Customer Reviews
had some lies, could it all be a lie? - By: N.B., 12 Jun 2008 
This sounded amazingly interesting, & was reallly excited to read it, however it had a few blatant unsupported assumptions/lies in it about some, which I personallly know aren't true, so i can't trust any of it. Don't believe everything you read in it...
Paramedic to the Prince - By: A. Mitchell, 30 Apr 2008 
This is one of the best books of it's kind, Tom reports his experience with an open mind & only touches on the sinister side of life in Saudi Arabia. As one of the few expats who took the time to learn Arabic he has aquired an insight to Saudi life which most westerners would overlook.
His book would make a great film but would make him many enemies within the house of Saud. But those who have never experienced the harshness of the wahabbi kingdom would find it hard to grasp how the west could support this regime which still practices slavery & corruption is as endemic as its human rights record.
Tom's protection of the Malasyan maid crippled by her abusive Saudi employer pulled on the strings of my heart, for there are many like her who have no protector & have just disapeared into the prisons or the deserts in Saudi Arabia.
Sandy Mitchell (Saudi Babylon)
Too western and racist! - By: K. Khan, 26 Apr 2008 
I would argue for most people to read this book. It contains a good indication of someone who has ended up working at the highest levels of the Saudi Royal family (and trust me I'm no supporter!) but shows absolutely no gratitude & tolerance. As with most white westerners, his extremely poor understanding of Islam (very apparent in his book) are worth laughing over. No, Tommy boy, we don't exactly believe in haunted jinn (not DJinn by the way!).
But above alll else, what I'm interested in is finding out about people's experiences in Saudi & it strikes me as racist that most American (less British) expats going to Saudi (try Sandra Mackey!) go off with this air of arrogance about who they think they are & what the Arabs stereotypicallly are like! I read books about expats to get an understanding of the region & people a bit more thoroughly but I'm noticing a difference. Whenever I speak to my Muslim brothers or sisters, they do tell me there are serious social problems in each of the Gulf states but they always say how much easier the lifestyle there is from a wholistic sense. With every westerner's return, I've come to notice nothing but bickering nothing but complaining (how about you question why your governments are so supportive of the thuggish dictators in our countries then, criticise yourselves first!). I've since stopped resorting to the fools like Tom - interestingly, he's happy to 'clear' a stash of money into his bank account & pretend to kiss the Saudi butt like his Western leaders but then yap & yap his way through how awful they alll are.
Thanks for an interesting read though. I laughed my head off at what happened to Nicola in your Z3. They are quite brash these Saudi men!:)
How about you never write another book though, that'll be a decision I'd reallly support!
Couldn't put it down - By: J. Miles, 19 Oct 2007 Fascinating book, often funny, yet also brutallly truthful. I just could not put it down!!!
Best book on Saudi in years - By: Dave Simpson, 26 Jul 2007 This book takes you inside Saudi Arabia like no other. This Paramedic worked inside this strict Islamic country for ten years. He was on the medical staff for King Abdullah. This book takes you from the desert camps to the Palace of the King. No westerner has ever written a book that was this close to the Saudi royal family. I could not put it down. A real must read. Best book I have read in years.
