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On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines - and Future
From the Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter who has spent the last thirty years writing about Saudi Arabia—as diplomatic correspondent, foreign editor, and then publisher of The Wall Street Journal—an important and timely book that explores all facets of life in this shrouded Kingdom: its tribal past, its complicated present, its precarious future.
Through observation, anecdote, extensive interviews, and analysis Karen Elliot House navigates the maze in which Saudi citizens find themselves trapped and reveals the mysterious nation that is the world’s largest exporter of oil, critical to global stability, and a source of Islamic terrorists.
In her probing and sharp-eyed portrait, we see Saudi Arabia, one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, considered to be the final bulwark against revolution in the region, as threatened by multiple fissures and forces, its levers of power controlled by a handful of elderly Al Saud princes with an average age of 77 years and an extended family of some 7,000 princes. Yet at least 60 percent of the increasingly restive population they rule is under the age of 20.
The author writes that oil-rich Saudi Arabia has become a rundown welfare state. The public pays no taxes; gets free education and health care; and receives subsidized water, electricity, and energy (a gallon of gasoline is cheaper in the Kingdom than a bottle of water), with its petrodollars buying less and less loyalty. House makes clear that the royal family also uses Islam’s requirement of obedience to Allah—and by extension to earthly rulers—to perpetuate Al Saud rule.
Behind the Saudi facade of order and obedience, today’s Saudi youth, frustrated by social conformity, are reaching out to one another and to a wider world beyond their cloistered country. Some 50 percent of Saudi youth is on the Internet; 5.1 million Saudis are on Facebook.
To write this book, the author interviewed most of the key members of the very private royal family. She writes about King Abdullah’s modest efforts to relax some of the kingdom’s most oppressive social restrictions; women are now allowed to acquire photo ID cards, finally giving them an identity independent from their male guardians, and are newly able to register their own businesses but are still forbidden to drive and are barred from most jobs.
With extraordinary access to Saudis—from key religious leaders and dissident imams to women at university and impoverished widows, from government officials and political dissidents to young successful Saudis and those who chose the path of terrorism—House argues that most Saudis do not want democracy but seek change nevertheless; they want a government that provides basic services without subjecting citizens to the indignity of begging princes for handouts; a government less corrupt and more transparent in how it spends hundreds of billions of annual oil revenue; a kingdom ruled by law, not royal whim.
In House’s assessment of Saudi Arabia’s future, she compares the country today to the Soviet Union before Mikhail Gorbachev arrived with reform policies that proved too little too late after decades of stagnation under one aged and infirm Soviet leader after another. She discusses what the next generation of royal princes might bring and the choices the kingdom faces: continued economic and social stultification with growing risk of instability, or an opening of society to individual initiative and enterprise with the risk that this, too, undermines the Al Saud hold on power.
A riveting book—informed, authoritative, illuminating—about a country that could well be on the brink, and an in-depth examination of what all this portends for Saudi Arabia’s future, and for our own.
Through observation, anecdote, extensive interviews, and analysis Karen Elliot House navigates the maze in which Saudi citizens find themselves trapped and reveals the mysterious nation that is the world’s largest exporter of oil, critical to global stability, and a source of Islamic terrorists.
In her probing and sharp-eyed portrait, we see Saudi Arabia, one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, considered to be the final bulwark against revolution in the region, as threatened by multiple fissures and forces, its levers of power controlled by a handful of elderly Al Saud princes with an average age of 77 years and an extended family of some 7,000 princes. Yet at least 60 percent of the increasingly restive population they rule is under the age of 20.
The author writes that oil-rich Saudi Arabia has become a rundown welfare state. The public pays no taxes; gets free education and health care; and receives subsidized water, electricity, and energy (a gallon of gasoline is cheaper in the Kingdom than a bottle of water), with its petrodollars buying less and less loyalty. House makes clear that the royal family also uses Islam’s requirement of obedience to Allah—and by extension to earthly rulers—to perpetuate Al Saud rule.
Behind the Saudi facade of order and obedience, today’s Saudi youth, frustrated by social conformity, are reaching out to one another and to a wider world beyond their cloistered country. Some 50 percent of Saudi youth is on the Internet; 5.1 million Saudis are on Facebook.
To write this book, the author interviewed most of the key members of the very private royal family. She writes about King Abdullah’s modest efforts to relax some of the kingdom’s most oppressive social restrictions; women are now allowed to acquire photo ID cards, finally giving them an identity independent from their male guardians, and are newly able to register their own businesses but are still forbidden to drive and are barred from most jobs.
With extraordinary access to Saudis—from key religious leaders and dissident imams to women at university and impoverished widows, from government officials and political dissidents to young successful Saudis and those who chose the path of terrorism—House argues that most Saudis do not want democracy but seek change nevertheless; they want a government that provides basic services without subjecting citizens to the indignity of begging princes for handouts; a government less corrupt and more transparent in how it spends hundreds of billions of annual oil revenue; a kingdom ruled by law, not royal whim.
In House’s assessment of Saudi Arabia’s future, she compares the country today to the Soviet Union before Mikhail Gorbachev arrived with reform policies that proved too little too late after decades of stagnation under one aged and infirm Soviet leader after another. She discusses what the next generation of royal princes might bring and the choices the kingdom faces: continued economic and social stultification with growing risk of instability, or an opening of society to individual initiative and enterprise with the risk that this, too, undermines the Al Saud hold on power.
A riveting book—informed, authoritative, illuminating—about a country that could well be on the brink, and an in-depth examination of what all this portends for Saudi Arabia’s future, and for our own.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
167 people are currently reading
2163 people want to read
About the author
Karen Elliott House
6 books29 followersKAREN HOUSE is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She studied and taught at Harvard University's Institute of Politics and holds honorary degrees from Boston University (2003) and Lafayette College (1992). She was also a senior fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
May 6, 2015
An excellent book. I was familiar with the utter corruption, misogny, racism and hypocritical religiosity of the country, but the poverty? The dispossesion of a group of Saudia Arabians of their nationality yet support of the Palestinian cause, what kind of cynical people are these?
Review to come
at some point
you know...
4.5 stars really. It wasn't perfect, just pretty damn good.
Review to come
at some point
you know...
4.5 stars really. It wasn't perfect, just pretty damn good.
April 4, 2013
I read this book before leaving Saudi Arabia and it provided a good summary to a lot of what I had learned in the previous two years. One thing particularly bugged me about it though: she will always look at Saudi from a western perspective. When she talked about Saudi/US relations or Saudi/Arab relations, she is always coming at it from a western perspective. This is not to say that the book wasn't well researched, but it's limited in scope. She's another westerner coming into the Middle East and claiming expertise, despite the fact that she doesn't speak that language and relied on a translator for the work. That is what is most telling for me. She's written about Saudi for 3 decades and still doesn't speak the language of the people that she's writing about. I've got little room to talk, I failed to learn the language in the 2.5 years that I lived there; but, I did study it a great deal, enough to realize more and more how much I was missing by not speaking it.
September 30, 2023
این کتاب رو بعد از کتاب «عربستان از درون» خوندم و در مقایسه با اون کتاب میتونم بگم کتاب «عربستان از درون» سیر تاریخی کاملتری رو شامل میشه و شرایط داخلی و همچنین ارتباطات بینالملل عربستان رو خیلی بهتر شرح میده ولی در این کتاب با اینکه اکثر اون وقایع و حتی اشخاص ذکر میشه، اون پیوستگی رو نداره. درمقابل نگاه نویسندهی این کتاب خیلی انتقادیتر از کتاب «عربستان از درون» هستش و هیچکس حتی پادشاه، مفتیها و برخی دستورات اسلام از نگاه انتقادیش دور نمیمونه.
نکته جالب این کتاب اینه که نویسنده با افراد خیلی زیادی در داخل عربستان مصاحبه کرده و به نوعی دیدگاه مردم عربستان رو هم شامل میشه و از اون مهمتر اینکه نویسنده به واسطه زن بودن، تونسته با تعداد زیادی از خانمهای عربستانی (از روشنفکر تا مذهبیهای بسیار سختگیر) مصاحبه کنه و به راحتی وارد خانه مردم معمولی عربستان بشه. (چیزی که اصلا در کتاب عربستان از درون ممکن نبوده).
