The Middle East - Life in Saudi Arabia
A Unique Inside Look at the Region and the Customs, Antics, Traditions, Habits, and Lifestyles of the People that Live, Work, and Play There- a "Westerner's" Perspective
by
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Based on the recent flood of media reports, the West appears to have developed a very mystical but intriguing perception of the Middle East. However, with a generally narrow understanding of the region, the typical Western public also appears to have the preconceived notion that the people of the Middle East are entrenched in a serious culture, knee-deep in prayers, with an unquestionable devotion to the Islamic faith. There is little argument that the Muslims of the Middle East take their religion very seriously, but there is so much more to this region than meets the eye. The Middle East is home to many traditions and customs, the people have a lifestyle with many unusual antics and habits, and there are numerous interesting tidbits of information that create a fascinating literature, unlikely to be found documented on this part of the world.
This book, relatively small in size but large on information, fills a
void in a particular type of book that cannot be found when it comes to
exploring candid details about the Middle East. Most other books embark on a
particularly serious subject, offering a range of databases and knowledge to
help the reader understand or participate in a selected adventure. However, the
objective of this book is to sway from that normal path of singularity, and
boredom, and instead, to offer an array of information on a varied range of
topics.
With so many topics of interest, the author felt that it was best to
touch base on all kinds of issues and to document each intriguing idea as it
came to mind. With this objective, the individual topics of this book are
intentionally presented in no particular order. The layout was purposely
arranged, to compile the book contents such that it could be consumed during a
light reading, but also to keep you in cosmic (some comic) suspense, on the tip
of your toes, because you never know what will be the next subject to be
presented. Just when you find yourself entrenched in the middle of an
interesting subject (possibly a subject that may be construed as difficult to
believe); a totally different topic is introduced which is likely to be
conceived as more fascinating than those preceding.
This book contains an abundant wealth of information that can be useful for interpretation of every day life in the Middle East, but------..with the odd slight twist of humor thrown in to entertain with some brief comic relief.
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About the Book
In the recent past, there has been extensive media
coverage on Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This attention is attributed to
the horrific events of 11 September 2001, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, war
on Iraq, and the continual fear of living in a world gripped by terror.
There is no doubt that there is an overwhelming
intrigue with the region. People have developed an obsession to learn more
about the lifestyles, customs, antics, and habits of the people that originate
or live there. What motivates a Saudi? What rituals are conducted on a daily
basis? What are some of the beliefs that constitute Islam? What are the
lifestyles of men, women, and children from Saudi Arabia? How do expatriates
view the Middle East as their home residence? How do the locals perceive and
treat expatriates? What is their frame of mind? What do the people think about
Bin Laden, America, and the events surrounding 9/11?
This little book not only provides comprehensive
information on general issues such as Islam, behavior, traditions, and culture,
but also takes a candid and unique look at a multitude of other related
subjects that you will be hard-pressed to find covered in any other reference
book.
About the Author
As a father, husband, employee, and tourist, the
author spent over five years in the Middle East. During this time, he spent
countless hours engaged in intriguing conversation with the local people, often
exchanging candid information on issues of religion, behavior, traditions, and
culture.
While perceiving the lifestyles as very different
compared to the West, the author found Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region
to be amazingly simple, yet discreetly complex.
With abundant misconceptions proving a limited
knowledge of the Middle East and their people, particularly since the events
surrounding 11 September 2001, the author realized that the people of the West
needed to be enlightened on what life is truly like in this region. Hence, the
creation of this book!