarch of the clan who founded the family business and his odyssey from
Yemen to Arabia. |
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Gulezar
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 483
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| House of Saud - a bit outdated but still a good history of the Saud mafia and how they were able to cobble together what is now the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
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