با اینکه نویسنده دیدگاه انتقادی داشته، به نظر من به جز چند مورد معدود، این دیدگاه متعصبانه نبوده و خیلی از بخشهای کتاب میتونه قابل تامل باشه مخصوصا پیشبینیهایی که از شرایط نظام پادشاهی و آینده اون در این کتاب انجام میده، تحلیلهای خوبی هستن (این کتاب رو ۱۰ سال بعد از چاپ خوندم و در این مدت یک پادشاه و چندین ولیعهد جابجا شدن و تغییرات شیب زیادی داشته ولی تحلیل نویسنده قابل توجه و خوب بوده).
در کل اگر با سیر وقایع تاریخ معاصر عربستان به طور خلاصه آشنا هستید (یا کتاب عربستان از درون رو قبلا خوندید) مطالعه این کتاب خالی از لطف نیست و پیشنهادش میدم (ترجیحم امتیاز 3.5 هستش).
نکته جالب این کتاب اینه که نویسنده با افراد خیلی زیادی در داخل عربستان مصاحبه کرده و به نوعی دیدگاه مردم عربستان رو هم شامل میشه و از اون مهمتر اینکه نویسنده به واسطه زن بودن، تونسته با تعداد زیادی از خانمهای عربستانی (از روشنفکر تا مذهبیهای بسیار سختگیر) مصاحبه کنه و به راحتی وارد خانه مردم معمولی عربستان بشه. (چیزی که اصلا در کتاب عربستان از درون ممکن نبوده).
با اینکه نویسنده دیدگاه انتقادی داشته، به نظر من به جز چند مورد معدود، این دیدگاه متعصبانه نبوده و خیلی از بخشهای کتاب میتونه قابل تامل باشه مخصوصا پیشبینیهایی که از شرایط نظام پادشاهی و آینده اون در این کتاب انجام میده، تحلیلهای خوبی هستن (این کتاب رو ۱۰ سال بعد از چاپ خوندم و در این مدت یک پادشاه و چندین ولیعهد جابجا شدن و تغییرات شیب زیادی داشته ولی تحلیل نویسنده قابل توجه و خوب بوده).
در کل اگر با سیر وقایع تاریخ معاصر عربستان به طور خلاصه آشنا هستید (یا کتاب عربستان از درون رو قبلا خوندید) مطالعه این کتاب خالی از لطف نیست و پیشنهادش میدم (ترجیحم امتیاز 3.5 هستش).
August 13, 2016
لأسباب خاصة
November 10, 2018
بیایید یک لحظه چشمانمان را ببندیم؛ سیاست و مذهب را کنار بگذاریم؛ حالا به این سوال جواب دهیم که از #عربستان و جامعه سعودی چه میدانیم؟! خانواده، اقتصاد، زن، اشتغال، تحصیلات، آموزش، مسائل دینی و امثالهم توی این جامعه مرموزی که عموما هم در رسانهها تحقیر میشود چه شکلی است؟ چرا سعودیها اینقدر با امریکاییها نزدیکند؟ نسبت بین #آل_سعود و جریانهای تکفیری مثل #القاعده و #بن_لادن چیست؟ اگر زنان سالهاست در این کشور از #رانندگی محرومند پس امور عادی آنها چگونه رتق و فتق میشود؟ خب خیلی به خودمان فشار نیاوریم چون جوابی برای این سوالها نداریم. ما آنقدر که دوست داریم به سعودیها بد و بیراه بگوییم و لیچار بارشان کنیم، علاقهای به شناخت واقعیشان نداریم. یادمان نرود حتی اگر بخواهیم دشمنی هم بکنیم باید مبتنی بر اطلاعات و شناخت دقیق از حریف باشد که خب عموما کمیت این جای قضیه همهمان لنگ میزند. با این مقدمات اگر طالب بودید نگاهی فرای سیاست و حرفها و شعارهای گلدرشت سیاسی به #عربستان_سعودی بیندازید این #کتاب پیشنهاد خوبی است. نویسندهاش یک #ژورنالیست است که فالاچیطور زده به دل جامعه سعودی. مثلا یک هفتهای را با یک زن معتقد و مذهبی وهابی و درون خانهاش سر کرده تا مناسبات درونی یک خانواده وهابی را از نزدیک ببنید. میبینید چقدر جذاب است! خواندن #هزار_توی_سعودی آنقدر برایم جذاب بود که پیشنهاد یکی از رفقای اینستایی را جدی بگیرم و بروم فیلم #الوجده را هم دانلود کنم و ببینم. اثری که اولین فیلم سینمایی تاریخ #عربستان_سعودی محسوب میشود که در این کشور ساخته شده و ناظر به بعضی مشکلات جامعه #زنان و #دختران سعودی است. بعد از دیدن فیلم هم #کتاب #عربستان_از_درون بدستم رسید که فکتها و واقعیات ملموس بیشتری دارد و سرمستم کرده از سرک کشیدن به میان جامعه و فرهنگ و تاریخ سعودیها. الغرض فعلا #هزار_توی_سعودی را از دست ندهید. بروبچههای #نشراسم منتشرش کردهاند. توی گودریدز چهار ستاره به این کتاب دادم. وزن سبکی دارد و قطع تو دل برویی. میشود یکدستی آن را دست گرفت و صفحه به صفحهاش را با لذت نوشید. وسط این دعواهای رسانهای و فحش و فحشکشیها درباره #جمال_خاشقجی بد نیست یکی دو #کتاب راجع به فرهنگ و جامعه عربستان بخوانیم.
March 30, 2024
A look at a conservative society facing the challenges of entering the modern world. I was impressed by the fact that this is an overwhelmingly young society, but is controlled by an aging dynasty. How wisely the Al Saud can continue to run this society and continue to carry out needed reforms is open to question...and how far religious authorities will permit it to go is even a bigger question.
May 23, 2015
Update, May 25th, 2015: The New Yorker did some long-form journalism on the state of Saudi Arabia as control passes to a new leader. It's interesting:
Saudi Shakeup
.
❦
The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is a complex one that provokes dissonance in most thinking Americans. And, yeah, we all know there’s some sort of a crisis brewing in Saudi Arabia, but most of keep our gaze averted — as long as there’s no overt trouble, it’s much more comfortable to pretty much just ignore everything. Read the New York Times review of House’s book, Closed Kingdom — even if you don’t ever intend to read this book — just as a tiny primer.
The Times reviewer mentions that Saudi Arabia is similar to North Korea in its absurd conservatism and rule-bound society. The more germane comparison (made later in the review) is to the Soviet Union:
This book is actually very easy to read. The colorful stories House tells to make her case are interesting enough to almost call riveting, and the book is neither long nor complex enough to call difficult. One book on the middle-east won’t make you an expert, but this one will provide an easy and important lesson.
❦
The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is a complex one that provokes dissonance in most thinking Americans. And, yeah, we all know there’s some sort of a crisis brewing in Saudi Arabia, but most of keep our gaze averted — as long as there’s no overt trouble, it’s much more comfortable to pretty much just ignore everything. Read the New York Times review of House’s book, Closed Kingdom — even if you don’t ever intend to read this book — just as a tiny primer.
The Times reviewer mentions that Saudi Arabia is similar to North Korea in its absurd conservatism and rule-bound society. The more germane comparison (made later in the review) is to the Soviet Union:
The country’s calcified government, its sullen populace, its youth bulge, its outdated religious requirements and prohibitions, the collapse of the information bubble and the dying off of the current line of geriatric rulers are all bound to coalesce into a perfect storm sooner or later.House doesn’t make any prediction; just warnings. She leaves a sliver of hope that something will permit reform instead of collapse, but given the litany of difficulties she amply illustrates, I can’t imagine many people thinking there is much hope of that. And if the country falls, it will probably fall a long ways and trigger many interrelated calamities. The region is, frankly, a pretty messed up place.
