Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Phew. It took me the better part of
two months, but I finally finished
Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
"Remarkable" doesn't begin to cover it. Lawrence has an eye for
detail and a beautiful voice: his descriptions of the landscape,
environment, and people are richer than anything I've read in
years. He offers valuable lessons not only in desert warfare but in
simple humanity. He narrates humbly and doesn't gloss over his
mistakes or failings.
Nominally the book is about the Arab Revolt and Lawrence's role
in it, but it is so much more: it's an exploration of an
inhospitable land and the people who live in it. What he writes is
especially valuable today.