The Siege of Mecca

By Yaroslav Trofimov,

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Siege of Mecca as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The siege of Mecca in 1979 was one of the most consequential events in recent Saudi history. This book reads like a thriller, which makes sense because anyone familiar with Trofimov's work at the Wall Street Journal knows that he is a gifted storyteller and insightful analyst. The book provides context to the worldview that gave rise to al Qaeda.

From Steven's list on understanding the Middle East.

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