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Second edition revised February 1976 (this was first published in 1975). Comb-bound yellow wraps with titles and Saudi emblem to the front, 23x28cm. (9), 118pp illustrated with b/w map and Saudi flag. Covers good or better with some dusting. Interiors mostly very good except for ink scribbles to the title and Preface, some red ink underlines on pages towards the end, and annotations p118. Alison Raymond Lanier (1917-93) wrote several books, among them the "Update" series, explaining foreign cultures to US managers and staff going to live abroad, and the US to foreigners. Most were issued by her own company, Overseas Briefing Associates, which she had formed in 1967 to hold seminars for corporations and organisations looking to engage overseas. As reflected here, she addressed the difficulties facing women who were then experiencing greater opportunity to live or work abroad (Ref. New York Times, 10 Aug 1993). Her Saudi Update was prepared for the engineering firm Parsons, and was accompanied by a separately issued Assignment Book that contained details about the job, and the company itself (Preface). Parsons began operating in Saudi Arabia in the 1950s, with Dhahran Airport terminal its first project, since then delivering on major infrastructure, industrial and defence projects. Chapters cover Background, Doing business with Saudis, On arrival, Language, Customs and courtesies, Household, Children and schools, Health and medical care, Leisure activities, Major places of interest. There is valuable cultural insight throughout on Saudi people, Islam, courtesy, baksheesh, the Arab boycott, warnings (alcohol, narcotics, Saudi justice etc), public transport, dress, a "Divine" language, social attitudes and approaches, social contacts, meeting Arab women, bargaining, advice from US wives (on not being allowed to drive, Ramadan, implications of sandstorms on running a house etc). Places of interest include Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Al Khobar, Dammam, Taif, Hofuf, with a note on Restricted Areas. With a focus on women, some of the content is credited to the American Women's Club of Jiddah. This edition is extremely rare with Worldcat listing it without any holdings (OCLC 10262368). It also records the 1975 and 1979 editions also very rare, and a 1981 edition for Intercultural Press. Seller Inventory # 5426
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