"The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts" is a 2016 book by American journalist Joshua Hammer. The book tells the true story of Abdel Kader Haidara, a scholar and librarian from Timbuktu, who led a daring operation to rescue and protect thousands of ancient Islamic manuscripts from falling into the hands of extremist groups during al-Qaeda's occupation of northern Mali. The narrative highlights Timbuktu's history and culture as a medieval center of learning and explores the challenges Haidara and his team faced in smuggling the manuscripts to safety, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage in times of conflict.
**About the Author:**
Joshua Hammer is an American journalist and veteran war correspondent who has served as a bureau chief for Newsweek in various locations worldwide. Born in New York, Hammer graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in English literature. Throughout his career, he has covered conflicts across four continents, with articles appearing in publications such as The New Yorker and Smithsonian. He currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa, with his wife and two sons.
