Hamzeh AlMaaytah owns al-Maa Bookstore in Amman, Jordan. He inherited the book-selling trade from his father, whose grandfather had opened a bookstore, Al-Jahith's Treasury, in Jerusalem in the 1890s.
Hamzeh AlMaaytah owns al-Maa Bookstore in Amman, Jordan. He inherited the book-selling trade from his father, whose grandfather had opened a bookstore, Al-Jahith's Treasury, in Jerusalem in the 1890s.
Hussein Alazaat
At AlMaaytah's shop, the bulk of his stock is laid out on the sidewalk. Other tomes are sheltered by a Bedouin tent, while an extremely cosy indoor area houses the rest of the books.
At AlMaaytah's shop, the bulk of his stock is laid out on the sidewalk. Other tomes are sheltered by a Bedouin tent, while an extremely cosy indoor area houses the rest of the books.
Hussein Alazaat
It is inside that AlMaaytah keeps his most prized possessions -- family heirlooms and rare books or manuscripts.
It is inside that AlMaaytah keeps his most prized possessions -- family heirlooms and rare books or manuscripts.
Hussein Alazaat
AlMaaytah refuses to price-tag any of his books: "My idea is to make books available to everyone, even if I have to make them free."
AlMaaytah refuses to price-tag any of his books: "My idea is to make books available to everyone, even if I have to make them free."
Hussein Alazaat
He offers visitors tea, and sparks up debates on poetry and literary theory.
He offers visitors tea, and sparks up debates on poetry and literary theory.
Hussein Alazaat
AlMaaytah is unfazed by the physical conditions of his books. "It's a second-hand bookstore that takes the words 'second hand' very seriously," Alan Elbaum, who discovered AlMaaytah's store while studying Arabic in Jordan, tells CNN.
AlMaaytah is unfazed by the physical conditions of his books. "It's a second-hand bookstore that takes the words 'second hand' very seriously," Alan Elbaum, who discovered AlMaaytah's store while studying Arabic in Jordan, tells CNN.
Hussein Alazaat
AlMaaytah says he'll continue to fight for the written word in print, and for society to "rekindle its respect" for books. "Can you imagine all this knowledge just disappearing?" he says, referring to his dusty tomes. "It would be a big problem."
AlMaaytah says he'll continue to fight for the written word in print, and for society to "rekindle its respect" for books. "Can you imagine all this knowledge just disappearing?" he says, referring to his dusty tomes. "It would be a big problem."
Hussein Alazaat