The book is mainly a compilation of letters from the first president and CEO of Aramco to his American wife during the very first days of oil exploration in Saudi Arabia prior to the Second World War, the period 1937-1940. It is an excellent and authentic record of Mr. Barger's experiences during those early days, when Americans, and Saudis worked well together, by in large, in pursuit of a common, mutually beneficial goal. Adaptations were readily made to a harsh environment. Each side accommodated the customs of the other.

The maps and pictures are easily worth the price of the book - particularly the pictures of the remote places, remote even today, certainly to Americans, but also to Saudis. Thomas Barger was one of the very first Westerners to many of these places, even ahead of Thesiger. He visited and / or lived in Salwa, Yabrin (Jabrin), Layla (even visiting the "lake" when it was full), Sulaiyl, and Wadi Dewasir, all during the period that the remnants of the Ikhwan were settled there, still retaining their fanatical beliefs.

The book ends with the period of the "100 men," when Aramco was maintained with a skeleton crew during WW II, after the Italians had bombed Dhahran and Bahrain.

With so many "Arabian Nights" fantasy books, usually through a darkened glass, shaping the American outlook towards Saudi Arabia, this book is a refreshing, realistic read.

This is the book you need to read to explore the Saudi Arabian oil discovery in the past. I enjoyed reading about the culture and the people before the oil discovery. Careerwise, it teaches you how to overcome obstacles and succeed wherever you work. It exposed me to things i wasn't aware of, even though i am part of this culture :)

This is an incredible adventure and love story which reveals the early oil exploration in Saudi Arabia. It is about a mining engineer turned geologist and his keen observations revealed in his letters to his bride while he wanders around the Arabian peninsula in search of a key outcrop.

This is an incredible adventure and love story which reveals the early oil exploration in Saudi Arabia. It is about a mining engineer turned geologist and his keen observations revealed in his letters to his bride while he wanders around the Arabian peninsula in search of a key outcrop.

I am an American Educated Saudi businessman living in Jeddah, Saudi Arbaia but I have been doing business with Aramco for the past 20 years or so. I know the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia as well as Riyadh, where my family and I lived for 17 years before moving back to our home town, Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia, seen in the eyes of a young geologist armed with little background information, became a fertile ground to develop his exploratory instincts prodded by his young wife through lovely romantic letters. He fell in love with the country and the country fell in love with him. This affair, I believe, fuelled his love for his wife and hers for him.

It is a book I am recommending for my children to read to "re-discover" their country instead of relying on uninformative and largely incorrect description by satellite media moguls.

As being one of the many grandchildren of Thomas Barger (A.K.A Daddy Tom to us!)I found this book inspirational and touching. I never had the chance to actually meet my grandfather, but through this book I had a chance to understand what his job really entailed and how great a man he really was. The best part of the book are the love letters between Daddy Tom and Kathleen. Their romance produced 6 wonderful children and 13 glorious grandchildren. Get this book if you are even slightly interested in the history and traditions of Arabia!

I only gave it four stars because I have not yet read it, but from what I know of the man it must be an excellent read, and also a way of understanding the Saudis of today by seeing where they were sixty years ago. Barger made a huge impact on the nation, even in their pronounciation of the "hambarger"! ^_^ Barger was a man who was not only intrested in the geology of the young country but it's people, customs and history. In my mind not only people who have an intrest in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia should read this book, but anyone who enjoys stories of adventuring pioneers and men who take the road less travelled.

I have spent half my life living and working in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and have found few books that capture the early history of this country.

Even though the accounts portrayed in the story are over 60 years old, they are timeless crafted and have given me additional insight into the rich past of the region.

A book that's very difficult to put down.