From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Kay
Feb 23, 2018 rated it liked it
Well, I hate to be conformist, but I have to agree with what many reviewers here have said about this book: It's more about the spread of Al Qaeda in Mali and its various leaders and factions than it is about librarians. The "bad ass" moniker in the title seems hyperbolic. Profoundly dedicated, sure. Willing to risk their lives and fortunes, agreed. But "bad ass" seems a real stretch.

All in all, this material could have made a nice long New Yorker article that I'd happily read over a couple lun
...more
Beverly
thoughts coming shortly
Anie
This was deeply, deeply enjoyable. It's a book lover's delight - the passion for the codex is palpable. Add in a great story about a man who loves books trapped in a war-torn nation and you've got a really engaging read. ...more
Andy Plonka
Apr 03, 2018 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: src
What a remarkable feat Haidara pulled off with his successful efforts to save manuscripts that are a very important part of the world's literature. ...more
Laura (booksnob)
Dec 30, 2015 marked it as to-read
Rachel
Dec 31, 2015 marked it as to-read
Jocelyn
Dec 31, 2015 marked it as to-read
Shanna
Apr 08, 2016 marked it as to-read
Stacey
May 11, 2016 marked it as to-read
alana
Jun 06, 2016 is currently reading it
Seulky
Jun 07, 2016 marked it as to-read
Yiga
Sep 05, 2016 marked it as to-read
Katy
Jan 15, 2017 marked it as to-read
erin
Jan 16, 2017 marked it as to-read
Rachel N.
Jan 19, 2024 rated it liked it
Agatha Donkar Lund
Feb 05, 2017 marked it as to-read
Shelves: chpl-has-it
Lorri
Apr 18, 2017 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Sadok Rouai
Jun 03, 2017 rated it really liked it
Heather
Feb 08, 2019 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Megan
Apr 11, 2019 marked it as to-read
Brenda
May 10, 2019 marked it as to-read
Joanne
Mar 18, 2020 rated it liked it
Shelves: nonfiction
Tanya
Sep 12, 2022 marked it as to-read
Kate
Apr 03, 2024 is currently reading it  ·  review of another edition
Jennifer
Apr 27, 2025 marked it as to-read
« previous 1