'Inside the Kingdom' 2009 Book by Robert Lacey.

“Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia” is a great 2008 book by Robert Lacey. By reading the book, readers will make great progress in understanding all aspects of this country. Since the country is important to American goals and objectives in the Middle East, this book remains a must-read today.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud was born on August 31, 1985. He is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. He is also known as MbS. Understanding this complex leader is important to understanding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MbS formally served as the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the country. He is the heir apparent to the Saudi throne, the seventh son of King Salman, and the grandson of the nation’s founder, Ibn Saud. Do you think Saudi Arabia is the key to understanding the Middle East?

“Inside the Kingdom” Summary

This book is an authoritative look at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If you read this book, you will understand this country. The best way to understand Saudi Arabia is through religion. The country is Muslim, but Sunni. Iran, the country’s main rival, is Shia. This religious dynamic is important to understanding everything in the Middle East. The Sunnis and the Shia dislike each other, and this conflict fueled the entire War on Terror.

The two holiest cities in Islam are Mecca and Medina, both in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Muslims are required to make one pilgrimage to Mecca in their lifetime. A popular time is during the Hajj, when millions of Muslims show up in Mecca. Thus, the kingdom hosts everyone in the religion. Saudi Arabia is a theocracy; there is a strong religious influence in the country. Religion is a part of the government.

There are a couple of other things to note about Saudi Arabia, if the reader really wants to get inside. First, the country got rich because of its large oil reserves. There is a good amount of discussion in the book about the oil and the uneven wealth it has caused. Second, know that the kingdom is rife with corruption. Third, there are several arcane rules and regulations, most of which discriminate against women. Fourth, there are a few important concepts to understand about Saudi Arabia.

Mohhammed ibn Abdul Wahhab, who lived from 1703 to 1792, was from there. He is essential to understanding the inside of Islamic Extremism. His thoughts are central to a vehement strain of the Sunni religion, called Wahhabism. This strain tends to breed extremists, and in fact, 11 of the 9/11 hijackers and Osama bin Laden himself are from Saudi Arabia. One of the important ways in which this religion is spread throughout the Middle East is through Madrasas, or religious schools, that are located around the Persian Gulf, and are used to indoctrinate children to the virulent Wahhabi strain of the Sunni Muslim religion.

Why You Should Read This Book

Madinah Saudi Arabia — Image of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, Photo by Haidan on Unsplash

You should read this book if you want to understand the dynamics inside this important country. The United States has a relationship with this country. The American interest in Saudi Arabia is due to its oil. To the Saudis, the United States serves as a security bulwark against Iran.

House of Saud Family Tree

It is important to note that all of the rulers of Saudi Arabia are related. They have, to this point, all been descended from Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. He was the founder of the kingdom, and the country is named after him. The current ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, was born in 1985 and is only thirty-one years old. Nevertheless, he is descended from Saud and is likely to rule for a long time. This knowledge is quite important for understanding the country.