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Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia Audiobook
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(3.01) - 725 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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 oil-market 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.
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"Lacey does a great job of giving the reader a detailed, but enjoyable journey through the rise of modern-day Saudi Arabia. From the rise of the Saud family to present day, Lacey uses interviews from those inside the royal family as both family and friends to give an eyewitness account of the ups and downs of running a monarchy. Anyone interested in the political, economical, and religious history of this desert kingdom will find this book worth your while."
— Brad (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Lacey does a good job of encapsulating Saudi domestic history over the past 30 years.”
— Washington Post -
This is high drama and an epic tale. Dazzling---on every level.
— Tom Brokaw -
“This is high drama and an epic tale. Dazzling—on every level.”
— Tom Brokaw -
“An insightful and intimate portrait of a country—and a family—chained to tradition and challenged by the remorseless march of modernity.”
— Lawrence Wright, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner The Looming Tower -
“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.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“The most penetrating and substantial book on the Saudi state and society since September 11…This is a thoughtful masterpiece about a country that lies at the heart of the Muslim world.”
— Ahmed Rashid, author of Descent into Chaos
Inside the Kingdom Listener Reviews
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" An insightful and fluent read on the political, economic, and social realities that conspired to create both modern Saudi Arabia and Osama Bin Laden. Chock full of telling anecdotes on women's invisibility, madrasas, and the complicated succession and face saving of Arabia's many princes, Lacey's book demonstrates how much the West doesn't know or can even understand about life in the MidEast. "
— Dev, 12/28/2013 -
" A good general introduction to the recent history of not just Saudi Arabia but also of regional and international political machinations. "
— David, 8/11/2013 -
" Depressing...but a good read nonetheless. "
— Megan, 3/31/2013 -
" It's fun and interesting to read about Saudi from an outsider's perspective, Loved the book :) "
— Saja, 1/12/2013 -
" A good historical look at the way things work in Saudi Arabia. A little too heavy on the government and kingdom side of things and light on how various events affected the "regular" people. And frankly, pretty dry. "
— Christina, 3/23/2012 -
" The most reveling book about the history of the Kingdom "
— Hashim, 4/3/2011 -
" Largely anecdotal, but still an informative read. "
— Matt, 3/30/2011 -
" - more reasons not to like Saudi Arabia (as if you needed them)<br/>- very, very informative "
— Dan, 12/7/2010
About Robert Lacey
Robert Lacey is a British historian and author of twenty books, including several New York Times bestsellers. He is the historical consultant to the television series The Crown, having worked previously with Peter Morgan on his Oscar-winning movie The Queen.
About Stephen Hoye
Stephen Hoye has worked as a professional actor in London and Los Angeles for more than thirty years. Trained at Boston University and the Guildhall in London, he has acted in television series and six feature films and has appeared in London’s West End. His audiobook narration has won him fifteen AudioFile Earphones Awards.