Joshua Hammer's "The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: A Story of Bravery and Determination to Preserve the World's Most Valuable Manuscripts"

Cathryn Conroy: OK, I admit it! I bought this book just for the clever title. And why not? A book about bad-ass librarians?!? I'm in.

Not only the title is remarkable. This nonfiction history book almost doubles as a thriller with the story of how a group of librarians—led by someone who is arguably the most courageous librarian on Earth—secreted hundreds of thousands of ancient manuscripts dating back centuries to safe houses and away from the destructive forces of Al-Qaeda.

Written by Joshua Hammer, this is the history of the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library in Timbuktu, a small town (you know the jokes!) in Mali, which is a landlocked country in west Africa. For centuries, Timbuktu has had a reputation for scholarship, emerging in the late 14th century as a regional center of scholasticism and literature and as an incubator for the cultural richness of Islam. Then, as in modern times, libraries in Timbuktu were private affairs with priceless manuscripts and books passed on from generation to generation and kept in homes. In addition to original writings, these include translations by Timbuktu scholars of the world's greatest books into Arabic—works on ethics, logic,...

United States on Nov 07, 2023

Linda Martin: Tout était bien

France on May 24, 2023

Ms. T. Johnson: It's a gift but i think she'll like it.

United Kingdom on Nov 30, 2022

Diana D: This was a truly eye-opening and thought-provoking book, and I am truly in awe (in the full and original sense of the word) of what Abdel Kader Haidara and his incredible team of librarians, manuscript couriers, and manuscript owners did to rescue and preserve the cultural treasures of Timbuktu and Mali. I found myself in tears at points in the narrative of how the rescue was accomplished and even had moments where my heart raced in fear as I imagined myself riding alongside some of the couriers.

Although I didn't know the extent of the manuscript tradition in the area, I learned something of the cultural flourishing of the region several years ago, especially focused on Mansa Musa of the Songhai kingdom in the medieval period because of a student's exploration of this culture as part of a World Literature course project I was teaching several years ago. It made me very curious to know more about the area and its history. Having taught World Literature for several years, I have long been aware of the cultural, scholarly, creative, and literary accomplishments of the Arab, Persian, and African societies at a time when Europe was still struggling to move forward after the...

United States on Jan 24, 2021

Mr. J. Taylor: this is a good real life story an all the more engaging for that fact. Uniquely bemusing, touchingly impressive (an in 1 instance quite galling, bewildering and bitterly disappointing). Technically I found the title a little misleading. Especially with it being written by an american, i get the impression americans have a rep for hype. As any1 remotely cynical may have realized. The main protagonist who at the time of the brief Taliban takeover of Timbuktu was fairly old was also not not that bad ass. After spending a few decades sourcing from surrounding areas an restoring ancient texts.Blows millions of foreign people an governments money on this work, building a library from the texts (1 for the public-view on request an 1 for his own private use) and then a cushy 2nd home in a nearby city an support for his new mistress he can now afford when he wants a break from his books an his disabled son. Ok he's relatively bad ass been a bit brave organizing the removal of the precious ancient texts to safety away from the Taliban but you only find out over halfway into the book he's safely in the nearby city at the time of the dangerous book removal which was done by 14-18 year olds...

United Kingdom on Feb 16, 2020

chc: I enjoyed this book. It was a nicely paced story, clearly related of the saving of the old manuscripts of Timbuktu. The events and characters were easy to picture and follow and I was quickly drawn into the story.
I would have loved more details on the gathering of the manuscripts in the first place a few years ago - there was a chapter related to this but more it seems that this is another whole interesting story. I also would have loved some photos of the manuscripts to be able to see what was being described in more detail.
I would recommend reading this interesting book.

United Kingdom on Oct 02, 2016

PamelaL: Fascinating and inspiring story of how one man tracked down thousands of rare and ancient manuscripts, many of them hidden in the desert in Mali, and then had to launch a rescue mission to save them from Islamic militants.

Very readable and informative, it reads like a story. Hammer has an extensive knowledge of the area and has spoken to diplomats, military figures and ordinary people involved in rescuing the manuscripts. There is enough political and military detail to give context, but the focus remains on the cultural heritage and the impact of the jihadi takeover on the libraries. The mission to save the manuscripts has heartstopping moments as exciting as any thriller.

Thought-provoking, exciting and poignant, and very topical with the current wave of iconoclastic destruction. Well worth a read.

United Kingdom on May 22, 2016