Description: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the Worlds Most Features Simon Schuster Description Product Description To save precious centuries-old Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians in Timbuktu pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean’s Eleven. In the 1980s, a young adventurer and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, tracking down and salvaging tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts that had fallen into obscurity. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu tells the incredible story of how Haidara, a mild-mannered archivist and historian from the legendary city of Timbuktu, later became one of the world’s greatest and most brazen smugglers. In 2012, thousands of Al Qaeda militants from northwest Africa seized control of most of Mali, including Timbuktu. They imposed Sharia law, chopped off the hands of accused thieves, stoned to death unmarried couples, and threatened to destroy the great manuscripts. As the militants tightened their control over Timbuktu, Haidara organized a dangerous operation to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to the safety of southern Mali. Over the past twenty years, journalist Joshua Hammer visited Timbuktu numerous times and is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Haidara’s heroic and ultimately successful effort to outwit Al Qaeda and preserve Mali’s—and the world’s—literary patrimony. Hammer explores the city’s manuscript heritage and offers never-before-reported details about the militants’ march into northwest Africa. But above all, The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu is an inspiring account of the victory of art and literature over extremism. Review **New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice** “This is, simply, a fantastic story, one that has been beautifully told by Josh Hammer, who knows and loves Mali like some farmers know their back forty. At a time of unprecedented cultural destruction taking place across the Muslim world, Abdel Kader Haidara, the savior of Timbuktu's ancient manuscripts and this book's main character, is a true hero. If you are feeling despair about the fate of the world, The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu is a must-read, and a welcome shot in the arm.” -- Jon Lee Anderson, author of The Fall of Baghdad “[ The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu] has all the elements of a classic adventure novel [and] it is a story that couldn’t be more timely. . . . Suffice it to say that [the librarians] earn their “bad ass” sobriquet several times over. Riveting skullduggery, revealing history and current affairs combine in a compelling narrative with a rare happy ending.” ― Seattle Times “ The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu . . . vividly captures the history and strangeness of [Timbuktu] in a fast-paced narrative that gets us behind today’s headlines of war and terror. This is part reportage and travelogue . . . part intellectual history, part geopolitical tract and part out-and-out thriller." ― Washington Post “I’ve long known that the versatile Joshua Hammer could drop into the midst of a war or political conflict anywhere in the world and make sense of it. But he has outdone himself this time, and found an extraordinary, moving story of a quiet—and successful—act of great bravery in the face of destructive fanaticism.” -- Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold's Ghost and To End All Wars “Part history, part scholarly adventure story and part journalist survey of the volatile religious politics of the Maghreb region. . . . Hammer writes with verve and expertise.” ― New York Times Book Review "A picaresque and mysterious adventure that rushes across the strife-torn landscape of today’s Mali, The Bad-Ass Librarians tells the unlikely but very real story of a band of bookish heroes from Timbuktu and their desperate race—past dangerous checkpoints, through deserts, and often in the dead of night—to save a culture and a civilization from destruction. Josh Hammer has seen firsthand how ordinary people can respond with extraordinary heroism About Us We are uniquely positioned to offer the best prices on thousands of America's most popular items. No matter where your shopping journey takes you, our mission is to bring product expertise and quality items at prices you can’t find anywhere else. Shipping Standard Delivery Standard orders are processed once payment method authorization and verification have been obtained. 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Price: 33.89 USD
Location: Denver, Colorado
End Time: 2025-01-24T04:04:22.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Brand: Simon & Schuster
MPN: Does not apply
PartNumber: 1
Edition: Later prt.
Book Title: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the...
Binding: Hardcover
Genre: HISTORY
Label: Simon & Schuster
Languages: english
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Number Of Items: 1
Part Number: Does not Apply
Product Group: Book
Product Type Name: ABIS_BOOK
Publication Date: 2016-04-19
Release Date: 2016-04-19
Studio: Simon & Schuster
Number of Pages: 288 Pages
Language: English
Publication Name: BadAss Librarians of Timbuktu : and Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Year: 2016
Subject: Cultural Heritage, Islamic Studies, Islam / History, Africa / West, Public Policy / Cultural Policy, Africa / North, General, Library & Information Science / General
Item Height: 1 in
Type: Textbook
Item Weight: 13.3 Oz
Author: Joshua Hammer
Item Length: 8.4 in
Subject Area: Religion, Political Science, Référence, Social Science, Language Arts & Disciplines, Biography & Autobiography, History
Item Width: 5.5 in
Format: Hardcover
