The article mentions Wilfred Thesiger; I'd just chime in with a quick recommendation - both 'The Arab Sands' and 'The Marsh Arabs' rank among the best travel/exploration books I've ever read.

Quite unlike most of his contemporaries, Thesiger goes out of his way to live with and understand the people he encounters, rather than trying to impose his own morals and standards on them.

I haven't read The Marsh Arabs in years; think I'll try to locate it on my shelves tonight...