What do you think?
Rate this book
An Arabian Journey: One Man's Quest Through the Heart of the Middle East
Following in the footsteps of famed explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, British explorer Levison Wood brings us along on his most complex expedition yet: a circumnavigation of the Arabian Peninsula.
Starting in September 2017 in a city in Northern Syria, a stone’s throw away from Turkey and amidst the deadliest war of the twenty-first century, Wood set forth on a 5,000-mile trek through the most contested region on the planet. He moved through the Middle East for six months, from ISIS-occupied Iraq through Kuwait and along the jagged coastlines of the Emirates and Oman; across a civil-war-torn Yemen and on to Saudia Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, before ending on the shores of the Mediterranean in Lebanon. Like his predecessors, Wood travelled through some of the harshest and most beautiful environments on earth, seeking to challenge our perceptions of this often-misunderstood part of the world. Through the relationships he forges along the way—and the personal histories and local mythologies that his companions share—Wood examines how the region has changed over thousands of years and reveals a side of the Middle East we don’t often see in the media.
At once a thrilling personal journey and a skillful piece of cultural reportage, Arabia is a breathtaking chronicle of an epic journey through the land at the root of all civilization.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
106 people are currently reading
2014 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
October 2, 2019
This is the most dangerous trip Levison Wood has written about so far. He covers 13 countries most of which are in a state of declared or undeclared war. Unlike other trips, he is not just walking; necessity dictates a car, bus or boat.
The people, from guides to hosts, drivers, vendors, soldiers, check point officials, and shell shocked refugees tell the story. As citizen of a country with troops on the opposite side of his hosts, he literally sleeps with the enemy. It turns out these enemies are sometimes just kids and families in a no-win situation. He also sees that his childhood hero, Richard Burton, is not so honored in Arabia.
There are evacuations and reports of attacks that are only miles away. There are descriptions of bombed out cities and shell shocked refugees. In Iraq, Wood sees a courtyard used by Daesh for decapitations. His guide notes the perpetrators are not just Arabs, he sites “Jihadi John” the terrorist from Wood’s home country and others from Turkey, France, Russia and Sweden. In Syria he meets a man with a photo of his decapitated father hanging from a traffic light; his father, Khaled-Al-Assad, was killed protecting an historic site.
There are moments when you wonder how Wood will get out of a situation. Even without his threat of leaving Wood without water, you wonder if his guide is capable of getting him out of the desert. On a boat to Somalia, with no one who speaks English, he wonders if this crew itself is kidnapping him and those who greet him on shore do not alleviate his worries. In Somalia, it sounds like he is dying of food poisoning.
There is the unexpected: a Mossad agent says Israel assists ISIS because they hate Assad; a Hezbollah youth in uniform with an AK47 is on his way to London to study; alcohol can be often openly used – even in Saudi Arabia; every Friday Palestinian youth and Israel soldiers exchange stones and rubber/steel pellets – almost like a game; Assad, himself, assigns Wood a guide for Syria, a swearing and chain smoking woman who married a Norwegian and lost a son fighting for Assad.
Throughout the journey there are check points, visa logistics (not sure how all Wood’s strings are pulled), destruction and refugees. There is relief from this in Saudi Arabia, “The Marshes”, Dubai, Kuwait, Jordan, Damascus, and meeting family and friends in Bethlehem for Christmas.
Wood is a spare writer and culls his experience to give the reader the essence of his trips. While his Himalaya book is his shortest in pages, this has to be his shortest in word count. In relation to the terrain and drama I wanted more content. I liked the photos of his travel and the people he met (especially the flower-wearing tribesman with his cell phone and weapon) but too many were scenes such as Dubai, Petra or Tel Aiv which can be seen elsewhere. In the Somalia section Wood opines on his traveling days… so you wonder if this will be his last book.
While I’d like more content, it is still a 5 star book for being a well written documentation of a unique experience.
The people, from guides to hosts, drivers, vendors, soldiers, check point officials, and shell shocked refugees tell the story. As citizen of a country with troops on the opposite side of his hosts, he literally sleeps with the enemy. It turns out these enemies are sometimes just kids and families in a no-win situation. He also sees that his childhood hero, Richard Burton, is not so honored in Arabia.
There are evacuations and reports of attacks that are only miles away. There are descriptions of bombed out cities and shell shocked refugees. In Iraq, Wood sees a courtyard used by Daesh for decapitations. His guide notes the perpetrators are not just Arabs, he sites “Jihadi John” the terrorist from Wood’s home country and others from Turkey, France, Russia and Sweden. In Syria he meets a man with a photo of his decapitated father hanging from a traffic light; his father, Khaled-Al-Assad, was killed protecting an historic site.
