Lawrence in Arabia

By Scott Anderson,

Book cover of Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East

Book description

The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller

The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War One 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 theatre. As a result, the conflict…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

2 authors picked Lawrence in Arabia as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love how this book takes a familiar story and twists it in unexpected ways. In this classic of nonfiction on the Middle East, Scott Anderson tells the real story of Lawrence of Arabia.

I love how he does so by combining sound research with a writing style that makes the book read like a novel. Ten years after reading the book, I still remember its protagonists–T.E. Lawrence (obviously), the German agent of influence, the American oilman, and a Romanian-born Zionist agronomist. Their fates collide and unfold as the reader sees the Modern Middle East take shape.

From Vassily's list on the modern Middle East and Afghanistan.

T.E. Lawrence, best known from David Lean’s monumental film, is the centerpiece, but this book goes well beyond biography.

It has the pace and feel of a thriller but the research and analytical thinking of a serious historic account.

Anderson, a novelist and war correspondent, finds the roots of today’s Middle East turmoil in World War I. He finds alliances, intrigue, and deceit that foreshadowed the turbulent future. His story provides valuable insight into the international politics that shaped the Middle East after World War I and set the stage for the dissonant future.

From Julie's list on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict.

Want books like Lawrence in Arabia?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Lawrence in Arabia.

Browse books like Lawrence in Arabia

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Middle East, T. E. Lawrence, and World War 1?

The Middle East 191 books
T. E. Lawrence 7 books
World War 1 914 books