A journalist draws on three decades of firsthand experience to profile contemporary Saudi Arabia, offering insight into its leaders, citizens, cultural complexities, and international prospects.

Includes maps of: Saudi Arabia.

Fragile -- Al Saud survival skills -- Islam : dominant and divided -- The social labyrinth -- Females and fault lines -- The young and the restless -- Princes -- Failing grades -- Plans, paralysis, and poverty -- Outcasts -- ... and outlaws -- Succession -- Saudi scenarios -- On pins and needles -- Endgame.