There are moments when you wonder how Wood will get out of a situation. Even without his threat of leaving Wood without water, you wonder if his guide is capable of getting him out of the desert. On a boat to Somalia, with no one who speaks English, he wonders if this crew itself is kidnapping him and those who greet him on shore do not alleviate his worries. In Somalia, it sounds like he is dying of food poisoning.
There is the unexpected: a Mossad agent says Israel assists ISIS because they hate Assad; a Hezbollah youth in uniform with an AK47 is on his way to London to study; alcohol can be often openly used – even in Saudi Arabia; every Friday Palestinian youth and Israel soldiers exchange stones and rubber/steel pellets – almost like a game; Assad, himself, assigns Wood a guide for Syria, a swearing and chain smoking woman who married a Norwegian and lost a son fighting for Assad.
Throughout the journey there are check points, visa logistics (not sure how all Wood’s strings are pulled), destruction and refugees. There is relief from this in Saudi Arabia, “The Marshes”, Dubai, Kuwait, Jordan, Damascus, and meeting family and friends in Bethlehem for Christmas.
Wood is a spare writer and culls his experience to give the reader the essence of his trips. While his Himalaya book is his shortest in pages, this has to be his shortest in word count. In relation to the terrain and drama I wanted more content. I liked the photos of his travel and the people he met (especially the flower-wearing tribesman with his cell phone and weapon) but too many were scenes such as Dubai, Petra or Tel Aiv which can be seen elsewhere. In the Somalia section Wood opines on his traveling days… so you wonder if this will be his last book.
While I’d like more content, it is still a 5 star book for being a well written documentation of a unique experience.
May 12, 2023
He picked the family photo album out of the debris. The pages were warped, ruined. Nearby he found a shoe and some children's toys. The family had been killed long ago. Maybe even months or days before. They're home had been bombed out. And this is the way the people of Syria lived. Never knowing when they would die. But trying to live their life as normal as possible. It takes courage or just desperation to continue your life just as always, with just a few precautions.
Levison woods life seems to take him into danger zones. In 1 of his books he was walking the Nile, through dangerous countries, to countries that were in war or Had just ended a war. This book takes you into countries where tribes are at war, even Isis can be found. These are not the type of books that I like to read, they are not that adventures to me. But they do give me knowledge of what it's like to live in War countries, something I would rather not ever have to learn. And my question is this. Why? Why can't people choose peace ?
Levison woods life seems to take him into danger zones. In 1 of his books he was walking the Nile, through dangerous countries, to countries that were in war or Had just ended a war. This book takes you into countries where tribes are at war, even Isis can be found. These are not the type of books that I like to read, they are not that adventures to me. But they do give me knowledge of what it's like to live in War countries, something I would rather not ever have to learn. And my question is this. Why? Why can't people choose peace ?
October 30, 2024
Levison Wood continues his world wanderings by taking an 8000km (5000 mile) journey through the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring countries. In 2017, over a period of five months, he traveled through thirteen countries: Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. He captures both the historic allure and contemporary challenges of the region and offers a unique perspective on this part of the world.
Wood initially travels alone. Along the way, he finds guides. He befriends local people, which results in former strangers offering him advice on how to navigate his way through (or avoid) the more dangerous areas. He portrays the variety of Middle Eastern cultures, not as monolithic but as diverse and nuanced. The book also serves as a commentary on the impact of political unrest and war on the daily lives of people across the Middle East. Wood's firsthand observations document how individuals confront the difficulties posed by decades of conflict, occupation, and instability. His journey serves as a counter-narrative to stereotypical portrayals of the Middle East. Another important element of the book is Wood's own personal reflections.
I loved this book. It emphasizes the power of travel to deepen empathy. It is a wild journey, and at times Wood is lucky to escape extremely perilous situations. At other times he relies on his vast traveling background to figure out how to surmount obstacles to move from one place to another. His military training in the British Army also comes in handy. He is occasionally blocked due to the dangers, such as in Yemen, where a civil war was in progress. He ends up taking a “detour” to Africa (Somalia, Djibouti) to obtain permission to enter Saudi Arabia, which is generally closed to outsiders. I always enjoy reading about places I will never be able to visit. I can also recommend Levison Wood’s Walking the Nile and Walking the Himalayas.
Wood initially travels alone. Along the way, he finds guides. He befriends local people, which results in former strangers offering him advice on how to navigate his way through (or avoid) the more dangerous areas. He portrays the variety of Middle Eastern cultures, not as monolithic but as diverse and nuanced. The book also serves as a commentary on the impact of political unrest and war on the daily lives of people across the Middle East. Wood's firsthand observations document how individuals confront the difficulties posed by decades of conflict, occupation, and instability. His journey serves as a counter-narrative to stereotypical portrayals of the Middle East. Another important element of the book is Wood's own personal reflections.
