New Mexico author Michael Benanav will be reading from his new book Men of Salt June 27th in New York. The book is based on his trip across the Sahara Desert on camel exploring an ancient salt caravan. Great book. Cool guy. Here’s the info:

For 1,000 years, men and camels have crossed the most severe terrain on earth to bring salt from mines deep in the Sahara to market in the fabled city of Timbuktu. Author Michael Benanav joined a caravan for this grueling 1,000-mile trek, traveling as the nomads do—by foot and camel, 18 hours at a stretch through searing heat, eating one disgusting meal a day—to experience their ancient way of life and investigate reports that this caravan was going extinct. What he discovered was as surprising as it was profound, including an Islamic culture in which men, not women, veil their faces, and an economy based on salt, not cash. He will be showing slides from his journey and reading from his highly praised book, Men of Salt, which has been called “that rare work that takes readers beyond their imaginations” (Publisher’s Weekly) and “a vivid, electric glimpse of a rarely seen culture at its rawest” (Men’s Journal).

$12 in advance, $15 at door

Date & Time: Tue, Jun 27, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Steinhardt Building, 35 West 67th Street Directions
Code: T-MM5LF67-01
Price: $12.00