This book explores the remarkable ascent of an obscure Saudi royal family to become the crown prince, making him the world's richest and most powerful man.

It is a compelling read: unbelievably lavish lives of the royals, power grabs, and court intrigues! MBS is depicted as enigmatic, aggressive, and determined. It's about how much Saudi has changed under him, though it does feel like the book is geared toward a Euro-American audience. The book sheds light on the corrupt practices of powerful individuals and companies, revealing the lengths they will go to maintain control over this valuable resource. A must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, business, and power. ( )

#BloodandOil Review:
Written by Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck, two Wall Street Journal Journalists, it covers the journey of a Saudi Prince who was nearly unknown to the International Community before 2014 just like another Grandson of Al-Saud and within just two to three years he was controlling the top to bottom of the richest country in the world. The Thing which makes this book special is that at no point it will feel to you a boring non-fiction. In fact, it has more thrill than even some good fiction pieces.
Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman also known as MBS wasn't in the line of succession as the throne had been transferred to a Grandson of Al-Saud (Saudia Arabia's founder) only once in history, and it didn't go well for the Kingdom. Since then It always goes to the older living son but MBS changed the dynamics with his cruel tactics. Other contenders for throne like previous Crown prince Muhammad bin Nayef and Turki bin Abdullah (seventh son of Late King Abdullah) always expected some kind of respect and restrain from MBS, but he had none.
Other than the tales of 'Game of Thrones' of House of Saud, it also covers the so called 'Vision 2030' put up by MBS himself to reduce the Kingdom's dependency on oil.
Unprecedented crackdown against corruption, detaining princes including his cousins and even elder members of the family showing no respect and visionary steps like doing investments in other countries, NEOM city in northwestern Saudia Arabia and allowing women to drive and uplifting of other restrictions on entertainment i.e. Cinemas.
Originally, it was the vision of Late King Abdullah, he was the one who realized that increasing population of Kingdom and House of Saud will drain the Oil wealth soon, but he couldn't impose it amid fear of disturbing the states quo but MBS had no such fears. Previously, the Saudi leaders put hard restrictions on things like entertainment and sitting with opposite gender in restaurants and other places amid fear of revolt from Wahhabi Scholars because of only their support it was possible to hold the throne for this long. But guess what, MBS put even those respected but old-fashioned Wahhabi clerics behind the bars.
It also sheds light on the foreign policy front of Saudia Arabia from 2014 till the staters of the 2020 with the United States, Yemen, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon and Qatar. Muhammad Bin Salman's Strategy to deal with US - Saudia tensions amid Nuclear deal with Iran and how he tried to revive the golden age of relations between both countries in Trump's presidency. It also tells about the Trump's disastrous foreign policy including childish management by his administration of his first visit to Saudia Arabia. Gradual normalization with Israel, Blockade of Qatar by GCC members, tensions with Turkey after Jamal Khashoggi's assassination, Bombings in Yemen and kidnapping of sitting prime minister of Lebanon, it covers everything and not just briefly but with a lot of secret conversations of MBS and his advisors you won't find anywhere else.
The image I can show you of Muhammad Bin Salman's personality not just after reading this book but also with the experience of blogging on Middle East politics for a year now is that he is just another Draconian ruler and nothing more than that. What he really wants is for investors from the whole world to invest in Saudia instead of Kingdom investing in other countries just like the UAE. So far he hasn't got much success in that. Global business tycoons see MBS as the only person in the world who can invest billions $ just with his word of mouth. Why would they invest in a country of just 33 million residents. The Kingdom's little population doesn't offer much.
The main contradictions in his personality is that on one hand he wants to give women their rights, open cinemas and tourist spots and on the other hand he detains, tortures and even hangs any activist raising voice for the same rights. Loujain al-Hathloul is one of them. 31-year-old, she was raising voice of women rights when she got jailed and tortured since then. In Sept 2020, 30 countries called on the Kingdom to release her with her trial starting on 10 Dec 2020.
As much as Muhammad Bin Salman wants to portray himself as a savior and a revolutionary leader, he is a maniac struggling for power and that's it. He doesn't want to bring a change, he wants to impose the change.

Journalists Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck examine the inner workings of Saudi Arabia's royal family, especially focusing on the recent rise of Mohammed bin Salman. Often referred to a MBS, Mohammed bin Salman has surpassed his brothers, cousins and uncles to become heir apparent, and one of the richest and most powerful men in the world. While he has bold ideas for reform, modernization and for investments in Saudi Arabia, his methods have often been harsh. For example, as crown prince, he had many members of the royal family arrested, and his entourage was involved in the brutal murder and dismemberment of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Turkey. "Blood and Oil" examines the visions MBS has for his Country and the region, and some of the significant challenges he will face from the religious leaders and others in the Royal Family in accomplishing his goals.
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A very readable account of the irresistible rise of Mohamed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia - how he scrabbled his way to the threshold of the throne, by guile and ruthless scheming. It read like a novel, with much colourful detail, which is a tribute to the work and skill of the authors (fully as good as their previous triumph - the Billion Dollar Whale). I can have some admiration for MBS's vision of a transformed Saudi Arabia, fitting it culturally and economically for the 21st Century - but his character is forever tarnished by his autocratic and brutal instincts. MBS will be a power on the world stage for years to come and it will be interesting to see how his Vision 2030 project unfolds - he still faces intractable problems and an entrenched culture, which may yet frustrate all his efforts. ( )