I loved this book. It emphasizes the power of travel to deepen empathy. It is a wild journey, and at times Wood is lucky to escape extremely perilous situations. At other times he relies on his vast traveling background to figure out how to surmount obstacles to move from one place to another. His military training in the British Army also comes in handy. He is occasionally blocked due to the dangers, such as in Yemen, where a civil war was in progress. He ends up taking a “detour” to Africa (Somalia, Djibouti) to obtain permission to enter Saudi Arabia, which is generally closed to outsiders. I always enjoy reading about places I will never be able to visit. I can also recommend Levison Wood’s Walking the Nile and Walking the Himalayas.
March 3, 2024
A fine book. It is not only a great adventure but a primer in the cultural differences in the Middle East.
Easy flowing writing style. I recommend it.
Easy flowing writing style. I recommend it.
September 16, 2021
I have read several of the author’s books and enjoyed them all. This too was a good one although my least favourite and rather bleak as he makes his way around the war torn Middle East trying to circumnavigate Arabia. Not until he reached Oman did I feel a desire to visit any of the places he was travelling through, and that ‘bright spot’ is brief when he moves onto the tragedy that is Yemen and is only reignited once he reaches Jordan.
At one point he confesses to fear and loneliness and a realisation that at forty the thrill of his exploring days have gone and that he wants to be back in England and get a dog, so it may be that this is the last of his adventures or at least travels to dangerous locations which are often also war zones. He certainly seems to have had some luck to still be alive after going to places no one who was concerned about their safety would have gone to.
His writing brings home how truly awful is the suffering of people in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and how the treatment of Palestinians and the taking of their lands for more Jewish settlements in the West Bank seems so unjust. He is able to challenge some of the preconceptions we have of the Arab world and illustrate that the vast majority just want to be allowed to get on with their lives in peace and free from both extreme Islamism and meddling by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the West.
If you like to read about countries few visit and are interested in this part of the world, you should enjoy this book.
At one point he confesses to fear and loneliness and a realisation that at forty the thrill of his exploring days have gone and that he wants to be back in England and get a dog, so it may be that this is the last of his adventures or at least travels to dangerous locations which are often also war zones. He certainly seems to have had some luck to still be alive after going to places no one who was concerned about their safety would have gone to.
His writing brings home how truly awful is the suffering of people in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and how the treatment of Palestinians and the taking of their lands for more Jewish settlements in the West Bank seems so unjust. He is able to challenge some of the preconceptions we have of the Arab world and illustrate that the vast majority just want to be allowed to get on with their lives in peace and free from both extreme Islamism and meddling by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the West.
If you like to read about countries few visit and are interested in this part of the world, you should enjoy this book.
January 8, 2021
I liked most of this book, particularly for the natural descriptions. However, unlike in the others as much, there was a feeling of artificiality/scriptedness that I can’t put my finger in. Maybe it was that there seemed to be more dialogue in this book than the others?
December 16, 2024
While there have been recent upheavals in the Middle East it continues to appear as complex and unpredictable as when Wood traversed it’s perimeter in 2018. I’m not sure this book answers any great questions (and to be fair he also reflects upon this) but it is still a fascinating journey. Probably best to be experienced as a book though because this is certainly not for the average traveler. I was intrigued by the descriptions of forests and Roman ruins as these are not features I imagined existed to any extent in this region. Definitely a difficult place to know and certainly not one that is easy to explain, the history is still very present in the current politics and is very divisive.
September 30, 2022
For what could have been a really unique and interesting read about a myserious, undocumented region, I was hoping for him to deliver on the questions he posed, and to fulfill the intention of this book, however I am left unsatisfied and somewhat disappointed
The authors reason for ‘Arabia’ was to learn and unveil more about Arabic people and their countries and to dismantle stereotypes about them prevelent in the west, but his reflections are superficial and shallow, he seems to be perpetuating the very stereotypes he was hoping to destroy. “with his dark beard and intense eyes he looked a bit like osama bin laden” it comes of incredibly hypocritical and culturally insensitive to make these types of remarks not to mention down right disrespectful and irrelevant.
