Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen Jones]

Start with Thiesenger, "Arabian Sands". No good for modern Saudi, but a must read to understand where things came from. There is also an excellent book on the relationship between the US and Saudi, whose title escapes me.

Despite the censorship there are many Saudi writers and poets, both in Arabic and English.

[Cleopatra]

[Queen of Sheba]

I have yet to find a book that tells the reader about what life is like in Saudi Arabia because Saudis dont write these kinds of books and foreigners cant infiltrate the culture to do so. The bulk of the books about Saudi Arabia today that aren't political are about abused women, which is repetitive information at this point. Avoid those sensational books that claim to be from princesses gone wild is all I can say. There is no translated fiction by Saudi writers or others about the culture that would help put things into context either, so a good read about the history of the country and the Middle East is helpful. Try Albert Hourani�s �A History of the Middle East� for a thorough understanding of the region and Saudi�s role in it. You should also read up about Islam as to understand the local lifestyle and holidays. Aramco World magazine usually has nice articles that may give you an idea about Saudi lifestyle. Saudi Arabia is extremely different that other Gulf countries and is really a place that can't be described easily in words.

[Stephen Jones]

[Caterinamh]