Though Jones does not spend much time discussing politics or war in If Olaya Street Could Talk, nor the events of 9/11, he does hint at an interesting parallel between the Saudi and American populations. After a close personal encounter with the mutawaa, he has a brief discussion with its boss. "He voiced that he knew all Westerners hated the mutawaa," leaving Jones to think to himself, "also, about eighty percent of the Saudi population." What comes to mind immediately is how much the current American administration, with Bush at its head, claims to represent the will of the American people and to be doing what's best for the them. Perhaps the percentage of Americans who, by the government's standards and rhetoric, could be labeled anti-American because they do not necessarily approve of the actions taken by the administration ostensibly on their behalf, is similarly high.

If Olaya Street Could Talk is not only an interesting personal narrative of the author's life as an expat in Saudi Arabia, punctuated by fascinating travel tales, it is also an important book for our times, with many positive things to say about the Kingdom. At times saddening and enraging, but much of the time fascinating and engaging, this book is highly recommended.