“I figured it was time to strike into the very heart of the culture that had drawn me time and time again back to its roots” for a book that hopes to delve deep into middle eastern culture it rings hollow and lacks the detail that it would need to have a lasting impression on its reader, I would also argue that striking ‘the heart of the middle east’ would mean you would have to have an understanding of their native language to communicate with them, so I wonder why he thought he could offer something that another may have been better suited for? What makes him believe, as a random British guy living in the UK that he can “unmask” the “truths” of the Middle East and understand their complex conflicts lasting over decades, all in 6 months? Seems a little arrogant to me…
He could have committed and conducted way more Interviews with the actual people he is attempting to learn more about in terms of their culture and political landscape, then we as readers could decide on our own conclusions, but I guess his lack of language, only being able to communicate with a select few didn’t allow for that to be realised, the last quarter of the book slightly redeemed itself in that aspect, but that’s not enough to carry it. Most of the time we just got to watch him fulfill these weird heroic fantasies of him traipsing across the desert, “fitting in with the arabs” with way too many childhood anecdotes, that I was not invested enough to care about, it all comes across artificial and forced.
In conclusion, I will say the 2nd half of the book is much better than the first, considering the lack of consistency it almost feels like a completely different author wrote it. His descriptions were way more poetic and he didn’t complain as much, we also got to hear more from the locals and guides, rather than just his personal input. If the last quarter was an accurate reflection of the whole novel I probably would have enjoyed this much more…could we say, perhaps, during the process of this journey he was humbled slightly? By the end of the book he realised his distorted, imagined version of a fantastical ‘Arabia’ was nothing more than a mirage and his romantic notions of ‘purity’ destroyed, which I was quite relieved to read.
All in all I think this journey might have been better off written in the pages of his personal diary where he can reminisce over his heroism and protagonistic desires for as long as he likes…
The authors reason for ‘Arabia’ was to learn and unveil more about Arabic people and their countries and to dismantle stereotypes about them prevelent in the west, but his reflections are superficial and shallow, he seems to be perpetuating the very stereotypes he was hoping to destroy. “with his dark beard and intense eyes he looked a bit like osama bin laden” it comes of incredibly hypocritical and culturally insensitive to make these types of remarks not to mention down right disrespectful and irrelevant.
“I figured it was time to strike into the very heart of the culture that had drawn me time and time again back to its roots” for a book that hopes to delve deep into middle eastern culture it rings hollow and lacks the detail that it would need to have a lasting impression on its reader, I would also argue that striking ‘the heart of the middle east’ would mean you would have to have an understanding of their native language to communicate with them, so I wonder why he thought he could offer something that another may have been better suited for? What makes him believe, as a random British guy living in the UK that he can “unmask” the “truths” of the Middle East and understand their complex conflicts lasting over decades, all in 6 months? Seems a little arrogant to me…
He could have committed and conducted way more Interviews with the actual people he is attempting to learn more about in terms of their culture and political landscape, then we as readers could decide on our own conclusions, but I guess his lack of language, only being able to communicate with a select few didn’t allow for that to be realised, the last quarter of the book slightly redeemed itself in that aspect, but that’s not enough to carry it. Most of the time we just got to watch him fulfill these weird heroic fantasies of him traipsing across the desert, “fitting in with the arabs” with way too many childhood anecdotes, that I was not invested enough to care about, it all comes across artificial and forced.
In conclusion, I will say the 2nd half of the book is much better than the first, considering the lack of consistency it almost feels like a completely different author wrote it. His descriptions were way more poetic and he didn’t complain as much, we also got to hear more from the locals and guides, rather than just his personal input. If the last quarter was an accurate reflection of the whole novel I probably would have enjoyed this much more…could we say, perhaps, during the process of this journey he was humbled slightly? By the end of the book he realised his distorted, imagined version of a fantastical ‘Arabia’ was nothing more than a mirage and his romantic notions of ‘purity’ destroyed, which I was quite relieved to read.
All in all I think this journey might have been better off written in the pages of his personal diary where he can reminisce over his heroism and protagonistic desires for as long as he likes…
February 20, 2023
I like a good travel journal and this is really at the top end. It works at two levels. The personal journey of Lev and his reflections on his own ‘inner game’ and a potted history and review of where the various countries of Arabia are at. Probably the most fascinating part was his trip through Saudi Arabia, a country I know very little about. And you have to admire his courage/stupidity for entering war ravaged Yemen and Syria - he really does take calculated risk. Mum sent me this book for Christmas. I doubt I would have found it on my own thinking he’s just another TV personality but I’m very grateful to her. Friends, I can heartily recommend if you like a good travel journal!
March 19, 2021
This is my 4th adventure with Lev and it was grueling! From the bombed out city of Mosul, to a tropical wildlife preserve island paradise, on to Abu Dhabi and Dubai - they both looked like Las Vegas on steroids. We crossed deserts and war zones in time to spend Christmas in Bethlehem and then headed to Jordon and Lebanon. Home was on the horizon.
Even after reading all this it is still hard to tell the good guys from the bad. ISIS, Hezbollah, Shi’a, Sunni, Israeli, Palestinians - it all depends on who you talked to. Trump was very unpopular in many parts of the Middle East and contributed to much unrest. I think the US ought to stay out of these wars, they seem to always back the wrong cause I.e. Saudi Arabia! I could go on and on, but I won’t!
