Inside the Kingdom : Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Lacey (_The Kingdom_) delves into the paradoxes in Saudi society—where women are forbidden to drive but are more likely to attend universities than men—and why this nation yielded most of the terrorist team on September 11, Osama bin Laden and one of the largest group of foreign fighters sent to Guant?namo from Afghanistan. Lacey's conversational tone and anecdotal approach to storytelling and analysis gives us a vivid portrait of personal and political life in Saudi Arabia's public and personal spheres, the traditions that govern everyday life, the country's journey from relative liberalism on the tide of extreme oil wealth in the 1980s to a resurgence of traditionalism. Lacey shows us a land where the governing dynasty gives rehabilitated Guant?namo returnees an $18,000 stipend toward their marriage dowry, and 15 young girls died in a schoolhouse fire in 2002 because they were not properly veiled, and religious police forbade them to escape and prevented firefighters from entering the burning building. Lacey's eye for sweeping trends and the telling detail combined with the depth, breadth and evenhandedness of his research makes for an indispensable guide. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Product Description What happened in the Middle East's oil-rich powerhouse- while we weren't looking Saudi Arabia is a country defined by paradox. It is a modern state driven by contemporary technology and possessed of vast oil deposits, yet its powerful religious establishment would have its customs and practices rolled back a thousand years to match those of the prophet Muhammad. With Inside the Kingdom , journalist and bestselling author Robert Lacey has given us one of the most penetrating and insightful looks at Saudi Arabia ever produced. While living for years among the nation's princes and paupers, its clerics and progressives, Lacey endeavored to find out how the consequences of the 1970s oil boom produced a society at war with itself. Filled with stories that trace a path through the Persian Gulf War and the events of 9/11 to the oilmarket convulsions of today, Inside the Kingdom gives us a modern history of the Saudis in their own words, revealing a people attempting to reconcile life under religious law with the demands of a rapidly changing world. Their struggle will have powerful reverberations around the globe, and this rich work provides a penetrating look at a country no one can afford to ignore.

saudi Arabia Sits On One Of The Richest Oil Deposits In The World, Yet It Is Also A Kingdom Whose Disaffection Produced Fifteen Of The Nineteen 9/11 Hijackers And Whose Religious Establishment Would Roll Back Its Values To The Time Of The Prophet Mohammed. In This Immensely Important Book, Journalist Robert Lacey Draws On Years Of Access To Every Circle Of Saudi Society To Give Readers The Fullest Portrait Yet Of A Land Straddling The Worlds Of Medievalism And Modernism. Moving From The Bloody Seizure Of Mecca's Grand Mosque In 1979, Through The Persian Gulf War, To The Delicate U.s.-saudi Relations In A Post-9/11 World, Inside The Kingdom Brings Recent History To Vivid Life And Offers A Powerful Story Of A Country Learning How Not To Be At War With Itself.

publishers Weekly

lacey (the Kingdom) Delves Into The Paradoxes In Saudi Society—where Women Are Forbidden To Drive But Are More Likely To Attend Universities Than Men—and Why This Nation Yielded Most Of The Terrorist Team On September 11, Osama Bin Laden And One Of The Largest Group Of Foreign Fighters Sent To Guantánamo From Afghanistan. Lacey's Conversational Tone And Anecdotal Approach To Storytelling And Analysis Gives Us A Vivid Portrait Of Personal And Political Life In Saudi Arabia's Public And Personal Spheres, The Traditions That Govern Everyday Life, The Country's Journey From Relative Liberalism On The Tide Of Extreme Oil Wealth In The 1980s To A Resurgence Of Traditionalism. Lacey Shows Us A Land Where The Governing Dynasty Gives Rehabilitated Guantánamo Returnees An $18,000 Stipend Toward Their Marriage Dowry, And 15 Young Girls Died In A Schoolhouse Fire In 2002 Because They Were Not Properly Veiled, And Religious Police Forbade Them To Escape And Prevented Firefighters From Entering The Burning Building. Lacey's Eye For Sweeping Trends And The Telling Detail Combined With The Depth, Breadth And Evenhandedness Of His Research Makes For An Indispensable Guide. (oct.)

What happened in the Middle East's oil-rich powerhouse while we weren't looking? Saudi Arabia is a country defined by paradox. It's a modern state driven by contemporary technology & possessed of vast oil deposits, yet its powerful religious establishment would have its customs & practices rolled back 1000 years to match those of the prophet Muhammad. With Inside the Kingdom , journalist & bestselling author Robert Lacey has given us one of the most penetrating & insightful looks at Saudi Arabia ever produced. While living for years among the nation's princes & paupers, its clerics & progressives, Lacey endeavored to find out how the consequences of the 1970s oil boom produced a society at war with itself. Filled with stories that trace a path thru the Persian Gulf War & the events of 9/11 to the oilmarket convulsions of today, Inside the Kingdom gives a modern history of the Saudis in their own words, revealing a people attempting to reconcile life under religious law with the demands of a rapidly changing world. Their struggle will have powerful reverberations around the globe. This rich work provides a penetrating look at a country no one can afford to ignore. 'It's all here-Islam, the family tree, a sea of oil and money to match, palace intrigue...This is high drama and an epic tale.'-Tom Brokaw Though Saudi Arabia sits on one of the richest oil deposits in the world, it also produced fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers. In this immensely important book, journalist Robert Lacey draws on years of access to every circle of Saudi society giving readers the fullest portrait yet of a land straddling the worlds of medievalism and modernity. Moving from the bloody seizure of Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979, through the Persian Gulf War, to the delicate U.S.-Saudi relations in a post 9/11 world, Inside the Kingdom brings recent history to vivid life and offers a powerful story of a country learning how not to be at war with itself. Preface: Welcome to the Kingdom Note on the Islamic calendar pt. 1. Kingdom of God Angry face The brothers Siege No Sunni, no Shia Vox populi, vox Dei Salafi soccer Jihad in Afghanistan Special relationship Dawn visitors Stars in the heavens Into exile The dove and the East wind Vacationing Jihadi pt. 2. Kingdom at war Desert Storm Battle for al-Khafji Awakening Stopping the sins In from the cold Change of heart Enter the Crown Prince The students Infinite reach New century pt. 3. Al-Qaeda comes home Fifteen flying Saudis Fire Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Prodigal sons King Abdullah Girls of Saudi Illegitimate occupation End of the affair Condition of the people Epilogue. Assesses the paradoxical nature of modern Saudi Arabia to explain the clash between contemporary technology and a powerful religious establishment grounded in thousand-year-old traditions, exploring events in recent history that have brought about current conflicts. By the best-selling author of The Kingdom. Tracing a path through the Persian Gulf War and the events of 9/11 to the oil market convulsions of today, "Inside the Kingdom" gives readers a modern history of the Saudis in their own words, revealing a people attempting to reconcile life under religious law with the demands of a rapidly changing world