Shifting Sands: A Human History of the Sahara

by Judith Scheele

'Engrossing, enlightening, original ... brilliant' The Times

This is the story of the Sahara as you've never seen it before

In this sweeping, majesterial account, Judith Scheele reveals the rich history and complex reality of the world's largest hot desert. Drawing on decades of research, and years spent living in the region, Scheele leads us from the ancient Roman Empire through the bloody colonial era to the geopolitics of the present - and the race for resources that will define the future. The Sahara covers parts of eleven countries, and Scheele follows in the footsteps and tyre-tracks of the many people who cross the desert, taking us into the homes, mosques, palm groves and battlefields where history is written, spoken and remade.

The result is a masterful portrait of the Sahara. Encompassing the geology, religions, peoples and politics that shape and fracture the region, Shifting Sands tells the immersive story of a place whose future holds implications for us all.

'A detailed, often gritty, picture of a fragile world ... a clearsighted study of life on the edge' Wall Street Journal

'A fascinating and intimate perspective of the region from the ground-up' Barnaby Rogerson

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction, Sociology, World History, Audiobook, Nature

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Lilisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absorbing and engaging read about the Sahara, a massive region that encompasses 11 countries. The author does a great job covering history, geography, culture, religion, politics, people, essentially all the major components that make up life in the Sahara. One would think it would be impossible to do so in an under 400-page book, but Judith Scheele has performed magic and succeeded, all the while keeping me engaged and compelling me to turn the pages for more. It felt like the book was more from the Sahara region’s and local peoples’ perspective rather than the usual skewed western viewpoint, which was refreshing, honest and informative. It is clear that the book is based on years of research, interviews and time spent in the region. I suspect there’s also a love, or at least a close connectedness, the author has for and to the region, which is evident in the writing. My knowledge of the Sahara region has definitely expanded through this enjoyable read - I highly recommend reading Shifting Sands - it is so worthwhile. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating, informative and approachable read for anyone who wonders what is happening in that empty wasteland called the Sahara.

The author, Judith Scheele, knows exactly who she wrote this book for as she is well aware of the misconceptions surrounding the desert. My idea of the Sahara, fed mostly by movies, was exactly the one she describes in the opening chapter: sand dunes, unbearably hot during the day and insufferably cold in the night with a camel here and there. It’s so much more than that though and my view of the Sahara and to some extent of any other desert is forever changed.

I found the writing and structure perfect for this topic as it reads almost like a TV documentary. In the span of few paragraphs descriptions of mountain ranges are followed by history, fauna and flora, then by religion, culture, history again and then some information about salt, political prisoners and natron. The author stitches these topics together seamlessly so you are never wondering why something is mentioned and it doesn’t distract from the chapter’s theme. Each chapter builds upon what was already covered so the view of the desert grows in complexity but not in an overwhelming way.

Since the book covers such a wide range of topics I have also found it to be the perfect springboard for ideas for future reading not necessarily exclusive to the desert.

A big thank you to Judith Scheele, Basic Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaitlyn Hermansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and well researched look into the people of the Sahara and how its landscape affects them. It delves into its history and the social and political landscape. An overall interesting read and I feel like I learned a lot! I particularly enjoyed the look into Europeans gravitation towards nature and isolation and the people of the Sahara’s gravitation towards the human made due to their already isolating environment.

[Kemp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was glad when this book ended. It was a dud of a book club book with my daughter. She listened to the audio version and it made her a sleep walking hiker. Not good. I started with the Kindle version but had to shift to the audio for the third section wanting to hear what my daughter described as a boring narrator. She is and that accentuated my desire for the end…

I did like how Scheele jumped around the Sahara in the first section as she introduced its geography. It got me interested as I looked up places I didn’t know. I think she was using the jumps to reenforce the point that the Sahara is a varied landscape that defies naïve desert descriptions.

I did not like the other two sections. They continued with jumps around both region and time. While the geography and geology interested me the historical jumps of people and history wore on me. I might have known one or two but I had no interest in looking up the names of historical people Scheele cited.

Scheele definitely knows the North African region and her passion is clear. Unfortunately, that was not enough to keep me interested.

2.5 Stars – written more for those more familiar with or interested beyond the casual reader in the region.

[Ning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an engaging and enlightening read that challenged many of my preconceived notions about the Sahara. It manages to cover a wide range of topics in a meaningful way, all in a respectful and non-condescending tone. How does this only have 42 reviews!

"The Saharan material presented here encourages us to rethink politics not as based on a polis, a bounded and exclusive territorial community, but as a more interactional and fluid process where political personhood derives from interpersonal relations and recognition and where sovereignty is not exclusive and permanent but negotiable, multiple, scattered and limited in time and space."

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great overview of the Sahara, covering natural and human history from a bit of a sociological point of view. Scheele tries to uncover the "more complex historical entanglements" that keep us from fully understanding this fascinating area. She knows Arabic, which helps me a lot because she correctly transliterates Arabic words - finally I understand what a ribat is and why the Murabitun are called that. She also has a way of writing that takes something you think you knew, and presents it more completely, like a color version of a black and white picture. For example, I've seen many countries take actions to control their nomadic peoples, starting with my own, which has been corralling Native populations for centuries. But when Scheele writes in her conclusion about "the great difficulties that we have in trying to imagine life beyond a centralised state in any but disparaging terms" this becomes not just about one state, but about all of us, and I now see the depth of what was only two-dimensional before. Other times I'm not able to understand exactly what she's saying, but I'm sure I would if I would just think a little more about it. I loved the idea of all the water beneath the Sahara. That should come in handy some day. The thought that people settled in lowest places where the surface water was. One of the strongest sections is about slavery "a slippery category" and "a dynamic historical process" that continues today. What happened to Islam and to the Arabic language as it spread into Saharan societies. Ahmad Baba who attracted a large following despite his "pronounced stutter". Her discussion of what makes a "tribe" in the section called Barbarians at the Gate was very useful. I liked her assertion that "while droughts might be considered an 'act of nature', this is never true of famines" and her clear explanation of why this is true. Finally I learned that Ghana is "where the really good tailors come from".

[Lachlan Finlayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“An expansive history of the Sahara from the prehistory to the present. Beyond ready-made images of exoticism and squalor, we know surprisingly little about its history and the people who call it home. Shifting Sands is about that other Sahara, not the empty wasteland of the romantic imagination but the vast and highly differentiated space in which Saharan peoples and, increasingly, new arrivals from other parts of Africa live, work, and move”

Extract from the publisher’s description of Shifting Sands: A Human History of the Sahara.

This book immediately attracted my attention when I noticed it on NetGalley. I have worked and travelled in several countries bordering the Sahara and still retain an interest in the region. I have no expertise on the Sahara but I do at least have a basic knowledge of the region. I can pronounce N’Djamena correctly, find Lake Chad on a map (what remains of it anyway) and know a little of the history, politics and conflicts. I was looking forward to learning more about the region.

This books fills in many gaps in my knowledge. Not only the ancient history, such as the Roman and Middle-Eastern history, but also Colonial times and Post-Independence times. As always, the legacy of the past forms many of the views we hold today. This book challenges many of these views. I am now much better informed of the places and peoples of the region, well beyond those I experienced first hand. A fascinating and engrossing book for anyone interested in the Sahara and Sahel region. Although I do have a few quibbles on tone, interpretations and omissions.

The author has clearly spent a lot of time in the region, some twenty years of research and travel, predominantly in northern Mali, northern Chad and southern Algeria. She demonstrates an empathy with the people she has encountered. Both urban and rural dwellers and those peoples who inhabit both worlds depending on circumstances, conflicts and the season. This is not an overly academic book, although some of the language and views clearly comes from that world. For example when the author makes the assertion that:

“…Europe and the USA’s conflictual and largely hostile relationship with Islam…”

and follows with what I assume is a reference to illegal migration:

“…a state-centred construction of mobility as a problem…”.

I would urge the casual reader to push through the occasional tortuous academic language and perhaps indulge it with the occasional eye-roll. Continue and enjoy the overall narrative. The history, lives and recurring themes. You will be a wiser and better informed reader if you do.

The author takes us on a journey of “unlearning” and dismissing the “preconceptions developed over the last two millennia”. Readers are advised to pay attention and read closely ! Her predecessors in the world of anthropology come in for quite some criticism along the way!

The book is divided into three parts of three chapters each. Themes are broadly Resources, Movement and Politics and naturally overlap and influence each other.

Part One is “What makes a Desert” and introduces the reader to the geology, geography, climate and the environment of the region. The Sahara and more southern Sahel are not the barren places often portrayed, but places where millions of people live, travel, and experience particular lifestyles and worldviews. There is fresh water, irrigation, livestock, agriculture which produces diverse and sometimes thriving communities, albeit with difficulties amplified by politics, religion, security and other woes found to some extent in much of the world. The historical and current role of natural resources is presented, with example of the economic, physical and cultural importance of salt, gold, oil and other minerals. Discussion regarding water are particularly enlightening, and had me googling various locations to view lush manmade locations and natural areas.

