Wind, Sand and Stars is an adventure story that also contains thoughtful observations about flying and about the remote areas of the world that SaintExupery visited in his travels. Since Saint-Exupery was one of the pioneers of flight (he patented a number of devices that helped to advance the technology of aviation and to make modern aircraft possible), his observations about flying are of historical interest.

The world view of this exceptionally philosophical man of action is well worth considering, for flying made him keenly aware of the bonds among people of different nationalities. Few writers have spoken of this solidarity better than Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Wind, Sand and Stars was translated from French into English by Lewis Galantiere, an American-born scholar and consultant who devoted much of his career to strengthening the ties between the United States and France.