This book is actually very easy to read. The colorful stories House tells to make her case are interesting enough to almost call riveting, and the book is neither long nor complex enough to call difficult. One book on the middle-east won’t make you an expert, but this one will provide an easy and important lesson.
April 27, 2022
On a Friday evening, with excitement and hopes to read an interesting book, I took this book by Karen Elliot.
In her preface, she claimed to be in touch with this country for over 30+ years. Unfortunately, she delivers a mix of Wikipedia injected with American media narrative with steroids.
If you’ve watched power puff girls, the cartoon starts with Professor Utonium mixing sugar, spice and everything nice. He stirs all the ingredients and poof, Power Puff Girls appear (drum rolls). In a similar fashion, Wikipedia, Fox News + CNBC and inject a bad narrative — poof this book appears.
The more I read, I became disappointed. If you walk over to an Average Joe in the West, he would regurgitate the same info and narrative of this book. Unfortunately, if this is where people in the West learn about a society which is non-Western, I say it’s bad scholarship.
I do not practice Islam. However, I want to take an effort in understanding a culture which I am not familiar. I'd rather not paint a narrative. Eg: "Wahhab preached a pure version of his Islam" Well, I am ignorant on various theological factions of Islam.
I am a non-Westerner reading this book. I am also a non-Saudi. I am a casual yet extremely curious observer of other-cultures. I wish, I could hear what a scholar who grew up in the Middle East comment on this society. A Scholar who has lived in both worlds.
Oh, I can think of Patrick Smith who wrote a book on, "Somebody Else's Century." He's a Westerner living in Asia (China, Japan, India). He was able to articulate Asia (China, Japan, India) far more than any Westerner that I have encountered.
Patrick, was more aware of intricate social concepts which are absent in the West.
Somebody Else's Century by Patrick Smith
I would not recommend this book to learn about Saudi Arabia. I am not sure what to recommend.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
In her preface, she claimed to be in touch with this country for over 30+ years. Unfortunately, she delivers a mix of Wikipedia injected with American media narrative with steroids.
If you’ve watched power puff girls, the cartoon starts with Professor Utonium mixing sugar, spice and everything nice. He stirs all the ingredients and poof, Power Puff Girls appear (drum rolls). In a similar fashion, Wikipedia, Fox News + CNBC and inject a bad narrative — poof this book appears.
The more I read, I became disappointed. If you walk over to an Average Joe in the West, he would regurgitate the same info and narrative of this book. Unfortunately, if this is where people in the West learn about a society which is non-Western, I say it’s bad scholarship.
I do not practice Islam. However, I want to take an effort in understanding a culture which I am not familiar. I'd rather not paint a narrative. Eg: "Wahhab preached a pure version of his Islam" Well, I am ignorant on various theological factions of Islam.
I am a non-Westerner reading this book. I am also a non-Saudi. I am a casual yet extremely curious observer of other-cultures. I wish, I could hear what a scholar who grew up in the Middle East comment on this society. A Scholar who has lived in both worlds.
Oh, I can think of Patrick Smith who wrote a book on, "Somebody Else's Century." He's a Westerner living in Asia (China, Japan, India). He was able to articulate Asia (China, Japan, India) far more than any Westerner that I have encountered.
Patrick, was more aware of intricate social concepts which are absent in the West.
Somebody Else's Century by Patrick Smith
I would not recommend this book to learn about Saudi Arabia. I am not sure what to recommend.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
July 20, 2013
The author of this book is so anti-Saudi that it makes it difficult to discern the facts - she is shameless in her biased wording. Example: even though she tells the story of King Abdulaziz, who shared his royal wealth with the people, causing him to live a life of poverty, she still seems to think he was a heartless bastard.
Whatever useful knowledge I might gleen from these pages is constantly overshadowed by the dark cloud of the author's negative perspective. She has spent more than 35 years learning about the country. Has it really been that bad of an experience?
Whatever useful knowledge I might gleen from these pages is constantly overshadowed by the dark cloud of the author's negative perspective. She has spent more than 35 years learning about the country. Has it really been that bad of an experience?
July 20, 2016
Excellent overview of a country on-the-edge and a country which the West cannot afford to ignore. A former WSJ foreign correspondent House has done her homework. This is a well written book that should be read by anyone who pays attention to the news.
February 23, 2013
See the full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
Over the past thirty years, Karen Elliott House has reported about Saudi Arabia through her work with the Wall Street Journal. Her book, On Saudi Arabia, was published last fall, and my husband and I read it aloud as part of our breakfast reading.
The story of Saudi Arabia for the last half century has really been the story of one family, the Al Saud. The first Al Saud king, Abdul Aziz unified a bunch of disparate tribes to form the present country of Saudi Arabia. The family currently is huge--there are more than 2000 princes. One of the main problem is that the crown has been passed from son to son of Abdul Aziz; the current king is in his late 80s and the youngest son is in his 60s. At some point, if tradition is to be updated for the Al Saud family, the crown is going to have to be passed to the next generation. Who? And which line of succession will continue the rule? The princes are everywhere in the country, and they have their hands in every pie.
The country is so conservative and so traditional because the Al Saud family has control of everything. In the 1980s they chose to impose Wahabi Islam on the people, and religion controls everything. House compares Saudi Arabia to the last days of the Soviet Union only with more money. And the money is spread everywhere. But she also emphasizes that the money is finite. The oil revenue from Saudi wells may be at their peak and on the way down. Sixty percent of Saudis are under the age of 20, and there is great fear that the money will run out and the government largess will have to be contained.
The high walls that have contained Saudis in their homes with their restrictive religion are crumbling fast primarily because the Internet has opened up so much to young people. There is no cinema in Saudi Arabia; women cannot drive or leave their homes without male escort; there are no nightclubs, but there are thousands of restless youth. In one chapter, House talks about how some young men turn to jihad as a way to find meaning in their lives, and how the government is trying to rehabilitate them with jobs, wives, and money. Yet, there are many, many young men without jobs, and most young Saudi men will not take the kinds of jobs that may be available--those are outsourced to willing workers from Egypt, India, and the Philippines.
The aspect of Saudi society that I have pondered again and again is the government policy of exporting students throughout the world to study. Does the king want to totally reform the country and thinks that this is the way? We have had three Saudi students in the small apartment in our home over the past two years. They have been part of the English language program at Western Michigan University where currently there are 500 Saudi students. I have also tutored about 15 of them, men and women, because word has spread that I tutor and edit papers. Each has their own story to tell about why they came to Kalamazoo, about what they are studying, and what they plan to do with their lives. As we have read On Saudi Arabia, I have probed a bit more about their lives, their wives, their children, and their futures.
The first thing I have noticed is that few of them are creative thinkers. Their education system is so force-fed that they have never had to do any intuitive work nor have they had to do any teamwork. So, when asked to form an opinion about something they have read, they have no resources. I have tutored several students who are getting Master's Degrees in education. One young woman is getting a PhD in Special Education, and I asked her about Special Education in Saudi Arabia. She said that she will be one of the first trained PhDs, and that is why she is hurrying so fast to get her PhD. Another man is so taken with the concepts of educational leadership, he can't wait to get home to reform the science education--for which he is a national consultant. What will they find when they return? Will the government let them put into effect the reforms that they are now trained to do?
My favorite story about creative thinking is about Dhafer, who is getting his Masters in Computer Engineering. He had to take a creative writing course in this first semester of his degree. He has found that he has a knack for poetry and fiction writing. He had to write a short story--never having read one in his life. So, we chose an incident that happened when he first arrived in the US and he turned it into a short story about a fictional him. Now, the teacher wants to publish it in a national journal for ESL teachers. He never knew he had it in him.
I have met few wives. I invited one family for Thanksgiving so their two-year-old could play with my granddaughter, but they declined to come; Anood, the wife, would be too uncomfortable because she would have to be covered. Several of the wives, however, just wear hijab, and some even drive the family car and take the children back and forth to school. Most of them want to have a baby while they are in the US so that they will have a US citizen in their family.
