Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Saudi Arabia
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
AcidBurn



Joined: 31 Mar 2004
Posts: 28

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:27 pm    Post subject: Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed Reply with quote

I�ve never been to Saudi, but I�m reading this book called Saudi Arabia Exposed by John R. Bradley. It�s proved to be very interesting so far.

For some background, John R. Bradley is the former editor of the ArabNews, which is an English-language Saudi news agency based in Jeddah. He worked there for two and a half years. Last year, he was fired from his post. The Saudis accused him of pedophilia and he denies it.

I had heard of Bradley before when he was the editor at the ArabNews. He was really, really pro-Saudi at the time. Since his departure, his tone has changed dramatically, which is why he wrote this book.

So far it�s good. I wonder if it will be available in Saudi.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
QatarChic



Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed Reply with quote

AcidBurn wrote:
I wonder if it will be available in Saudi.


I somehow doubt it Rolling Eyes but I'd be interested to read it....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I wonder if it will be available in Saudi.


You may stop wondering. There is less chance of this book appearing on Saudi bookshelves than there is of watching "Fahenheit 9/11" in your local friendly Riyadh cinema. Even the LP guide to Saudi Arabia is unavailable in the Kingdom, as are all but the most anodyne coffee-table books dealing with KSA.

Quote:
I had heard of Bradley before when he was the editor at the ArabNews. He was really, really pro-Saudi at the time. Since his departure, his tone has changed dramatically, which is why he wrote this book.


And that is the intriguing thing. During his time at the Arab Snooze, Bradley was, as you say, a notorious sycophant. One of my collleagues and I used to have regular giggle sessions at his unctious articles, where he would be known to pat himself on the back for his great social sensitivity and ability to "fit in" with the locals. And now that's all changed. It's unlikely to be because he "discovered" new things about life in the Kingdom which changed his views of it - instead, it's much more probable that he had a major falling-out with someone high up.

None of which neccessarily means his book is a bad read. Even though his articles certainly were...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
True Dreamer



Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Land of the Sand

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:50 am    Post subject: Re: Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed Reply with quote

Is there a catch here??!

Last edited by True Dreamer on Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:10 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
True Dreamer



Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Land of the Sand

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed Reply with quote

QatarChic wrote:
but I'd be interested to read it....



Why?!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

He was also a frequent poster on this forum.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
QatarChic



Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:51 am    Post subject: Re: Book: Saudi Arabia Exposed Reply with quote

True Dreamer wrote:
QatarChic wrote:
but I'd be interested to read it....



Why?!


erm..out of curiosity?? Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
True Dreamer



Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Land of the Sand

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since life is too short... no offence Qatachic.... I'm sure you'd better off read something more interesting than this weirdly voluminous account of Saudi Arabia from a bigot who used to work IN Saudi Arabia and earn Saudi Riyals where at one stage he used to praise Saudi Arabia as the most GENEROUS country in the world prior to this book Evil or Very Mad

Thought you may want to do better things in your spare time Chic Exclamation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm beginning to think that some of us - including myself - might be being just a wee bit hard on Bradley? True, his sycophancy during his Arab Snooze days was a bit hard to stomach, but having looked through his website:

http://www.johnrbradley.com/

it does seem that he's fairly well-informed and seeks to give a balanced view. So the notion that he's jumped on the knee-jerk Saw-dee bashing bandwagon may be a tad unfounded. Given the incredible amount of misinformation that has circulated about Saudi Arabia over the past few years, it's just possible that Bradley may have more to contribuite than most.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
QatarChic



Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote