Arabian sands
by Wilfred Thesiger · first published 1959
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A firsthand travelogue of crossing the Empty Quarter with the Bedouin in the 1940s, offering a vivid view of a way of life that has largely vanished. Suited to fans of travel writing and ethnography.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Story of five years of travel with the nomad Arabs in the unknown deserts of Southern Arabia.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2011–2026Seven Pillars of Wisdom
T. E. Lawrence
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 237 recommend · 23 mention7 recommend · 237 recommend
2008–2026The Four Agreements
Don Miguel Ruiz
Recommended by 34 · mentioned by 4434 recommend · 44 mention34 recommend · 4434 recommend
2008–2026East of Eden
John Steinbeck
Recommended by 60 · mentioned by 9960 recommend · 99 mention60 recommend · 9960 recommend
2007–2026Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Recommended by 116 · mentioned by 436116 recommend · 436 mention116 recommend · 436116 recommend
2014–2026Zero to One
Peter A. Thiel, Blake Masters
Recommended by 166 · mentioned by 413166 recommend · 413 mention166 recommend · 413166 recommend
2007–2026Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand, Sophie Bastide-Foltz, Adrian Rand
Recommended by 207 · mentioned by 758207 recommend · 758 mention207 recommend · 758207 recommend
2007–2026How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Recommended by 579 · mentioned by 853579 recommend · 853 mention579 recommend · 853579 recommend
in no particular order: Lord of the Rings Cryptonomicon Anathem Moby Dick The Master and Margarita Walden Arabian Sands Gawain and the Green Knight Beowulf
on “Ask HN: What books have most influenced the way you see the world?” ↗Just finished: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger Now reading: Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiesen Been on a travel themed binge the last few weeks, rereading my favorite travel books. I highly recommend Arabian Sands, gives a pretty…
on “Ask HN: What is HN reading?” ↗I recommend the travelogue Arabian Sands, by William Thesiger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sands
on “How A Bedouin Tracker Sees the Desert” ↗Can you share the name & author of the book? I'll plug Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands as an extraordinary deep dive into a world that's entirely disappeared in our lifetimes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/825419.Arabian_Sands
on “Photographs of 19th Century Japan” ↗"Arabian Sands" is an fascinating book describing travels though the empty quarter in Saudi Arabia and interactions with the Bedouin at a time when their way of life was about to start changing fast (1940s): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sands
on “Old photos of Bedouin nomads, 1898” ↗