On Saudi Arabia gave my husband and me more ways to identify with our Saudi friends. When we have asked them something about what we learned from the book, they questioned where we got the information, but then mostly the begrudgingly agreed. One young man who is studying human resources said that his father is trying to buy a trucking company. (There are not many independent businesses in the country, according to House.) When I asked him about how that was going, he told me that the Prince who has control of the region is willing to help finance the purchase, but then he wants such a big cut of the business that the family doesn't think they will make enough money to support themselves after they pay the Prince.
Well--the stories I could tell. I am grateful that On Saudi Arabia came out while we were in the midst of this experience so that we can understand the country better. We have found our Saudis to be charming, responsible, caring, delightful young men. We are honored to have them in our home. We worry about them when they get home. Will they get jobs? What will happen to their country when the King dies? One man told me that he thinks they are only two years away from revolution. Another told me that he hopes a parliamentary system with a figurehead king (like Great Britain) will be the result. He is afraid for his country.
On Saudi Arabia has been very well received and very well reviewed. Karen House knows what she is talking about. There are extensive notes and references as well as her own observations. Journalism at its best. Here are two excellent reviews.
The review in the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000...
The review in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/boo...
Over the past thirty years, Karen Elliott House has reported about Saudi Arabia through her work with the Wall Street Journal. Her book, On Saudi Arabia, was published last fall, and my husband and I read it aloud as part of our breakfast reading.
The story of Saudi Arabia for the last half century has really been the story of one family, the Al Saud. The first Al Saud king, Abdul Aziz unified a bunch of disparate tribes to form the present country of Saudi Arabia. The family currently is huge--there are more than 2000 princes. One of the main problem is that the crown has been passed from son to son of Abdul Aziz; the current king is in his late 80s and the youngest son is in his 60s. At some point, if tradition is to be updated for the Al Saud family, the crown is going to have to be passed to the next generation. Who? And which line of succession will continue the rule? The princes are everywhere in the country, and they have their hands in every pie.
The country is so conservative and so traditional because the Al Saud family has control of everything. In the 1980s they chose to impose Wahabi Islam on the people, and religion controls everything. House compares Saudi Arabia to the last days of the Soviet Union only with more money. And the money is spread everywhere. But she also emphasizes that the money is finite. The oil revenue from Saudi wells may be at their peak and on the way down. Sixty percent of Saudis are under the age of 20, and there is great fear that the money will run out and the government largess will have to be contained.
The high walls that have contained Saudis in their homes with their restrictive religion are crumbling fast primarily because the Internet has opened up so much to young people. There is no cinema in Saudi Arabia; women cannot drive or leave their homes without male escort; there are no nightclubs, but there are thousands of restless youth. In one chapter, House talks about how some young men turn to jihad as a way to find meaning in their lives, and how the government is trying to rehabilitate them with jobs, wives, and money. Yet, there are many, many young men without jobs, and most young Saudi men will not take the kinds of jobs that may be available--those are outsourced to willing workers from Egypt, India, and the Philippines.
The aspect of Saudi society that I have pondered again and again is the government policy of exporting students throughout the world to study. Does the king want to totally reform the country and thinks that this is the way? We have had three Saudi students in the small apartment in our home over the past two years. They have been part of the English language program at Western Michigan University where currently there are 500 Saudi students. I have also tutored about 15 of them, men and women, because word has spread that I tutor and edit papers. Each has their own story to tell about why they came to Kalamazoo, about what they are studying, and what they plan to do with their lives. As we have read On Saudi Arabia, I have probed a bit more about their lives, their wives, their children, and their futures.
The first thing I have noticed is that few of them are creative thinkers. Their education system is so force-fed that they have never had to do any intuitive work nor have they had to do any teamwork. So, when asked to form an opinion about something they have read, they have no resources. I have tutored several students who are getting Master's Degrees in education. One young woman is getting a PhD in Special Education, and I asked her about Special Education in Saudi Arabia. She said that she will be one of the first trained PhDs, and that is why she is hurrying so fast to get her PhD. Another man is so taken with the concepts of educational leadership, he can't wait to get home to reform the science education--for which he is a national consultant. What will they find when they return? Will the government let them put into effect the reforms that they are now trained to do?
My favorite story about creative thinking is about Dhafer, who is getting his Masters in Computer Engineering. He had to take a creative writing course in this first semester of his degree. He has found that he has a knack for poetry and fiction writing. He had to write a short story--never having read one in his life. So, we chose an incident that happened when he first arrived in the US and he turned it into a short story about a fictional him. Now, the teacher wants to publish it in a national journal for ESL teachers. He never knew he had it in him.
I have met few wives. I invited one family for Thanksgiving so their two-year-old could play with my granddaughter, but they declined to come; Anood, the wife, would be too uncomfortable because she would have to be covered. Several of the wives, however, just wear hijab, and some even drive the family car and take the children back and forth to school. Most of them want to have a baby while they are in the US so that they will have a US citizen in their family.
On Saudi Arabia gave my husband and me more ways to identify with our Saudi friends. When we have asked them something about what we learned from the book, they questioned where we got the information, but then mostly the begrudgingly agreed. One young man who is studying human resources said that his father is trying to buy a trucking company. (There are not many independent businesses in the country, according to House.) When I asked him about how that was going, he told me that the Prince who has control of the region is willing to help finance the purchase, but then he wants such a big cut of the business that the family doesn't think they will make enough money to support themselves after they pay the Prince.
Well--the stories I could tell. I am grateful that On Saudi Arabia came out while we were in the midst of this experience so that we can understand the country better. We have found our Saudis to be charming, responsible, caring, delightful young men. We are honored to have them in our home. We worry about them when they get home. Will they get jobs? What will happen to their country when the King dies? One man told me that he thinks they are only two years away from revolution. Another told me that he hopes a parliamentary system with a figurehead king (like Great Britain) will be the result. He is afraid for his country.
On Saudi Arabia has been very well received and very well reviewed. Karen House knows what she is talking about. There are extensive notes and references as well as her own observations. Journalism at its best. Here are two excellent reviews.
The review in the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000...
The review in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/boo...
November 11, 2012
Solid non-fiction book all about Saudi Arabia. It covers society, politics, leaders, terrorism, religion, foreign policy, and of course all issues surrounding oil.
The woman who wrote it had a good point--she thought it actually benefited the book that she was a woman, because (a) as a foreign woman, as long as she was wearing modest clothes, men in Saudi Arabia (men in power, too) were more than willing to talk to her because she was not a Saudi woman and therefore not an issue (in terms of sexual awkwardness, since she was not seen as a viable prospect) and (b) as a woman, she was able to meet with, talk to, and get close to Saudi women in a way that no man could have done.
The book was interesting in general, though it dragged in some parts (for me at least) particularly the parts that went into detail about royal lineage and the history of Al Saud rule in the Kingdom. But overall I thought this was a solid portrayal of a fascinating country in a fascinating part of the world, with all its contradictions, flaws, etc.
The woman who wrote it had a good point--she thought it actually benefited the book that she was a woman, because (a) as a foreign woman, as long as she was wearing modest clothes, men in Saudi Arabia (men in power, too) were more than willing to talk to her because she was not a Saudi woman and therefore not an issue (in terms of sexual awkwardness, since she was not seen as a viable prospect) and (b) as a woman, she was able to meet with, talk to, and get close to Saudi women in a way that no man could have done.
The book was interesting in general, though it dragged in some parts (for me at least) particularly the parts that went into detail about royal lineage and the history of Al Saud rule in the Kingdom. But overall I thought this was a solid portrayal of a fascinating country in a fascinating part of the world, with all its contradictions, flaws, etc.