Well written and informative, as usual.
Even after reading all this it is still hard to tell the good guys from the bad. ISIS, Hezbollah, Shi’a, Sunni, Israeli, Palestinians - it all depends on who you talked to. Trump was very unpopular in many parts of the Middle East and contributed to much unrest. I think the US ought to stay out of these wars, they seem to always back the wrong cause I.e. Saudi Arabia! I could go on and on, but I won’t!
Well written and informative, as usual.
April 26, 2019
2.5
I really liked his other books. I loved his BBC show, but this book didn’t grab me. From the way he framed his book I thought it was just him on a walk about but at the end he mentions film crew and talks about very high level officials helping him out including UNICEF, something an ordinary person does.
I thought him traveling through Syria and Iraq and Yemen was stupid. Did he really think he had special insights to war and the people there that others who have also traveled there didn’t?
If however, there is going to be another TV series, then I really want to see it. He will show us places and parts of Arabia, I will never be able to see especially as a woman.
But it’s not a trip someone who is not well-connected with a lot of money could do.
I really liked his other books. I loved his BBC show, but this book didn’t grab me. From the way he framed his book I thought it was just him on a walk about but at the end he mentions film crew and talks about very high level officials helping him out including UNICEF, something an ordinary person does.
I thought him traveling through Syria and Iraq and Yemen was stupid. Did he really think he had special insights to war and the people there that others who have also traveled there didn’t?
If however, there is going to be another TV series, then I really want to see it. He will show us places and parts of Arabia, I will never be able to see especially as a woman.
But it’s not a trip someone who is not well-connected with a lot of money could do.
March 16, 2021
I liked that he covered all of those countries but the whole trip felt so rushed (or perhaps wasn't written in enough detail). We always got to hear why he wanted to go to a certain place AFTER he was already there (I missed the anticipation that would have otherwise made me finish the book in one go). It's obvious (from the acknowledgements) that a lot of research went into the preparation for the trip so I don't know why so many things were worthy of just one sentence or one paragraph when they could have been whole chapters (e.g. the refugee camp). Anyway - mixed feelings - great idea, great photos, sometimes great writing but usually not enough detail.
September 23, 2020
Rings fairly deaf in current times
While i applaud Wood for making and staying on his pilgrimage through the heart of the middle East, his writing and insights smack of a privileged paradigm which is seldom acknowledged.
While i applaud Wood for making and staying on his pilgrimage through the heart of the middle East, his writing and insights smack of a privileged paradigm which is seldom acknowledged.
Want to read
January 7, 2019I love any true or mostly true travel story. This was a good read with interesting facts and characters. It's engaging to the end.
May 6, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable. An easy read.
The author certainly knows how to get himself in lots of trouble.
Escapism guaranteed.
The author certainly knows how to get himself in lots of trouble.
Escapism guaranteed.
October 4, 2020
Despite my confusion over the politics of this region I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it enlightening and engaging.
March 1, 2024
Writing from the depths of Arabia (well a 5 star international hotel in Muscat) I feel very well qualified to comment on this round Arabia travelogue.
Wood is a magnetic character on TV and his voice is clearly through the pages as he moves from one Arab country to another, openly seduced by (almost) all of them.
I do have some authenticity issues with the book. Does anyone have such a clear remembrance of the issues around their own school nativity? Also the beautiful political summary overviews given by the first random taxi driver/bloke he meets in a cafe in any given country. I can't believe they happened so can the rest of the book be trusted?
That said Wood does deliver some great insights; the liberalism of Syria and Saudi, the complexities of intra Arab politics and the wonderful hospitality of the individuals in the area.
My own reflections of Arabia (from research packed into in one 2 week holiday in Oman) are 1) the men really, really like to chat to each other. 2) the mosques are less an intense religious experience and more another chance for men to chat to each other ( women round the back please) 3)the people are truly generous with time and want to help or be kind 4) things are much more liberal than the west imagines.
The book that is waiting to be written is an explanation of why the peoples of Arabia , as Wood reports, are so generous and kind , cannot live in a more harmonious way with each other.
To a man and woman every Muslim my 54 years has seen me pass has been good kind and generous, it has always amazed me that they cannot get governments of a similar type. In the west most people are not good kind and generous but their governments, for all their faults, are. It does not make sense.
Whoops I've moved away from the book review.....it's worth a read especially if visiting the area.
Wood is a magnetic character on TV and his voice is clearly through the pages as he moves from one Arab country to another, openly seduced by (almost) all of them.
