Lawrence in ArabiaLawrence in Arabia
Score Modern
What it's about
Scott Anderson tells the story of the Arab Revolt against the Turks in the First World War, and the secret 'great game' to control the Middle East, through T. E. Lawrence and a handful of other young, little-known adventurers and spies whose actions shaped the modern region.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It's a thrilling, revealing history that explains much about the Middle East today.
You'll love it if you liked
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
The Guns of August
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11Good to know
It's long and detailed, but reads like an adventure.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller27 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #157 of the 198 history books we rank
- #193 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #721 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1357 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Scott Anderson
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Quick answers
Is Lawrence in Arabia worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It ranks #1,357 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lawrence in Arabia about?
Scott Anderson tells the story of the Arab Revolt against the Turks in the First World War, and the secret 'great game' to control the Middle East, through T. E. Lawrence and a handful of other young, little-known adventurers and spies whose actions shaped the modern region.
How long does it take to read Lawrence in Arabia?
About 14 hours (577 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Lawrence in Arabia?
If you liked it, try Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence, The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman or The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright.