Blood and Oil by Bradley Hope Summary

Blood and Oil is an investigative journalism work chronicling Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) dramatic rise to power as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince. The book examines how his ascent coincided with the transformation of US-Saudi relations, his ambitious Vision 2030 economic reforms, and his ruthless consolidation of power. Hope and Scheck trace MBS's journey from a video game-obsessed teenager to a decisive yet controversial leader reshaping the Middle East through bold modernization efforts and authoritarian tactics.

Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck are award-winning investigative reporters for The Wall Street Journal who collaborated on Blood and Oil. Their expertise in financial journalism shines through the book's exploration of MBS's pursuit of foreign investment and interactions with global financial powers. The authors distinguish their work by following the money trail, providing macro-level strategic analysis of how billion-dollar development projects and investment funds secured MBS's legitimacy among international elites.

Blood and Oil is essential reading for anyone interested in Middle Eastern geopolitics, international relations, or global economics. The book appeals to business leaders, policymakers, journalists, and readers seeking to understand Saudi Arabia's transformation and its impact on oil markets. It's particularly valuable for those following US foreign policy, regional stability concerns, and the intersection of wealth, power, and authoritarianism in the modern Middle East.

Blood and Oil is widely praised as a compelling, exceptionally well-written page-turner that was longlisted for the Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. Reviewers describe it as a "fantastic narrative read" completed in nearly one sitting, combining fly-on-the-wall reporting with palace intrigue worthy of Machiavelli. The book provides deep, nuanced understanding of MBS's thinking and its implications, making it essential for anyone seeking insight into contemporary Saudi politics and global power dynamics.

Vision 2030 is Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious economic transformation plan aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy away from oil dependency. Blood and Oil explores how this massive reform program involves attracting foreign investment, modernizing Saudi society, and positioning the kingdom for a post-oil future. Hope and Scheck detail MBS's efforts to court US bankers, Hollywood figures, and politicians to support these economic reforms, revealing the complex negotiations and opposed terms each party brought to these dealings.

Blood and Oil depicts Mohammed bin Salman as a complex, contradictory figure—simultaneously an ambitious visionary reformer and a ruthless authoritarian. Hope and Scheck show his transformation from a directionless teenager into a driven leader with extraordinary powers and hunger for wealth. The book portrays him as charming yet crafty, willing to break anything or anyone blocking his vision, including marginalizing royal family rivals and centralizing power in unprecedented ways for Saudi Arabia's monarchy.

The Jamal Khashoggi murder serves as Blood and Oil's tragic denouement, illustrating MBS's paranoia and intolerance for dissent. Hope and Scheck explain how Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident, saw himself as a loyal critic supporting the kingdom while questioning its behavior. The book frames his murder as a significant tactical error that jeopardized MBS's crucial courtship of Western investors and political allies, undermining the crown prince's carefully cultivated international reputation.

Blood and Oil explores the fraying of the 80-year US-Saudi bargain exchanging oil for military protection. Key themes include the centralization of royal power, the risks and rewards of rapid social transformation, and the dangers of unchecked ambition combined with authoritarian control. The book examines how MBS's reforms could either modernize Saudi Arabia or destabilize it into a failed state attracting Islamic extremists, with global reverberations either way.

Blood and Oil details how MBS cultivated a tight relationship with the Trump White House, particularly through Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. The book shows how traditional US-Saudi relations shifted as MBS sought to attract American bankers, investors, and political figures to support his transformation agenda. Hope and Scheck reveal the transactional nature of these interactions and how billion-dollar deals and public stock offerings helped secure MBS's legitimacy among international elites during the chaotic Trump administration.

Blood and Oil distinguishes itself by following the money trail and emphasizing the financial dimensions of MBS's rise. Unlike Ben Hubbard's MBS, which interweaves on-the-ground experiences and individual Saudi perspectives, Hope and Scheck maintain a linear, macro-level strategic view. Their Wall Street Journal expertise shines in exploring foreign investment pursuits, development projects, and how financial power intersects with political transformation, offering unique insights into the economics driving Saudi Arabia's dramatic changes.

While Blood and Oil received widespread acclaim, some critics note it maintains a strategic-level perspective that may sacrifice intimate, ground-level Saudi voices for broader analysis. The book's focus on MBS as a "work in progress" reflects the challenge of assessing an ongoing leadership still unfolding. Additionally, the emphasis on palace intrigue and high-level dealings may overlook how ordinary Saudis experience these dramatic changes, though this trade-off enables the book's comprehensive view of power dynamics and international implications.

Blood and Oil features revealing quotes that illuminate MBS's mindset and methods.

• "I Am the Mastermind" reflects his supreme confidence in controlling Saudi Arabia's future trajectory.
• "Seize opportunities, for they pass like clouds" captures the urgency driving his rapid, sometimes reckless reforms.
• "I assure you anyone involved in corruption will not be spared" demonstrates his commitment to fighting corruption while simultaneously warning rivals, revealing the dual purpose behind his famous Ritz-Carlton crackdown on wealthy Saudis.