Part Two is “Endless Movement” and provides some background and context from ancient times, overlaid by more recent Colonial and post-independence times. The importance and significance of movement and migration is a key theme throughout the book. The author discusses implication for trade, livelihoods, families, communities and relationships.

The introduction of camels to the Sahara is a fascinating and crucial aspect of the lifestyles we see today, particularly outside cities and urban areas. The later introduction of trucks is presented, not as a replacement for camels, but providing Increased mobility and trade, but also less legal activities. Aspects of sedentary and pastoral lives are explored as are changes and implications over recent decades. Slavery is covered in quite some detail, especially indigenous versions, which is presented carefully and with sensitivity. Indeed, it is almost presented as a not entirely bad part of Saharan culture as it provided a sort of status given that:

“…being from somewhere is the highest importance, even if that somewhere is as an enslaved person”

The Colonials, as expected, come in for a drubbing. However I was surprised at the insensitivity of the author at times. When recounting the murder of one European explorer as:

“…he was killed by his own guide, again presumably for good reason”.

No context is given, no reference or footnote. At best perhaps it is a poor attempt at humour. I noticed other troubling omissions or interpretations. For example Bin Laden is mentioned in an innocuous and peaceful context without any reference to his later deeds.

The authors closes this chapter eloquently with the following comment:

“Movement …is ethically charged, morally judged, highly praised or understood to be threatening. Yet it is always a necessity rather than a luxury”

Part Three is “Winds of Change” and focusses on the complexities and conflicts of Saharan countries. Historical aspect of sovereignty, alliances and empires are presented and discussed, providing some context to Colonial times and implications that persist today. Helpfully the author suggests this as:

“…an invitation to rethink our own political models…heavily influenced by the legacy of Roman and European imperial history.”

Saharan tensions are often driven by politics and religion. But also race, affluence, security and unfortunately external influences. Former Colonial powers of course, but also others such as the USA are held to account. Surprisingly, there is very little mention of Russian military influence given their nefarious role in the region in recent years. Nor is there much discussion of Chinese influence given the significant growth of economic activity and other areas of cooperation over recent decades. Often presented as Aid or benevolence, these actions seem to reinforce a dependence on China and its influence which some see as representing modern-day Colonialism.

To her credit, the author does not shy away from criticism of post-colonial governments, including noting that famines are not necessarily correlated with climate. Indeed, famines are more likely created by Government mismanagement, endemic corruption and the misuse of foreign aid. Authoritarian non-elected rulers are rightly criticised. Although the author’s comparison with democratically elected leaders in Europe and the US seems unnecessary and inappropriate. Perhaps a comparison with non-elected governments of the Middle-Eastern, China or Russia might have been a better choice.

The author presents the US and other foreign intervention in security as a problem. Financial support is often misused or misappropriated. Military support intended for defence seems often to be used to support unstable or unelected governments. The author may well be correct in downplaying the danger to Western countries from Islamic militants in the Saharan area. Although one cannot help but think this is cold-comfort to those civilians affected by repression, kidnapping and mass slaughter in the name of religion. Incidents that receive little lasting coverage in the Western media.

In closing , this is a book that should be read. Despite the slightly anti-Western tone, sometimes questionable views and omissions, much of the book is valuable research, reporting and interpretation. The ancient and recent history is concisely presented. I found most engaging the stories from the authors own experiences. She has obviously spent a lot of time with the people she writes about. She seems to have been accepted and respected, embraced even. As the author notes in her text “Connectivity is essential to life in the region…” and may also be one of the reasons for many of the insights in this book. Stories from people, young, old, male, female, affluent and struggling. In many ways these stories and lives are the soul of the book. The interactions and dependencies of people; via travel, trade, family, history and lived-experiences. These stories and encounters bring colour, richness and depth to the people of an area mostly unknown or misunderstood outside Africa.

The author acknowledges this book is not exhaustive; it can’t be given the scale of the region, the complexities and cultures. She suggests that for some topics, it can be viewed as an invitation to seek out more information. A great suggestion and something I found myself doing while reading the book. I would recommend Shifting Sands to the casual reader, as well as anyone interacting with the Sahara and the people on a more longterm or professional basis. Diplomats, NGOs, expatriates, and perhaps those in the Health or Business worlds will find this book adds to their knowledge and understanding, the people, the past and perhaps the future. I wish the author and her publishers all the very best with this well researched and engaging book.

Postscript

I note that one of the Chapter is titled “Like the Deserts Miss the Rain”, a subtle reference to the English duo Everything But the Girl and their fine song, Missing.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ask most people about the Sahara Desert, they will most likely think of a lot of sand. A ton of sand. Probably some sand dunes. Some camels and caravans.

