Kechichian (fellow, Near East Studies, U. of California, Los Angeles) draws on years of experience studying Saudi Arabia to write a very detailed account of the Saudi ruling family, its history, and the possible directions its leadership will take in years to come. The study is based on documentary history as well as dozens of interviews with members of the family, a wide array of Saudi officials, and others. The numerous appendices include a chronology of the family, the mainline of succession and cadet branches, detailed family trees, list of the provincial governors, the makeup of the Cabinet as of June 1999, principle religious figures, the basic law of the government, the Majlis al-Shura law and the law of the provinces. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)