February 20, 2013
On Saudi Arabia: It’s People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines -- and Future by Karen Elliott House
“On Saudi Arabia" is the revealing book that focuses on the lives of individual Saudis and how they are impacted by traditions and authorities. Pulitzer-prize winning author, Karen Elliott House takes the readers on a journey into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She skillfully explains how the Saudi society works, how they think and live and the interesting challenges the monarchy faces. This enlightening 320-page book is composed of the following fifteen chapters: 1. Chapter 1: Fragile, Chapter 2: Al Saud Survival Skills, Chapter 3: Islam: Dominant and Divided, Chapter 4: The Social Labyrinth, Chapter 5: Females and Fault Lines, Chapter 6: The Young and the Restless, Chapter 7: Princes, 8: Failing Grades, 9: Plans, Paralysis, and Poverty, 10: Outcasts, 11: … and Outlaws, 12: Succession, 13: Saudi Scenarios, 14: On Pins and Needles, and, 15: Endgame.
Positives:
1. A well-researched and well-cited book that takes you into the intriguing history of Saudi Arabia.
2. Very accessible and readable book. House has great command of the topic due to her background and has great access helped in large part to her status as a “third sex”.
3. Fascinating topic. The author covers all the aspects of Saudi living comprehensively.
4. A brief history of the formation of the first Saudi state. The last significant absolute monarchy remaining on earth. The sources of survival of Al Saud.
5. The pervasive and often oppressive role of religion. The author does a great job of explaining the domineering role religion plays in practically every aspect of Saudi life including the immense role it plays in politics. “Most Westerners, who live in an aggressively secular environment, would find it impossible to imagine the pervasive presence of religion, which hangs over Saudi Arabia like a heavy fog and has been a source of stability, along with the Al Saud, for nearly three centuries”.
6. An in depth looks into a society of deep divisions and high walls. “The walls of this metaphorical Saudi maze are those of religion, tradition, convention, and culture”. “For Arabs, a man’s self-respect is determined by how others see him. So appearance is everything”.
7. One of the most interesting chapters is the one regarding the status, role and future of women. “Most Saudi women, of course, can’t work—or they refuse to work in a mixed environment. Women make up less than 12 percent of the total labor force, the lowest percentage in the Middle East, and an enormous waste of productive talent for the Saudi economy”.
8. The challenges and reality of the Saudi youth. “Saudi youth, whether liberal, traditional, or fundamentalist, share at least three characteristics: most are alienated, undereducated, and underemployed”.
9. The plethora of princes and their roles. “Indeed, this plethora of princes is so large and so diverse that little if anything links them except some Al Saud genes. In no other country on earth is there a royal family on anything like this scale. Collectively, they increasingly are viewed by the rest of Saudi society as a burdensome privileged caste”.
10. The role of education. A revealing chapter indeed. “Some Western students might make the same mistake, but what these Saudi professors really are fighting is the result of the years of mindless memorization among students…”
11. A fascinating look at Saudi society. “Saudi Arabia, in short, is a society in which all too many men do not want to work at jobs for which they are qualified; in which women by and large aren’t allowed to work; and in which, as a result, most of the work is done by foreigners”.
12. An oil-based economy. “Oil is one Saudi addiction; imported labor is the other. This dependence on foreign workers is the most glaring current symptom of a dysfunctional Saudi economy”.
13. A look at poverty. “The very poor, some 19 percent of Saudis, live on less than 1,800 Saudi riyals ($480) a month, according to a 2003 survey by the Ministry of Social Affairs”.
14. A look at the menacing outlaws of Saudi society and what the regime is doing about it. Interesting stuff.
15. The author does a good job of explaining the various challenges facing the monarchy. The different paths or tactics to keep the kingdom stable. “The most important can be summed up in one equation: the gap between aged rulers and youthful subjects grows dramatically, as the information gap between the rulers and the ruled shrinks”.
16. Saudi foreign policy, “the survival of the House of Saud”. The precarious balancing act at home and the dangerous Middle East. The impact of the Arab Spring of 2011. The Saudi-U.S. relations.
17. A look at the consensus of the state of affairs of the kingdom. “Most Saudi experts—diplomats, businessmen, and scholars—while not oblivious to the country’s multiple challenges, still conclude that the kingdom, resting as it does on a foundation of Al Saud rule, conservative religious orthodoxy, and bountiful oil revenue, remains fundamentally stable.
18. Great notes and formal bibliography.
Negatives:
1. The author hammers home recurring themes almost to a fault. Repetitive.
2. A cast of characters and timelines, would have immensely assisted an American audience that may not be familiar with this interesting history.
In summary, this is a great reference on Saudi Arabia. Karen Elliott House meticulous research and access to the Saudi kingdom is a revelation. The book is a real treat for those of us who know so little about this fascinating culture. If you are looking for an accessible and comprehensive book on Saudi Arabia, I highly recommend this one.
“On Saudi Arabia" is the revealing book that focuses on the lives of individual Saudis and how they are impacted by traditions and authorities. Pulitzer-prize winning author, Karen Elliott House takes the readers on a journey into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She skillfully explains how the Saudi society works, how they think and live and the interesting challenges the monarchy faces. This enlightening 320-page book is composed of the following fifteen chapters: 1. Chapter 1: Fragile, Chapter 2: Al Saud Survival Skills, Chapter 3: Islam: Dominant and Divided, Chapter 4: The Social Labyrinth, Chapter 5: Females and Fault Lines, Chapter 6: The Young and the Restless, Chapter 7: Princes, 8: Failing Grades, 9: Plans, Paralysis, and Poverty, 10: Outcasts, 11: … and Outlaws, 12: Succession, 13: Saudi Scenarios, 14: On Pins and Needles, and, 15: Endgame.
Positives:
1. A well-researched and well-cited book that takes you into the intriguing history of Saudi Arabia.
2. Very accessible and readable book. House has great command of the topic due to her background and has great access helped in large part to her status as a “third sex”.
3. Fascinating topic. The author covers all the aspects of Saudi living comprehensively.
4. A brief history of the formation of the first Saudi state. The last significant absolute monarchy remaining on earth. The sources of survival of Al Saud.
5. The pervasive and often oppressive role of religion. The author does a great job of explaining the domineering role religion plays in practically every aspect of Saudi life including the immense role it plays in politics. “Most Westerners, who live in an aggressively secular environment, would find it impossible to imagine the pervasive presence of religion, which hangs over Saudi Arabia like a heavy fog and has been a source of stability, along with the Al Saud, for nearly three centuries”.
6. An in depth looks into a society of deep divisions and high walls. “The walls of this metaphorical Saudi maze are those of religion, tradition, convention, and culture”. “For Arabs, a man’s self-respect is determined by how others see him. So appearance is everything”.
7. One of the most interesting chapters is the one regarding the status, role and future of women. “Most Saudi women, of course, can’t work—or they refuse to work in a mixed environment. Women make up less than 12 percent of the total labor force, the lowest percentage in the Middle East, and an enormous waste of productive talent for the Saudi economy”.
8. The challenges and reality of the Saudi youth. “Saudi youth, whether liberal, traditional, or fundamentalist, share at least three characteristics: most are alienated, undereducated, and underemployed”.
9. The plethora of princes and their roles. “Indeed, this plethora of princes is so large and so diverse that little if anything links them except some Al Saud genes. In no other country on earth is there a royal family on anything like this scale. Collectively, they increasingly are viewed by the rest of Saudi society as a burdensome privileged caste”.
10. The role of education. A revealing chapter indeed. “Some Western students might make the same mistake, but what these Saudi professors really are fighting is the result of the years of mindless memorization among students…”
11. A fascinating look at Saudi society. “Saudi Arabia, in short, is a society in which all too many men do not want to work at jobs for which they are qualified; in which women by and large aren’t allowed to work; and in which, as a result, most of the work is done by foreigners”.
12. An oil-based economy. “Oil is one Saudi addiction; imported labor is the other. This dependence on foreign workers is the most glaring current symptom of a dysfunctional Saudi economy”.
13. A look at poverty. “The very poor, some 19 percent of Saudis, live on less than 1,800 Saudi riyals ($480) a month, according to a 2003 survey by the Ministry of Social Affairs”.
14. A look at the menacing outlaws of Saudi society and what the regime is doing about it. Interesting stuff.
15. The author does a good job of explaining the various challenges facing the monarchy. The different paths or tactics to keep the kingdom stable. “The most important can be summed up in one equation: the gap between aged rulers and youthful subjects grows dramatically, as the information gap between the rulers and the ruled shrinks”.
