Meet Mohamed Aziz, 72 years old, known as the most photographed bookseller in the world, standing proudly in the heart of Rabat, Morocco.

In a country where 26% of the population is still illiterate, selling books is more than just a business — it's an act of love for his city, his nation’s literature, and the world of knowledge.

 

Orphaned at just 6 years old, Aziz’s life was never easy. He couldn’t finish high school — not because of lack of will, but because textbooks were simply too expensive. But in 1963, at the age of 15, he laid out a small rug under a tree with only nine books — and so began a lifelong journey into the world of stories.

Today, his bookstore sells thousands of books, and Aziz spends every single day surrounded by them — reading voraciously. He reads for 6 to 8 hours a day, pausing only to eat, pray, smoke, or help a customer. The rest of the time, he strolls through neighborhoods in search of new books to share with others.

 

“This is my revenge on childhood and poverty,” he says with a smile. “I’ve read more than 4,000 books — in Arabic, French, English, and Spanish. That means I’ve lived over 4,000 lives. Everyone should get that chance! All I need is two pillows and a good book to enjoy my day.”

After more than 43 years at the same spot, Aziz has become the longest-serving bookseller in Rabat — a quiet legend of literature.

 

P.S. When asked why he leaves his books outside, where they could be stolen, he simply replied:

"Those who cannot read won’t steal books. And those who can — aren’t thieves."