Yet, as Judith Scheele makes evident in Shifting Sands: A Human History of the Sahara (galley received as part of early review program), there’s much more to the Sahara and its people than we might imagine.

This work is the result of many decades of research, traveling, and writing by the author in the heart of the Sahara. This work does not focus much on Egypt, Sudan, or the Mediterranean coast of the Sahara; the work prominently features the inner desert and upper Sahel parts of Morocco (and Western Sahara), Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Mali, and Niger.

The author began with characterizations of the desert. Contrary to popular belief, the Sahara Desert is not just all a bunch of sand; it does have sand dunes, but there are many other forms of terrain throughout the desert as well. Ironically, perhaps the largest reserve of fresh (“sweet”) water in the world lies underneath the Sahara Desert; the trouble has always been finding ways to access it, and where water is (and isn’t) has shaped life in the Sahara forever. The author also considered the camel, its domestication, and what it has meant for life in the Sahara.

The author then considered the nomadic nature of much of life in the Sahara, and did well at considering the past and present of nomadism and the relationship between those who live by traveling and those who live in more settled ways (and, of course, the relationships between the Berbers and the sub-Saharan groups of peoples as well).

The author thoroughly dived into the lived history of Saharans and their relationship with governing officials both near and far. She provided many real life examples, past and present, of what those relationships looked like, how people try to navigate life in these lands governed by officials from far away who rarely, if ever, really have their interests in mind, and of course especially now since the “security situation” throughout the Sahara has been seen as quite “degraded” in the wake of the end of colonization, and all the more so since 2011.

A powerful and compelling look at the land of, and life within, the Sahara Desert.

[Fred Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research for this book is extremely well done. The author has spent years in some of these locations doing sociological studies. At times it was hard to keep all the different families and organizations straight. I've flown over the Sahara multiple times at night and you don't see many lights down there; it was good to read an in-depth book to understand what life and the environment is like across the Sahara. It is not all big sand dunes, actually little of it is. There are three livelihood strategies: mobility, connectivity, and flexibility. These are good strategies anywhere for a resilient lifestyle especially one and such a harsh and changing environment as this. I never had a good sense of what day-to-day life and economics is like in this part of the world. I've only had high level views. This level, from the ground up, is very helpful in understanding the impact of climate and politics.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone passionate about anthropology, this book was ideal for me. I had feared it might read like a classic history book focused only on the past, but instead it was firmly grounded in the present while also connecting with the past. I loved learning about the diverse and complex cultural, political and economic realities of the Saharan region, and it really allowed me to understand the many people's of the Sahara beyond clichés and western perspectives. I also appreciated that the book was organized thematically rather than chronologically.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone will be interested in this book which is understandable because at first glance the topic does not appear particularly engaging. However, Steele manages to turn what appears at first glance to be dry (no pun intended) academic literature into a compelling and engaging narrative about the long, rich, culturally complex history of the planet's most famous desert. Many times I found myself completely absorbed int eh tales, reluctant to set the book down and go to work. I highly recommend this book.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the diverse cultures, livelihoods, and geopolitical forces shaping Saharan culture. Challenging common misconceptions, the book reveals the region’s crucial role in the world’s future.

More of a geopolitical history than a human history, the book focuses as much on the present day as on the past. The book isn’t what I expected, but it’s well-researched and well-written.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Annette Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you thought the Sahara was just a homogeneous mass, a desert full of sand, you need to read this book. It's a real eye-opener that encourages a whole new way of looking at northern Africa. Everything is covered from neolithic times to the present day, from camels to colonialism, migration to music and lots more, all really well researched and very readable. Apparently the world could not function as it does without the Saharan dust that blows around the globe. Extraordinary!

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swooped this off the new section at the library. No matter how well researched, I really think this subject is inherently dry and frankly not very interesting to the majority of people, but that’s cool bc Judith is following her decades long passion. Just caveat lector. I did find it a bit disorganized and also droning but it is expertly researched.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wise account of a fascinating world is based on decades of the author’s experience meeting and seeking understanding of complex societies which form the areas that include the Sahara. She is a historian who manages to deal with this bewildering complexity with nuance and subtlety. I particularly enjoyed reading about the role of women in the families she knew over those decades.

[JPW Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but

It was difficult to follow all the people names and geographical place names woven through out the book. Frequently maps showing countries, place names, and trade routes are needed.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually pretty interesting, I liked the parts where she talked about how animals are key to life as a nomad in the desert. Would recommend!