al-Jahiz

[Pangolin]

Al-Jahiz is a famous, medieval Islamic scholar who was an innovator of the "prose" form of writing. He was known for his constant and lengthy digressions and for his monumental prolificacy.

Of particular interest is his work "In Praise of Books" in which he ennumerates the countless virtues of literature. He opens by stating that a book is the best friend one will ever know and goes on to describe how this is true. It is a must read for any and all bibliophiles!