16. Saudi foreign policy, “the survival of the House of Saud”. The precarious balancing act at home and the dangerous Middle East. The impact of the Arab Spring of 2011. The Saudi-U.S. relations.
17. A look at the consensus of the state of affairs of the kingdom. “Most Saudi experts—diplomats, businessmen, and scholars—while not oblivious to the country’s multiple challenges, still conclude that the kingdom, resting as it does on a foundation of Al Saud rule, conservative religious orthodoxy, and bountiful oil revenue, remains fundamentally stable.
18. Great notes and formal bibliography.
Negatives:
1. The author hammers home recurring themes almost to a fault. Repetitive.
2. A cast of characters and timelines, would have immensely assisted an American audience that may not be familiar with this interesting history.
In summary, this is a great reference on Saudi Arabia. Karen Elliott House meticulous research and access to the Saudi kingdom is a revelation. The book is a real treat for those of us who know so little about this fascinating culture. If you are looking for an accessible and comprehensive book on Saudi Arabia, I highly recommend this one.
May 6, 2013
I was really excited to read this book, and knowing nothing about Saudi Arabia going in, I now undoubtedly know more. So many of the things she discusses are fascinating and bizarre, but make sense in the historical context in which she frames them. This helped give me a sense of the creation of the state, the driving forces in the culture, and many of the problems Saudi Arabia currently faces.
I was, however, frequently disappointed in the book. It's clear the author has a lot of disdain for many aspects of Saudi culture, and after having spent a large part of several decades there she is definitely qualified to have an opinion. What seemed less reasonable to me were the superlative statements she'd make without offering any evidence. "[Saudi men] wind up subjugating their wives to a degree unprecedented in any other society" -- is this really true? This should be followed with a statement comparing how wives are treated better in Afghanistan and India and 3000 years ago, but it offers no such comparison. There were enough comments like this that I wasn't sure how seriously to take a lot of her statements. If the book relied more on comparisons to surrounding areas or on (admittedly hard-to-get) statistics, I'd feel like I had learned a lot more.
I was, however, frequently disappointed in the book. It's clear the author has a lot of disdain for many aspects of Saudi culture, and after having spent a large part of several decades there she is definitely qualified to have an opinion. What seemed less reasonable to me were the superlative statements she'd make without offering any evidence. "[Saudi men] wind up subjugating their wives to a degree unprecedented in any other society" -- is this really true? This should be followed with a statement comparing how wives are treated better in Afghanistan and India and 3000 years ago, but it offers no such comparison. There were enough comments like this that I wasn't sure how seriously to take a lot of her statements. If the book relied more on comparisons to surrounding areas or on (admittedly hard-to-get) statistics, I'd feel like I had learned a lot more.
May 22, 2013
eople, Past, Religion, Fault Lines - and Future (Kindle Edition)
Karen Elliott House has spent a good bit of time in the Kingdom. As a "third sex" (a western woman) has been able to cross the male/female divide to give a balanced portrait of the people. Her short, readable book does just what its title says; it helps you know the "people, past, religion and fault lines" of the country.
The scope is too wide for a deep analysis, but what is sacrificed to space is made up for by covering so many aspects of the country. She describes the situation of the young, the old, the rich, the middle class, the poor, minorities and, of course, the royals. She gives examples through interviews and descriptions.
Most books on Saudi Arabia hardly mention the poor which comprise 40% of the population. Elliott describes her visits to the rural and urban poor, minorities and even stateless people. She describes the religious police free zones of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and ARAMCO. She interviews business women and goes to their meetings. She reports on both sides of segregated gatherings. She interviews those who joined terrorist groups and have been through the country's terrorist rehab program (for more on this, Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals). She interviews the devout, students, wives, a divorcee and ex-cons.
This book has the clearest description of royal succession and the current succession problem I've read. In stark terms, the new king will be 70 years old at best and will rule over a country where most people are not 40 years younger. The age difference is nothing compared to the lifestyle of the royal family and its subjects. Too many middle class young people have no work and too many poor work 7 days a week as street vendors or security guards for subsistence pay.
While the culture is described as one of compliance (submission, as Islam requires) House sees signs of the edges fraying. The internet has given young people tools to defy the age old dating customs, to see the wider world and to see that the royal family (which comprises and controls every institution) is not living an Islamic life.
House compares the Kingdom to the pre-glasnost Soviet Union. The outside portrays stability. The inside shows fault lines. In the last chapter, House summarizes the issues that will affect the future and the possible outcomes.
While it's beyond the scope of the book to go too deeply into any one person or group, the life of the very devout second wife, Lulu is curious and worthy of a chapter.
Karen Elliott House has spent a good bit of time in the Kingdom. As a "third sex" (a western woman) has been able to cross the male/female divide to give a balanced portrait of the people. Her short, readable book does just what its title says; it helps you know the "people, past, religion and fault lines" of the country.
The scope is too wide for a deep analysis, but what is sacrificed to space is made up for by covering so many aspects of the country. She describes the situation of the young, the old, the rich, the middle class, the poor, minorities and, of course, the royals. She gives examples through interviews and descriptions.
Most books on Saudi Arabia hardly mention the poor which comprise 40% of the population. Elliott describes her visits to the rural and urban poor, minorities and even stateless people. She describes the religious police free zones of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and ARAMCO. She interviews business women and goes to their meetings. She reports on both sides of segregated gatherings. She interviews those who joined terrorist groups and have been through the country's terrorist rehab program (for more on this, Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals). She interviews the devout, students, wives, a divorcee and ex-cons.
This book has the clearest description of royal succession and the current succession problem I've read. In stark terms, the new king will be 70 years old at best and will rule over a country where most people are not 40 years younger. The age difference is nothing compared to the lifestyle of the royal family and its subjects. Too many middle class young people have no work and too many poor work 7 days a week as street vendors or security guards for subsistence pay.
While the culture is described as one of compliance (submission, as Islam requires) House sees signs of the edges fraying. The internet has given young people tools to defy the age old dating customs, to see the wider world and to see that the royal family (which comprises and controls every institution) is not living an Islamic life.
House compares the Kingdom to the pre-glasnost Soviet Union. The outside portrays stability. The inside shows fault lines. In the last chapter, House summarizes the issues that will affect the future and the possible outcomes.
While it's beyond the scope of the book to go too deeply into any one person or group, the life of the very devout second wife, Lulu is curious and worthy of a chapter.
December 7, 2019
This is a must read book. I knew that the Saudis were dysfunctional, but I really had no idea the extent of the dysfunction that permeates every aspect of the kingdom. 7000 princes with no clear succession plan, 40% unemployment yet 90% of private sector jobs are held by foreign workers because it is "beneath" a Saudi doing the job, schools that teach rote memorization instead of thinking, and a depleting amount of oil reserves....my head was spinning thinking through this obvious disaster waiting to happen to our "ally". Not only is the book well researched, it is very well written. The chapters are well structured, as House avoids the trap of providing so much evidence to support her story that the book becomes too long, repetitive and unreadable. I got the sense that she could have provided a lot more material but judiciously selected what to include and what there just was not space for in the book. It flowed well, and was a great read.
October 5, 2012
A terrific, highly-recommended overview of life in the Kingdom today, written by a journalist who had covered the country for quite some time, gaining access to a true cross-section of the population, from poor women to princes. If there's any "minus" to the book (no fifth star), it's that following the royal family seemed so confusing to me that I couldn't help but feel a tad bogged down, although that's the subject matter, not so much Ms. House's writing.
January 3, 2024
حدود یکسالی هست تمرکزم روی تاریخ و دین و رهبران جهان گذاشتم، عربستان و کشورهای منطقه واسم جذاب تر شده و اینکه تاثیر عرف اجتماع، دین و قوانین بر روی زنان هر اجتماع باعث بشه بفهمم دیکتاتورها نمیخواهند زنان رشد کنند و قدرت بگیرند، در راس اونها عربستان که جدیدا پله های مدرنیته و ترقی رو پیش گرفته نسبت به چندسال قبل، این کتاب رو یه ژورنالیست غربی نوشته و با زنان متعدد صحبت کرده از خانوم جلسه ایهای جده تا زنان جوان تحصیلکرده و روشنفکر. در کل کتاب بدی نبود.