I do have some authenticity issues with the book. Does anyone have such a clear remembrance of the issues around their own school nativity? Also the beautiful political summary overviews given by the first random taxi driver/bloke he meets in a cafe in any given country. I can't believe they happened so can the rest of the book be trusted?
That said Wood does deliver some great insights; the liberalism of Syria and Saudi, the complexities of intra Arab politics and the wonderful hospitality of the individuals in the area.
My own reflections of Arabia (from research packed into in one 2 week holiday in Oman) are 1) the men really, really like to chat to each other. 2) the mosques are less an intense religious experience and more another chance for men to chat to each other ( women round the back please) 3)the people are truly generous with time and want to help or be kind 4) things are much more liberal than the west imagines.
The book that is waiting to be written is an explanation of why the peoples of Arabia , as Wood reports, are so generous and kind , cannot live in a more harmonious way with each other.
To a man and woman every Muslim my 54 years has seen me pass has been good kind and generous, it has always amazed me that they cannot get governments of a similar type. In the west most people are not good kind and generous but their governments, for all their faults, are. It does not make sense.
Whoops I've moved away from the book review.....it's worth a read especially if visiting the area.
February 23, 2019
A great travel story. This is the second book I have read of this author's journeys, and love the way he mixes facts with his own personal observations and questions and it is beautifully descriptive as well.
It was nice to see these Middle Eastern countries, as peoples homes, and see how daily life is for them, and not just the images we see on TV these days. We were able to meet through him, some very interesting characters who guided him through these countries.
The adventure has an easy flow as he goes through sometimes very hostile situations, whether it is Warring parties or stretches of deserts that need to be crossed.
He circumnavigation the Arabian Peninsula, taking in thirteen Middle Eastern Countries, starting in Northern Syria to Lebanon, following at times the footsteps of past explorers whom he revered.
He came very close to ISIS fighting, he had tea with Hezbollah, and one of his only ways out of one place, had to cross pirate-infested waters in a wooden dhow. He meets his parents and friends in Bethlehem, for Christmas, before going to his last destination Lebanon.
I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
I would l like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of this book.
It was nice to see these Middle Eastern countries, as peoples homes, and see how daily life is for them, and not just the images we see on TV these days. We were able to meet through him, some very interesting characters who guided him through these countries.
The adventure has an easy flow as he goes through sometimes very hostile situations, whether it is Warring parties or stretches of deserts that need to be crossed.
He circumnavigation the Arabian Peninsula, taking in thirteen Middle Eastern Countries, starting in Northern Syria to Lebanon, following at times the footsteps of past explorers whom he revered.
He came very close to ISIS fighting, he had tea with Hezbollah, and one of his only ways out of one place, had to cross pirate-infested waters in a wooden dhow. He meets his parents and friends in Bethlehem, for Christmas, before going to his last destination Lebanon.
I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
I would l like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of this book.
April 12, 2023
This was awful from a historical and narrative standpoint. If ever there was a book that needed a nuanced approach, it would be this one. The author makes all sorts of claims throughout the book about extremely complicated geopolitical issues and completely fails to provide any sort of historical backing regarding why, other than middle school level spins (aka Saddam bad!). Nowhere in the book is it mentioned the billions in wealth stolen out of Syria by the US military, or the war crimes that have been committed in the region by Western forces - I'm not surprised tbh because the author himself is ex military, so he's saving his own skin by not mentioning any of this. Instead, we have this idiot gaslighting the people impacted by the manufactured destabilization who are (rightfully) pissed off at the West for pretty much being the source of their troubles. What an asshole.
December 1, 2025
An epic and exciting travel memoir throughout the contemporary Middle East with a brief stint in the Horn of Africa. Levison Wood draws from the journeys of Richard Francis Burton, TE Lawrence, and Wilfred Thesiger and explores this changing region and its diverse people. Wood’s experiences show the human side of conflicts that make global headlines and cities that fill history books. Every location, from Dubai to Dhofar, Djibouti to Petra is full of wondrous sights and horrible destruction, hospitable samaritans and formidable brutes. If you’re looking for history, culture, authenticity, and the human side of travel, this is a must read. My favorite moments were Wood accompanying PMF militias retaking ISIS territory, smuggling himself into Somalia with Gujarati fishermen, and trekking ancient ruins in Jordan with drunken Bedouin.
February 13, 2020
A wonderful bit of travel writing comfortably set within the tradition of T.E. Lawrence and Richard F. Burton. Levison Wood is perhaps more self aware than the orientalist explorers of yesteryear, but he doesn’t let that spoil the fun. His latest book instills the reader with the unmistakable sense that “Arabia” is in many ways still a place ripe for exploration and adventure, in spite of the recent influx of tourism and the onward march of modernization. Wood does not try to take a particularly novel approach, nor does he engage in mystical fantasies of sultans, sheikhs, and theosophical enlightenment found beneath the desert sands. An Arabian Journey is a straightforward travel journal that is at once entertaining, informative, and not trying particularly hard to be anything else.
