{"title":"Joshua Hammer","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our curated collection of works by Joshua Hammer, a masterful journalist and acclaimed author known for his ability to weave gripping narratives with meticulous research. Hammer's books, such as \u003cem\u003eThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Falcon Thief\u003c\/em\u003e, traverse intriguing realms with an emphasis on history, military, crime, and thrillers, offering readers an exhilarating journey through some of the most fascinating events and figures in recent memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu\u003c\/em\u003e, immerse yourself in an astonishing true tale set in the heart of Mali, where a group of dedicated librarians risk their lives to save rare manuscripts from extremist threats. Hammer's storytelling prowess shines as he brings to life the rich cultural heritage of Timbuktu and the courage of those who stood defiant in the face of destruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, \u003cem\u003eThe Falcon Thief\u003c\/em\u003e takes you into the clandestine world of wildlife trafficking, following the astonishing true story of a globetrotting criminal obsessed with collecting stolen falcon eggs. This page-turner combines elements of crime, adventure, and conservation, spotlighting the complex dynamics between man and nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're delving into daring heists or exploring cultural preservation against the odds, the works of Joshua Hammer promise riveting reads that captivate and challenge your perspectives on crime and history. Perfect for enthusiasts of non-fiction with a penchant for thrill, these books invite you to explore the darker and more heroic sides of humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-bad-ass-librarians-of-timbuktu-by-joshua-hammer-9781760632458","title":"The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHammer has pulled off the truly remarkable here—a book that is both important and a delight to read... It is also an inspirational reminder that, even as the forces of barbarism extend their thrall across so much of the Muslim world, there are still those willing to risk everything to preserve civilization. A superb rendering of a story that needs to be told. - Scott Anderson, author of \u003ci\u003eLawrence in Arabia\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo save precious centuries-old Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians in Timbuktu pulls off a brazen heist worthy of \u003ci\u003eOcean's Eleven\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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. \u003ci\u003eThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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 unmarried couples to death, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the past twenty years, journalist Joshua Hammer has 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 heritage. \u003ci\u003eThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu\u003c\/i\u003e is an inspiring and entertaining account of the victory of art and literature over extremism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46532903567596,"sku":"9781760632458","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781760632458.jpg?v=1749522825"},{"product_id":"the-falcon-thief-by-joshua-hammer-9781501191909","title":"The Falcon Thief","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA “well-written, engaging detective story” (\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/em\u003e starred review) about a rogue who trades in rare birds and their eggs—and the wildlife detective determined to stop him.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 2010, an Irish national named Jeffrey Lendrum was apprehended at Britain’s Birmingham International Airport with a suspicious parcel strapped to his stomach. Inside were fourteen rare peregrine falcon eggs snatched from a remote cliffside in Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSo begins a “vivid tale of obsession and international derring-do” (\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e), following the parallel lives of a globe-trotting smuggler who spent two decades capturing endangered raptors worth millions of dollars as race champions—and Detective Andy McWilliam of the United Kingdom’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, who’s hell bent on protecting the world’s birds of prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“Masterfully constructed” (\u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e) and “entertaining and illuminating” (\u003cem\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/em\u003e), \u003cem\u003eThe Falcon Thief\u003c\/em\u003e will whisk you away from the volcanoes of Patagonia to Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, and from the frigid tundra near the Arctic Circle to luxurious aviaries in the deserts of Dubai, all in pursuit of a man who is reckless, arrogant, and gripped by a destructive compulsion to make the most beautiful creatures in nature his own. It’s a story that’s part true-crime narrative, part epic adventure—and wholly unputdownable until the very last page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46533027561708,"sku":"9781501191909","price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13198713482722.jpg?v=1749361293"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/joshua-hammer.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}