December 21, 2012
I, like many others, have always assumed that the what appears to be the limitless wealth of the Saudi kingdom via enormous oil reserves has, naturally, trickled down to most citizens. What little glimpses we do get of Saudi society often focus on the giant, American-style mega malls, restaurants and gyms that have cropped up in major cities, suggesting both modernity and much discretionary income, despite the fact that, by law, women still can't drive and must cover up from head to toe each time they leave the house.
The sad reality, however, as the author details, is that Saudi Arabia is a dismal place despite this artifice of prosperity. Up to 60% of the population is unemployed! With a failing educational system, approximately 50% of the population cannot read or write. Most workers are imported from outside the country to perform work that native Saudis deem as "unworthy." Although education, health care and gas (almost) are free, there is very little incentive to make either the school or the health care system effective or efficient, and both suffer.
The ruling family, by contrast, send their offspring out of the country to be educated and, upon their return, set them up with cushy government jobs, which causes resentment among the majority of Saudis, many of whom can't even afford a home or a better quality of life. I guess that makes that Youtube video I stumbled upon of a Saudi prince screeching away from a Paris sidewalk in his gold Ferrari kind of messed up even though the engine sounds like some kind of jungle cat waiting to pounce on its prey or something.
It's a glimpse into a society that's so regulated and reliant on tradition—most do not socialize or interact with anyone outside their immediate family, according to the author who spent many years entrenched in the culture—that an elaborate farewell ritual to family and friends before going on vacation can take longer than the vacation itself. Women are relegated to jobs that will not put them into contact with men.
And, although this all sounds kind of depressing and makes me glad I live in the old US of A, the author suggests that change is possible if one of the younger, more modern princes comes into power and is willing to make reforms. Even if that happens, she warns that change will take a very long time.
The sad reality, however, as the author details, is that Saudi Arabia is a dismal place despite this artifice of prosperity. Up to 60% of the population is unemployed! With a failing educational system, approximately 50% of the population cannot read or write. Most workers are imported from outside the country to perform work that native Saudis deem as "unworthy." Although education, health care and gas (almost) are free, there is very little incentive to make either the school or the health care system effective or efficient, and both suffer.
The ruling family, by contrast, send their offspring out of the country to be educated and, upon their return, set them up with cushy government jobs, which causes resentment among the majority of Saudis, many of whom can't even afford a home or a better quality of life. I guess that makes that Youtube video I stumbled upon of a Saudi prince screeching away from a Paris sidewalk in his gold Ferrari kind of messed up even though the engine sounds like some kind of jungle cat waiting to pounce on its prey or something.
It's a glimpse into a society that's so regulated and reliant on tradition—most do not socialize or interact with anyone outside their immediate family, according to the author who spent many years entrenched in the culture—that an elaborate farewell ritual to family and friends before going on vacation can take longer than the vacation itself. Women are relegated to jobs that will not put them into contact with men.
And, although this all sounds kind of depressing and makes me glad I live in the old US of A, the author suggests that change is possible if one of the younger, more modern princes comes into power and is willing to make reforms. Even if that happens, she warns that change will take a very long time.
October 27, 2020
House has a helpful set of viewpoints on Saudi Arabia -- her own upbringing in a small fundamentalist Christian Texas town, her long-term familiarity with the Kingdom, and her identity as a woman, by which she gains access to both the male and female worlds of Arabian society. Her account is sympathetic but too honestly critical for royal sensitivities. She paints the Saudi rulers as caught in a paradox. On one hand they have caved in to pressure from extremely fundamentalist religious leaders and funded a huge effort to promote such religion across the world. On the other hand they have been cowed by US pressure, which broke their will to resist Western interests in 1973 and demanded restrictions on the export of fundamentalism after 2001. House clearly wonders how this highly exclusive culture, this dangerously undiversified economy, and this extremely autocratic government can last much longer without imploding. It's helpful for North Americans to question all the implications of alliance with Saudi Arabian interests, and this book makes good progress on that. I suspect, however, that there's more to be revealed about Saudi Arabia's role in movements for religious supremacism and sectarian rivalry across the region.
April 21, 2013
Outstanding! Having lived in Saudi Arabia for nine years from 1998-2007, Karen is the first writer to give a clear and honest history, current, and future picture of that amazing country. Totally stunning the access she had as the " Third Sex" to an amazing variety of Saudi people. My husband and I were not part of Saudi ARAMCO. We were closer to living with the culture than those employed and living on the ARAMCO compound. One major fault of her book is the omission of KFUPM, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. It is a major university that is located in Dhahran right next to the ARAMCO compound.
December 5, 2012
I picked this up as I realized I knew very little about the internal workings and society of Saudi Arabia. I now know much more, but I rather wish there was less of the the author's subtle right-wing politics on view. For instance, calling out Obama "bowing" to the Saudi leaders but remaining almost silent on the Bush family's deep integration with the Saudi royal family seems to me a bit disingenuous and left me wondering if I had actually gotten a full even-handed picture of the past, current and future situations.
April 9, 2018
I found this book both informative and irritating. I certainly don't doubt House's familiarity with her subject, but I find it hard to believe that 30+ years of experience covering this country could be distilled into a product as banal, repetitive, awkwardly written, and patronizing in tone as this one. While I learned a great deal about Saudi Arabia that I didn't know already, I often found myself wincing at the clunky writing ("I find myself straining to make eye contact through her black veil but to no avail"), the non-sequitur pop cultural allusions (Riyadh streets put her in mind of... Kris Kristofferson song lyrics), and her disdain and condescension ("[I] feel I am exploring a museum of mummies rather than a living culture").
I dove into this book looking for reportage from a long-term reporter, and found a lot of unexpected judgment instead. Disappointing.
I dove into this book looking for reportage from a long-term reporter, and found a lot of unexpected judgment instead. Disappointing.
January 31, 2013
On Saudi Arabia is an important and timely book that looks at all facets of life in this shrouded Kingdom: its tribal past, its complicated present, its precarious future.
However, no matter which way you look at this country, and I know I am over simplifying my observations; this absolute and undying monarchy is little more than a glorified cult whose leadership is not too different from that of North Korea or perhaps the Soviet Union before Mikhail Gorbachev.
With an unemployment rate of over 40%, and the largest part of the population (60% make up the youth population) devoid of formal education, the future is bleak at best.
Hardest to swallow is the rampant double standard the Royal Family holds to its people but not of themselves. What is banned by Allah (cinema, music, jewelry, the mixing of the sexes, and opulence in general) is not only allowed for the Royal Family but in no way hidden.
In summary a very good overview of a country who seems next to impossible to penetrate.
However, no matter which way you look at this country, and I know I am over simplifying my observations; this absolute and undying monarchy is little more than a glorified cult whose leadership is not too different from that of North Korea or perhaps the Soviet Union before Mikhail Gorbachev.
With an unemployment rate of over 40%, and the largest part of the population (60% make up the youth population) devoid of formal education, the future is bleak at best.
Hardest to swallow is the rampant double standard the Royal Family holds to its people but not of themselves. What is banned by Allah (cinema, music, jewelry, the mixing of the sexes, and opulence in general) is not only allowed for the Royal Family but in no way hidden.
In summary a very good overview of a country who seems next to impossible to penetrate.
June 27, 2016
Without a doubt, it is the first book I have read that is in no way apologetic to the retainers of the country about which this book revolves. The author tell it as it is.
Simply put, the systems upon which it has legitimized its existence have become UNACCEPTABLE not only by the citizens who do not recognize their legitimacy( 62%), but also by the same supplicants, as well as members of the family of its court.
As the author rightfully states, the system now suffers from atherosclerosis and ossification in all its systems; reminiscent of the period just before the demise of the USSR.
Tragically, in spite of all efforts, it appears the trajectory will be similar. The only savior is drinking the "real" medicine from the chalice they acknowledge holds the answer, BUT refuse to accept.