December 13, 2021
*3.5 stars* This book did absolutely nothing to curb my wanderlust or my fascination with the Middle East. Thanks, Lev 🙄😅
The good: I can’t decide if the author is certifiably insane, or I’m just jealous of him. Both, probably both. Who just walks, literally, into Syria, Iraq, Yemen, for funzies?!? This guy, fortunately for us, because we get to read his book and the incredible things he experiences. One of the things I appreciated most is that he doesn’t get into politics. He goes to the world’s most complicated region with the goal of meeting the locals, and that’s what he does, without adding his own commentary. It’s very refreshing.
The meh: He’s not a writer, he’s an adventurer. So the writing is pretty basic. I was left wanting MORE - more of his interactions with the locals, more information about the places. Instead, the books stays pretty surface level. For example, you get maybe 3 pages about him being almost kidnapped in Yemen.
This is a really excellent introduction to the modern day Middle East. It’s not heavy on details or politics, and gives a glimpse of what life is like today in all 13 of the Arabian countries.
The good: I can’t decide if the author is certifiably insane, or I’m just jealous of him. Both, probably both. Who just walks, literally, into Syria, Iraq, Yemen, for funzies?!? This guy, fortunately for us, because we get to read his book and the incredible things he experiences. One of the things I appreciated most is that he doesn’t get into politics. He goes to the world’s most complicated region with the goal of meeting the locals, and that’s what he does, without adding his own commentary. It’s very refreshing.
The meh: He’s not a writer, he’s an adventurer. So the writing is pretty basic. I was left wanting MORE - more of his interactions with the locals, more information about the places. Instead, the books stays pretty surface level. For example, you get maybe 3 pages about him being almost kidnapped in Yemen.
This is a really excellent introduction to the modern day Middle East. It’s not heavy on details or politics, and gives a glimpse of what life is like today in all 13 of the Arabian countries.
August 9, 2021
Levison Wood does it again with his insane travel stories in areas that are seemingly unknown to westerns. Reading this is really helping me piece together the Middle East bit by bit (though I will never grasp it in full)
June 19, 2022
A wonderful travelogue of a man’s journey through 13 countries in “Arabia.” Triggered my wanderlust hard
November 21, 2024
Good book! It was a little slow going but not really the fault of the book. Lots of good info on the middle east and its conflicts and people. Fascinating and well written.
December 24, 2024
An intriguing book that provides valuable insights into this region and its people while dispelling many incorrect assumptions thrown at us by politicos and the media.
January 13, 2019
Levison Wood is a masochist of first order. But the best kind, the highly entertaining kind. The guy walks places (places one wouldn’t really walk or even think of walking) and then writes his walking adventures down. I loved walking the Nile with him, well I sat here, he walked, I read about it, fun was had by all. And the man is no stranger to some seriously inhospitable and difficult to navigate environments, but he might have outdone himself with this trek. Notice this book isn’t titled Walking the Arabia but an Arabian Journey, since some cars or other quadrupedal modes of transportation were utilized. Some places you just can’t walk, though the man tries. Arabia (a destination name far dreamier than Middle East), it seems holds a special sort of appeal to the author, it isn’t his first journey there, but this one was undertaken is such a dangerous time to be in the region. Nevertheless, he perseveres and even manages to hit every target he sets out for himself and this book is a result. And it’s good, but was it worth risking his life for…I’m not sure. It’s enlightening, because it offers perspectives of regular people caught up or stuck in irregular circumstances. At times it’s practically war reporting. And Wood stays notably unbiased as a reporter trying to present as many varied perspectives as he can from many different sides. But it doesn’t really teach a reader who isn’t familiar with the region’s complex politics all that much and it doesn’t really offer enough to change or make up minds. I’m relatively knowledgeable on the subject, having read up on it, taken a class on it and regularly following the news and reading articles, so I suppose I expected or was hoping for more…more to learn. But where the book may not explain the situation to those outside of the know, it certainly does a great job of humanizing it, which is no small feat for such a foreign (to westerners) culture. The thing is though you just can’t help thinking that there is a streak of masochism or some sort of obsession behind Wood’s travels. I’ve encountered a version of this in myself in my need to finish every book, no matter how crappy that book may be. But Wood, of course, takes that to an entirely new level. His tenacity, drive and resolve are awesome. Although he does seem to come to a sort of realization during this trip that maybe his extreme traveling days are over, but time will tell. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds another wild and crazy journey to undertake in a near future. The man is, after all, obsessed. This book is good, very good (it’s only some historical facts short of great) and I’d definitely recommend it to all the armchair travelers out there. Disappointingly, hugely so, the ARC version had no photos and his books always have photos, so that won’t be available until the print version. Just so you know. Thanks Netgalley.
