ARAMCO sent me a copy of its newest publication, A Land Transformed: The Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco. The book, in coffee-table book format, is a broad look at Saudi Arabia; the history, geology, ecology, and sociology of the Arabian Gulf region; and the development of ARAMCO from the early days of oil prospecting to its current status as a catalyst for modernization.

As is the case with most ARAMCO publications, this is a very high quality book. The printing, particularly of the manifold color photos, is excellent. As a coffee-table book, it is held to different standards than a history or otherwise academic book. Problems in Saudi Arabia or in the history of ARAMCO aren’t covered. Instead, the book focuses on the positive.

I think the book is worth getting. The graphics, from photos to charts, are very good (though a few of the graphs might use better labeling). The text provides clear overviews of many aspects of life in the region as well as the current, global operations of ARAMCO. It’s most definitely worth it’s modest price.