MBS

The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman

By: Ben Hubbard

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

“Brilliant . . . a detailed and disturbing portrait” (The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice) of Saudi Arabia’s secretive and mercurial ruler, a key player in Trump’s vision for the Middle East

“Revelatory . . . a vivid portrait of how MBS has altered the kingdom.”—The Washington Post

Finalist for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Kirkus Reviews

MBS is the untold story of how a mysterious young prince emerged from Saudi Arabia’s sprawling royal family to overhaul the economy and society of the richest country in the Middle East—and gather as much power as possible into his own hands. Since his father, King Salman, ascended to the throne in 2015, Mohammed bin Salman has leveraged his influence to restructure the kingdom’s economy, loosen its strict Islamic social codes, and confront its enemies around the region, especially Iran. That vision won him fans at home and on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley, in Hollywood, and at the White House, where President Trump embraced the prince. But over time, the sheen of the visionary young reformer has become tarnished, leaving many struggling to determine whether MBS is in fact a rising dictator whose inexperience and rash decisions are destabilizing the world’s most volatile region.

Based on years of reporting and hundreds of interviews, MBS reveals the machinations behind the kingdom’s catastrophic military intervention in Yemen, the bizarre detention of princes and businessmen in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, and the shifting Saudi relationships with Israel and the United States. And finally, it sheds new light on the greatest scandal of the young autocrat’s rise: the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, a crime that shook Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Washington and left the world wondering whether MBS could get away with murder.

MBS is a riveting, eye-opening account of how the young prince has wielded vast powers to reshape his kingdom and the world around him.

Interesting & Entertaining

Great writing - I wasn't bored for a second! And I learned so much about events that have shaped the world, but I didn't recognize the significance of at the time. The author provided a lot of context by describing Suadi culture and history, as well as the geopolitical situation, which I loved. Great narration, too.

Shame on the PGA tour!

After learning in greater detail than I ever knew about MBS, I am outraged that the PGA tour is allowing him to whitewash his evil deeds by using the golf tour as a cleansing solution.

Good

This book is well-articulated and provides valuable insights; however, it places considerable emphasis on MBS's censoring and Machiavellian aspects, with less focus on his personal narrative, background, and future plans. As someone relatively new to the complexities of the Arab world and current regional politics and economy, I had hoped for more contextual information. The author strives to maintain neutrality and does a commendable job of acknowledging the positive dimensions of MBS’s political approach.

Despite the various concerns surrounding MBS, I see him as a potential world leader and a promising figure for the future of Islamic politics and economic development.

Brilliant Overview of Saudi Political Climate

Ben Hubbard had done a brilliant job of presenting an overview of the current political climate in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman's rise to power and the events and circumstances that have resulted in MBS becoming Saudi Arabia de facto leader. Hubbard is the unique western reporter in that his fluency, in Arabic, has provided him with the ability not only to communicate to members of the royal family and others, within the Saudi power structure, but everyday Saudis whose perspective adds depth to Hubbard's accounts.

Very good

Informative and entertaining. I could see this being turned into a HBO special.

My favourite parts were the check ins with the women drivers.