History can not be cheated.
Simply put, the systems upon which it has legitimized its existence have become UNACCEPTABLE not only by the citizens who do not recognize their legitimacy( 62%), but also by the same supplicants, as well as members of the family of its court.
As the author rightfully states, the system now suffers from atherosclerosis and ossification in all its systems; reminiscent of the period just before the demise of the USSR.
Tragically, in spite of all efforts, it appears the trajectory will be similar. The only savior is drinking the "real" medicine from the chalice they acknowledge holds the answer, BUT refuse to accept.
History can not be cheated.
February 3, 2013
إلمام الكاتبة بأحداث وأمور المجتمع السعودي أمر عجيب وتحليلها أعجب.
تصّر الكاتبة في كل مرة تتطرق فيها إلى مشكلة أو أمر شائك في السعودية أن تذّكر القاريء أن هناك فرقاً ما بين العادات والتقاليد و بين ما جاء به الإسلام.
تصّر الكاتبة في كل مرة تتطرق فيها إلى مشكلة أو أمر شائك في السعودية أن تذّكر القاريء أن هناك فرقاً ما بين العادات والتقاليد و بين ما جاء به الإسلام.
March 3, 2013
Starts with surprising and illuminating portraits, but quickly falls into repetition and I-know-the-Koran-better-than-you smugness.
May 3, 2025
This book offers an insightful overview of Saudi Arabia's history and current social context. I like the fact that it's not really a history book, but rather a long essay on currently relevant themes in Saudi Arabia, with historical context to provide perspective.
Moreover, the book emphasizes internal perspectives from various groups within Saudi Arabia, from members of the royal family to ordinary citizens, rather than relying solely on an external Western perspective. This approach reveals clearly the deep internal tensions between ultraconservative factions and liberal reformers within the country. Additionally, the book is not apolitical and, in my view, correctly interprets much of the government's behaviour as part of the Al Saud family's efforts to maintain a firm hold on power.
However, the book at times feel unstructured, it's not clear to me what was the rationale behind the book's sections and progression. Consequently, there are frequent repetitions of the same ideas. Another issue, which is not the author's fault, is that this book was written over 10 years ago, making several topics outdated. For instance, one of the book's central themes is the fact that Saudi Arabia was slowly becoming a gerontocracy ruled every few years by a different son of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. The book repeatedly emphasizes the uncertainties and potential internal struggles regarding succession in the family. However, in the current context it is clear that Mohammed bin Salman is the de facto ruler of the country, and he is only 40 years old, so that's definitely not relevant any more.
Moreover, the book emphasizes internal perspectives from various groups within Saudi Arabia, from members of the royal family to ordinary citizens, rather than relying solely on an external Western perspective. This approach reveals clearly the deep internal tensions between ultraconservative factions and liberal reformers within the country. Additionally, the book is not apolitical and, in my view, correctly interprets much of the government's behaviour as part of the Al Saud family's efforts to maintain a firm hold on power.
However, the book at times feel unstructured, it's not clear to me what was the rationale behind the book's sections and progression. Consequently, there are frequent repetitions of the same ideas. Another issue, which is not the author's fault, is that this book was written over 10 years ago, making several topics outdated. For instance, one of the book's central themes is the fact that Saudi Arabia was slowly becoming a gerontocracy ruled every few years by a different son of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. The book repeatedly emphasizes the uncertainties and potential internal struggles regarding succession in the family. However, in the current context it is clear that Mohammed bin Salman is the de facto ruler of the country, and he is only 40 years old, so that's definitely not relevant any more.
May 25, 2017
I learned a lot from this book. House is obviously very knowledgeable about many aspects of Saudi Arabian culture. I was particularly impressed with the chapter centered around the role of women in Saudi society. The extensive interviews that she conducted provided insight into the complexities of a society that is overwhelmingly religiously conservative and traditional and at the same time very young (50-60% of the population is 25 or younger) and frustrated with the extreme rigidity of the culture. House also extensively details the machinations of the Al Saud royal family, which is no mean feat seeing as it is comprised of tens of thousands of people, including some seven thousand princes. She is largely critical of the royal families inability to foster meaningful economic and social change in the country, but also fairly details the extent to which they have to walk an extremely difficult line between modernizers and the very powerful conservative religious establishment. She's at her best when delving into the political scene of the last 40 or 50 years, taking into account the conservative reforms that were put into place after the Grand Mosque attack of 1979, and especially when detailing the dangers of an economy that is essentially solely dependent on an increasing tenuous system of oil production. I would have liked her to go a little more in depth into the founding of the country, and in particular the relationship between the Al Saud family and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, as her description of it is pretty cursory, but overall she provides a good primer for a basic understanding of the country.
So why only 3 stars? In short, I found her tone extremely problematic at times. As other reviewers have pointed out, House's book is heavily framed from a Western perspective. And sure, that shouldn't necessarily be unexpected from a book written by a Westerner, but there are several times where she veers into the realm of sheer ethnocentrism. I can understand having a negative view of repressive or unequal aspects of the Saudi government and the religious establishment, but she doesn't stop there. There are times where it's pretty clear that, while she certainly admires and respects individual Saudis, she doesn't have much nice to say about the Saudi citizenry as a whole. A couple of quotes:
These conditions bred a people suspicious of each other and especially of strangers, a culture largely devoid of art or enjoyment of beauty. Even today Saudis are a people locked in their own cocoons, focused on their own survival--and that of family--and largely uncaring of others.
Grossly generalize much?
Why, we might ask, are most Saudis so docile?...Why are modern-day descendants of this fierce culture so willing to play the role of powerless pawns, resigned to the frustration of their everyday lives and to the uncertain future of a society over which they have so little influence? After all, they are increasingly well-educated and well informed. Why don't they simply take more initiative, more freedom of action, for themselves? The answer is that both tradition and religion have made most Saudis accustomed to dependence, to being reactive, not proactive; to accepting, not questioning; to being obedient, not challenging; to being provided for rather than being responsible for their own futures."
This statement, while undoubtedly true in some regards, is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. Because I mean, yeah, standing up to an extremely authoritarian government that routinely uses imprisonment, lashings, and beheading to punish people who speak out against them or the religious establishment is so easy to do. This is even more disingenuous considering that House is fully aware that the Saudi government sent over 1,000 troops into Bahrain to quell a popular uprising seeking democratic reform in the country. So just maybe "tradition" and "religion" aren't the only things keeping Saudi citizens from advocating more actively for power.
There are other areas where House's right-leaning worldview shows itself. When it comes to the fact that foreign workers account for the majority of unskilled laborers in the country while Saudi unemployment is extremely high, she is quick to (repeatedly) blame this on Saudis who are unwilling to take on these kinds of jobs. Again, my problem isn't that that isn't an issue, but House is much less willing to entertain the idea that just maybe Saudi businesses have a vested interest in hiring foreign workers who can be paid much lower wages; can be fired, jailed, and sometimes imprisoned on little or no pretext; and who because of this are much more willing to endure dangerous work environments; all of which add up to a pretty compelling financial incentive on the part of Saudi businessmen. In fact, for all that she (rightfully) focuses on the mistreatment of Saudi women and young Saudis, she gives only fleeting mention of the major human rights issues surrounding the foreign born workforce.
There were a couple other turns of phrase that made me question how House's political slant played into how she viewed Saudi society. For instance, this:
If America is a messy melting pot of nationalities, races, genders, and sexual orientations all mingling with perhaps too few guardrails, Saudi Arabia is precisely the opposite: a society of deep divisions and high walls.
One wonders what kind of guardrails House thinks would be helpful for American society...
So, in a nutshell, I do feel that I had some positive takeaways from this book. I finished it having gained a fair amount of knowledge about Saudi Arabia. However, my enjoyment was hampered by what I perceived to be the consistently unsympathetic viewpoint of the author. I have a feeling that there are better books about Saudi Arabia out there. I would recommend seeking those out instead.
March 14, 2020
Naturally, a bit dated now, but still a good primer for those interested in how the Kingdom operates
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