Love of Books

“In the desert I had found a freedom unattainable in civilisation: a life unhampered by possessions; since everything that was not a necessity was an encumbrance.”
– Sir Wilfred Thesiger


When Wilfred Thesiger crossed the Empty Quarter in 1945, he couldn't have entirely foreseen the seismic transformation that the Arabian Peninsula would undergo within a generation but he understood its significance. His memoir and travelogue, Arabian Sands, therefore, is not just a book; it is a final glimpse into a vanishing world.

It was an extraordinary privilege, then, that Motivate Media Group, under the stewardship of our founder Ian Fairservice, not only published this modern classic in the UAE but also published its Arabic edition, helping to preserve and share Thesiger’s vision with new generations of readers in the region he so deeply revered.

Eighty years since Thesiger first set out across the sands, his words remain as powerful, clear-eyed, and poetic as ever. Below is a personal reflection on this timeless work.

Every month, we share an interview with a Motivate author to get to know them, their writing process and the inspiration behind their books. This month we talk to Rachel Hamilton, author of The Falcon Who Found His Wings.

Add poetry to your cultural weekend this Saturday.

The full shortlist for the most important literary award in the country is revealed!

While waiting to embark, travellers can now access a digital ebook library. Learn more.

Every month, we share an interview with a Motivate author to get to know them, their writing process and the inspiration behind their books. This month we talk to Rabbi Marc Schneier, author of Sons of Abraham.