February 16, 2019
Bianca contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
An Arabian Journey by Levison Wood Book Review
Tales of desert adventure combined with modern warfare and international politics. Levison Wood navigates difficult terrain and crosses numerous borders, only to find refuge and kindness by total strangers.
A COMPLEX STORY OF EXPLORATION AND HUMANITY
Stumbling upon people who share my romantic ideal of famed explorers is rare. I had to pick up a book where the author follows in the footsteps of explorers like Lawrence of Arabia. While much of the Arabian Peninsula remains an exotic mystery to many of us, Wood recognizes the political turmoil that has enrobed these countries for decades, if not centuries.
We are given a look at the luck and logistics required to make a trek across countries fighting against ISIS and other militant factions. From his start in Northern Syria, Wood spends six-month crossing countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Jordan before finally spilling out on the shores of the Mediterranean. At times, you’re carried away by the changes in the landscape. Wood describes these scenes poetically.
I am not a geography buff. Throughout the book, I found many names of cities and leaders are used with regularity. For me, it is hard to follow without referring back to a map. An Arabian Journey is less a cultural narrative, and more of one ex-military man’s pursuit of a dream to cross the desert. Wood’s comfort with tense situations and heavy artillery, makes this book unmistakably geared toward a male audience and to veterans of the numerous Middle East conflicts.
THE VERDICT
I am Kinda Into This book. Wood navigates us through the challenges citizens of the Arabian Peninsula face on a regular basis. This gives us a greater understanding of what the world must be like for these people. And, though are moments of beauty in this book, it reads unevenly. With descriptive prose sandwiched between roughly written paragraphs, at times it almost feels like a different writer.
Special thanks to Levison Wood, Atlantic Monthly Press & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
An Arabian Journey by Levison Wood Book Review
Tales of desert adventure combined with modern warfare and international politics. Levison Wood navigates difficult terrain and crosses numerous borders, only to find refuge and kindness by total strangers.
A COMPLEX STORY OF EXPLORATION AND HUMANITY
Stumbling upon people who share my romantic ideal of famed explorers is rare. I had to pick up a book where the author follows in the footsteps of explorers like Lawrence of Arabia. While much of the Arabian Peninsula remains an exotic mystery to many of us, Wood recognizes the political turmoil that has enrobed these countries for decades, if not centuries.
We are given a look at the luck and logistics required to make a trek across countries fighting against ISIS and other militant factions. From his start in Northern Syria, Wood spends six-month crossing countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Jordan before finally spilling out on the shores of the Mediterranean. At times, you’re carried away by the changes in the landscape. Wood describes these scenes poetically.
I am not a geography buff. Throughout the book, I found many names of cities and leaders are used with regularity. For me, it is hard to follow without referring back to a map. An Arabian Journey is less a cultural narrative, and more of one ex-military man’s pursuit of a dream to cross the desert. Wood’s comfort with tense situations and heavy artillery, makes this book unmistakably geared toward a male audience and to veterans of the numerous Middle East conflicts.
THE VERDICT
I am Kinda Into This book. Wood navigates us through the challenges citizens of the Arabian Peninsula face on a regular basis. This gives us a greater understanding of what the world must be like for these people. And, though are moments of beauty in this book, it reads unevenly. With descriptive prose sandwiched between roughly written paragraphs, at times it almost feels like a different writer.
Special thanks to Levison Wood, Atlantic Monthly Press & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
July 22, 2019
I found this book to read as the land he journeyed through to be kind f mixed u like the history that was before and today
January 20, 2023
The book is an interesting adventure story that informed me about parts of the world that are unknown to me. I am surprised that a British journalist could get access to these places that were in the midst of war. His reporting made these wars real and tragic. He humanizes the combatants and the families, which makes me care more about their lives and their precarious living conditions.
He moved along fairly quickly from country to country so he did not go into any depth about the countries’ cultures and the people’s opinions. But it is an introduction to life in the Middle East told as a British man’s adventure.
The ending does not offer any insights or meaningful observations. The author simply gets tired of being on the road under dangerous conditions and wants to finally return home to the safety and comfort of Britain.
He moved along fairly quickly from country to country so he did not go into any depth about the countries’ cultures and the people’s opinions. But it is an introduction to life in the Middle East told as a British man’s adventure.
The ending does not offer any insights or meaningful observations. The author simply gets tired of being on the road under dangerous conditions and wants to finally return home to the safety and comfort of Britain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews