Simpson was a former classmate of Prince Bandar in England and has reconnected to write this biography. There is virtually no critical analysis, in fact it is rather fawning, but as this is already to be expected it also provides personal information that is probably reliable.Wonderful pictures. He was and is some "hunk" of a guy.

There is an extremely interesting Amazon review by someone who says he has had business connections with Bandar and conducted research on his life which is worth reading. He too admits that the book is self-serving, but is also valuable in showing how things do work in Saudi Arabia. ( )

I was in the process in writing a review of this profoundly readable book when I chanced on a very positive review in the Washington Times on December 5, 2006 – an Op-ed article by Martin Seiff entitled “Royalty and Diplomacy” – and I found myself nodding in agreement. As I read William Simpson’s book, I was fascinated by the unparalleled power wielded by Prince Bandar - a remarkable individual– and his role in some of the key events in modern political history over the past two decades and more – and yet I had never even heard of him! However, when I first picked up Simpson’s book, it was the forewords by both Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher – highly respected leaders at both ends of the political spectrum - that persuaded me to buy it

It was certainly worth it. I was increasingly enthralled by the many colorful anecdotes weaved throughout the book by William Simpson as he illustrated this larger than life character – aptly described as an enigma. If Simpson is to be believed, Prince Bandar has helped write history and has a Machiavellian darker side that oddly adds to the charisma that has clearly enabled him to walk into the White House or State Department with aplomb. Here was a foreign diplomat who not only influenced U.S. foreign policy, but who also acted as an emissary for his king, Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush – and for world leaders as diverse as Margaret Thatcher, Saddam Hussein, Nelson Mandela and President Assad of Syria.

I was mesmerized by Prince Bandar’s influence and in the end found myself liking this modern-day political James Bond. His achievements are incredible and I can only imagine that his exploits will continue in Bandar’s new role as Secretary-general of the Saudi National Security Council. Indeed, rumors abound of his covert meetings with Prime Minister Olmert of Israel and speculation has been heightened by the recent resignation of his successor as Saudi Ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki Al Faisal. Prince Bandar appears to be a central character in a changing pattern of alliances in the Middle East as the moderate Arab states and Israel being to confront the challenges posed by Iran and its nuclear aspirations, and its support for Hezbollah and Hamas.

Having finished this highly entertaining, intriguing, revealing and well written account of Prince Bandar’s life, albeit perhaps heavy going in some of the earlier chapters, I feel that Martin Seiff’s final lines are an apt summary review – “This is the best street-smart, experience-based assessment discussion of the art of diplomacy I have read since former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's famous work on the same subject.” ( )