Lawrence in Arabia
by Scott Anderson · first published 2013
88% recommend13% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A narrative history of the forces that carved up the Middle East after World War I, following four figures, including T.E. Lawrence, and tracing how the modern region took shape.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
This book is a thrilling and revelatory narrative of one of the most epic and consequential episodes in twentieth-century history -- the Arab Revolt and the secret "great game" to control the Middle East. The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War I was, in the words of T.E. Lawrence, "a sideshow of a sideshow." Amidst the slaughter in European trenches, the Western combatants paid scant attention to the Middle Eastern theater. As a result, the conflict was shaped to a remarkable degree by a small handful of adventurers and low-level officers far removed from the corridors of power. Curt P
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…an ever present security force, a constant string of corrupt political leaders who use religion to their advantage, and when international allegiances are murky at best. A great book on the subject is "Lawrence in Arabia" by Scott Anderson. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2012/04/2012417... I don't like saying it, but I can't take this Economist article seriously if it doesn't even bring up some of the…
on “The tragedy of the Arabs” ↗Additionally the book Lawrence in Arabia is a fascinating historical account of the events that led to this empire dividing. http://www.amazon.com/Lawrence-Arabia-Deceit-Imperial-Making...
on “Winston Churchill and Islam” ↗Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson A mathematician's apology by G.H Hardy My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgaard Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford Churchill: Walking with Destiny by…
on “Ask HN: Biographies recommendations – both Westerner and Non-westerner” ↗I highly recommend the book Lawrence in Arabia, by Scott Anderson, which puts that story in context. It follows four people active in the area at the time: TE Lawrence (who first went to the Middle East as an archaeologist), an American employee…
on “Old photos of Bedouin nomads, 1898” ↗For Middle East, Lawrence In Arabia by Scott Anderson. For computing history, Art of Unix Programming by Eric S. Raymond. For inspirational American stories, David McCullough (1933-2022) is peerless. The Wright Brothers nearly brought…
on “What history books would you recommend?” ↗Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East Book by Scott Anderson One of my favourite books on the topic
on “Lawrence of Arabia, Paul Atreides, and the roots of Frank Herbert's Dune (2021)” ↗…non-fiction book I've read in a while from randomly walking into a book store. I was meandering through the history section and found a book that went in great detail about Lawrence of Arabia titled (Lawrence in Arabia). Looking forward to the day that can happen again.
on “There’s no replacement for the thrill of browsing in a bookstore” ↗…added to the sense of it being an event. Last year, I dragged friends of mine to see it in the theater. They, too, were amazed. Now, we've been reading up on those times. The reading list, so far: 'Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East', Soctt Anderson 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom', T.E. Lawrence 'A Peace to End All Peace', David Fromkin
on “Lawrence of Arabia, Paul Atreides, and the roots of Frank Herbert's Dune (2021)” ↗