Glimpses into history in the making--from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to Aramco, Arabian-American (Oil) Company, dubbed one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by Lowell Thomas, Jr.

A tapestry of well spun tales of the heady days of the oil rush in the Middle East, seeds of today's culture clashes, unlikely meldings among Americans and Saudis, political machinations, colorful characters including Lawrence of Arabia and the Philby's -- Kim, the notorious double agent and his father, "Sinjin," and many others. Take "mindchair" and real excursions to fascinating antiquities, all described with a wry, scholarly eye. Dr. Tichenor, a.k.a. "The Cat" or "Unk," begins with life as he lived it in 1920's America, moving ever eastward from Oregon to the Middle East mid-century, when he flies us to the Tapline, where he was one of the first three ministers tending the Aramco employee flock. Pictured on the front cover, Tapline brings oil from the easternmost edges of Saudi Arabia across the Rub al Khali, one of the largest deserts in the world. Today Aramco, now Saudi Aramco, is solely owned by Saudis, and the largest oil company in the world. It all began with secret treaties, a Saudi American partnership, a benevolent king, somewhat reluctant Bedouins, camels, and black gold...