A Prince of Our Disorder: The Life of T. E. Lawrence

One is always chary of biographies by psychiatrists, though the psychiatrist be a Harvard Medical School professor (as the late Dr. Mack was) and the biography be Pulitzer Prize-winning, as this book is. There lurks the constant fear of psychiatric over-analysis. Thankfully, Mack assures us on this score in the Introduction, and we never have to look back: "I believe that Lawrence's reputation has been damaged by the use (or misuse) of psychology to devalue his accomplishments, and by misguided efforts to explain complex decisions and behavior through simplistic explanations and psychological reductionism." Quite so. And Mack is having none of it. So, the reader can set his/her mind at ease on this account. The amount of personal research Mack does here is mind-boggling, and the fact that all of the contemporaries of Lawrence whom Mack interviewed for this biography are now deceased means that this work will always remain a benchmark for those seeking to understand this tormented, enigmatic figure.But there is a larger worry. Exactly how much can we know about another person? How much do we need to know, for instance, about the relatively short period of Lawrence's life and participation/leadership during the Arab revolt than what Lawrence avers beautifully in the 1922 Oxford edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom, echoing the book of Ecclesiastes: "Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their own dream with open eyes, and make it possible. This I did."?I suppose it depends upon how enthralled you are with Lawrence's life and his endeavours, as related by Mack. So, it's all rather subjective, as I think Mack, and certainly Lawrence, would agree. So, here are my impressions: Lawrence, as an associate said of him, was "a modern Percival" who steeped himself in Provencal poetry, did major archaeological work before the war at the sites of the Crusades, carried out guerilla raids during the "Arab Revolt" and then withdrew from the modern world, all in keeping with a deeply engrained notion of chastity, service and self-abnegation. As Mack thoroughly shows here, one simply can't separate - as most try to do - the Lawrence of Arabia who was a figure on the world stage, and the one who changed his name several times, joined the RAF as a ranker, drove his motorcycles at top speeds without a helmet, became an expert speed-boat mechanic and paid a burly Scotsman to flagellate him brutally on several occasions. They're all of a piece. Aside from his motorcycle, he disdained material possessions, and gave whatever money he might have had to fellow airmen in need, and touched nearly all who knew him with his unworldly generosity - except, and this is important, some of the officers under whom he served as a ranker. In short, he WAS a sort of modern Percival, with an oddly medieval mindset, and his actions, such as they were, were quite in keeping with that mindset.Cue back to why I think it important that the officers didn't like him. I think this is key to understanding why such an anachronistic figure remains a hero to many in the 21st Century. In "acting out his dream with open eyes," Lawrence ignored, snubbed or found ways around those who were placed over him in the chain of command. And, put it down to what you will, he got away with it. That's why the modern world remains fascinated by him. This modern Percival actually had a meeting with King George V in which he turned down a knighthood. Only his own personal Holy Grail would do. And the baubles offered by a modern king were just that. In short, though Lawrence was, au fond, backwards looking, he became, and remains for many, that very modern invention, the anti-hero, "a prince of our disorder" as historian Irving Howe put it.It's a credit to Mack that he leaves the "question" of Lawrence unresolved or, rather, leaves the reader to make of this extremely readable book about an extremely remarkable man what he/she will. Ultimately, the question of personal identity remains an elusive mystery.Shortly before his fatal motorcycle crash, a ship contractor told him that "you'll break your blinking neck on that thing." This modern Percival replied, "Well, better than dying in bed", mounted his modern steed and roared off. His brief will left two copies of Shelley's poetry, one for his younger brother, one for his solicitor.

A 2nd copy, essential while my hardcover original is buried in a home renovation.

Dr. John Mack's study of Lawrence is one of the most absorbing reads I've ever enjoyed in my lifetime. As Irving Howe wrote, "What finally draws one to Lawrence, making him not merely an exceptional figure, but a representative man of our century, is his courage and vulnerability in bearing the burden of consciousness." The impact that the trial by fire in Arabia appears to have had on his post-war life is shocking, and teaches us once again not to envy our great heroes. Lawrence wrote of General Allenby that great men cannot be judged by ordinary standards, anymore than the sharpness of the bow of an ocean liner can be judged by the sharpness of a razor. After reading "A Prince of Our Disorder," I recognize now that Lawrence was probably thinking of himself while writing those kind words about his former master, asking that he not be be judged by his hidden afflictions, torments, and self-doubts, all the while laying out those same imperfections for all the world to read. Lawrence warned us,"The documents are liars ... No man ever yet tried to write down the entire truth of any action in which he has been engaged." No man is truly capable of understanding his own subconscious motivations, but I doubt that anyone has ever struggled harder than Lawrence to achieve self-understanding. We will have to try to read between the lines, learn what we can, and apply that knowledge to enrich our own poor lives.So sad for all of us that our leaders are not of the same introspective type. Dr. Mack comments in his introduction that "The destructive leader, and the eagerness of a large segment of the population to identify with him, comprise one of the central threats -- if not the greatest threat -- that faces human society. There is perhaps an increasing unwillingness to entrust our well-being and our lives to individuals and characters we do not understand and whose ultimate purposes we are ignorant of." Let's hope so.Jeremy Wilson's massive biography "Lawrence of Arabia" may better satisfy military readers interested in extensive contemporary document citations, and includes much more detail on Lawrence's Cairo years. Wilson also has a better set of photographs. The 1922 Oxford full text of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson and available from Castle Hill Press in the UK, is most highly recommended to all who find "T.E.L." fascinating.

This is an important book! While the exploits of T.E. Lawrence during his two years leading the Arab Revolt are well known, it is clear at the end of the movie ("Lawrence of Arabia") and _Seven Pillars of Wisdom_ that he was suffering from PTSD at the end, and the rest of his life after November 1918 is a mental health mystery. Of course he wrote Seven Pillars until 1921 and participated in the Cairo Conference with Winston Churchill and Gertrude Bell, but thereafter Colonel Lawrence joined the RAF as a rank enlisted man under an assumed name. That story is infinitely interesting from a mental health perspective.

Wonderful read. I think this is the definitive Lawrence biography as it is so detailed and complex. It delves into Lawrence's personal issues and how they may have affected his decisions throughout his life. The book really does a great job with Lawrence's successes and failures and how he ended up a hero. Highly recommend this if you are interested in a detailed and complex account of his life.

A very enjoyable book containing a lot of what I call psychiatric babble, but then that's the book's purpose. The author nails the sources of Lawrence's erratic mind set. In my opinion there's a fine line between genius and psychosis and that point emerges in the author's analysis. I've read many books on Lawrence and this author provides explanations that guide the reader through his mind's passages to greater understanding of this most enigmatic person. A pity Lawrence seemed intent on self destruction. I wish someone would have taken his motorcycle away from him! The world is a less richer place without him, but then again his heart would be broken if he could see the events in the Middle East since his passing.

T.E. Lawrence is one of those people who will always fascinate us for his immense ability and adaptability, as well as for his incredible enterprises and at the same time for his humility which is what draws people to him.A surprising character, narrated for us by a talented author who has done his very best to paint "The Real Picture" of this extraordinary man, with all the contradictions that this implies.A valuable read, which I shall certainly go back to.

Excellent book and glad I found a reloved copy in good condition. Anyone studying this era regarding Middle East politics will find this book both revealing factually and engaging - also this author provides great insight into the background, family life, friends and character of Lawrence.

A very interesting and well written book, complementing other biographies on T.E. I bought it second hand, and are very pleased to having added it to my other 10-12 books on T.E.

Read many years ago and never forgot. Well researched account of the interplay between private psychology and public action.

Essentially a psychological profile