Starting Saturday, about two million Muslims will participate in the hajj, an annual pilgrimage to holy sites in Saudi Arabia. I’ll be participating for the first time, and to prepare, I assembled an eclectic reading list including Islamic history, firsthand accounts of the hajj and spiritual meditations.

I am rereading “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” which culminates with one of the most meaningful passages I have ever encountered on the pilgrimage.

Also, I revisited “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway, for his sharp prose and as a reminder that a journey can always be an adventure.