DIWAN
Indeed an interesting place. For some reason, I just felt like going there tonight. I was planning to go to an AUC concert with A. and S. but the latter cancelled, so we all called the whole thing off. I think this worked best for A. and myself actually. We didn't really feel like going, but just were doing it as a social gesture for S. who desperately wanted to go out, girls only! Ok. I am not a social gesture girl all the time, but I have been ignoring S. for a long time now that I felt guilty. I mean, if she is my friend then I shouldn't be avoiding her. Anyways, she cancelled it.
Instead of the concert, I walked to Diwan and sat there for a while, browsed through the history books there. I have never done this before, this browsing attitude, but it appealed to me tonight. Could be because I couldn't get myself to read as of late for some reason. Need to change places and get off the routine of my reading habbit.
Anyways, I found my victim waiting for me at Diwan's new arrival. Bernard Lewis books. They are not new books by any means. Old ones that I read before when I was doing my Masters and later when reading for my thesis. I never enjoyed B.L's writings, although a great scholar, as everyone claims. He sure is a great researcher but I didn't enjoy his analogy at times. I worked with his sects analysis a on some level during my various thesis preparation. Thank God didn't have to use them though.
On the shelf there were couple of his famous books. 'What went wrong?', 'Unholy terror', 'sematics anti sematics', 'multiple muslim identity'. Not the type of books I would buy--except maybe Muslim identity--and certainly not the author. I never imagined buying B.L.'s book. However, aganist all odds, I decided to get the whole collection. How strange is that?
Part of my logic was Z. oriented. I know he would like this stuff, especially 'unholly terror' which discusses the concept of Jihad extensively. En plus, these type of books are not really academic but rather commerical history like books. Introduction. Don't require you to be a well versed in Middle East history. Story, incident teller. Simple analysis, yet can leave a tremendous impact. Well, it depends on how and why you read him and what are you looking for in the first place. Anyways, I bought them. Time to have books for people I dislike in my library. Bernard Lewis next to Madelung, Cook, Watt and Hings.
Walking home, I start thinking that it might actually be unfair for me to dislike B.L. Everyone has and will continue to have his biases and point of view. For instance, I love W. Madelung, who is very much pro-shi'a, very clear in his writing especially when pondering on the issue of succession. I guess, you can never be objective. In fact, what makes a book a success or not is its professional biaseness. Otherwise, it will be too mellow. Too lame. Tasteless. Democratic. Politically correct. Khaldun hints that as long as there are no struggles, there will be no prosperity, no strive to fix, and explore.
Maybe he didn't say that exactly, but I choose to see it this way.
*I need to be a little more accurate in what I write
Instead of the concert, I walked to Diwan and sat there for a while, browsed through the history books there. I have never done this before, this browsing attitude, but it appealed to me tonight. Could be because I couldn't get myself to read as of late for some reason. Need to change places and get off the routine of my reading habbit.
Anyways, I found my victim waiting for me at Diwan's new arrival. Bernard Lewis books. They are not new books by any means. Old ones that I read before when I was doing my Masters and later when reading for my thesis. I never enjoyed B.L's writings, although a great scholar, as everyone claims. He sure is a great researcher but I didn't enjoy his analogy at times. I worked with his sects analysis a on some level during my various thesis preparation. Thank God didn't have to use them though.
On the shelf there were couple of his famous books. 'What went wrong?', 'Unholy terror', 'sematics anti sematics', 'multiple muslim identity'. Not the type of books I would buy--except maybe Muslim identity--and certainly not the author. I never imagined buying B.L.'s book. However, aganist all odds, I decided to get the whole collection. How strange is that?
Part of my logic was Z. oriented. I know he would like this stuff, especially 'unholly terror' which discusses the concept of Jihad extensively. En plus, these type of books are not really academic but rather commerical history like books. Introduction. Don't require you to be a well versed in Middle East history. Story, incident teller. Simple analysis, yet can leave a tremendous impact. Well, it depends on how and why you read him and what are you looking for in the first place. Anyways, I bought them. Time to have books for people I dislike in my library. Bernard Lewis next to Madelung, Cook, Watt and Hings.
Walking home, I start thinking that it might actually be unfair for me to dislike B.L. Everyone has and will continue to have his biases and point of view. For instance, I love W. Madelung, who is very much pro-shi'a, very clear in his writing especially when pondering on the issue of succession. I guess, you can never be objective. In fact, what makes a book a success or not is its professional biaseness. Otherwise, it will be too mellow. Too lame. Tasteless. Democratic. Politically correct. Khaldun hints that as long as there are no struggles, there will be no prosperity, no strive to fix, and explore.
Maybe he didn't say that exactly, but I choose to see it this way.
*I need to be a little more accurate in what I write
Comments
www.harunyahya.com
S.H.N. is interesting, and philisophical too. Great teacher. I also like Abdulkarim Serouj.
And I too agree re/ B.L. I didnt read except Muslim identity, and I thought it was not bad. But the rest of the books didnt interest me.
M.
I think you meant the opposite of this statment.
M
I agree regarding your Madelung comment. Sunni as a group didnt really appear, in the way we know of today, except during the Abbasids, but sure not during this initial period.
M.
Diwan reminds me of B&N but on a small scale.
Regarding Islamic/History books, I feel Diwan lack this kind of books. To my knowledge this is the first time to know that they have B.L or watt or Madelung stuff. I always see Spirituality and sufi books (not that many still) and only recently did they make a section of Ed. Sa'id.
However, positive thinking, Diwan is great.
I agree. Diwan is not into Islamic history books...at least not that early period. But still, they are doing a good job and you can order whatever you want. BL books print are really bad quality! But better than nothing.
glad to find someone, muslim i guess, with some christian knowledge, and more spiritual feeling. i assume u are back to cairo for good. where in the states did you live. u sound a little like bostonian.
Were you sitting on the big chair, reading GUNS, GERMS and STEEL book. You probably took the last book.
Brown, highlighted straight hair. Cool Coupe. Archtype, classy, attractive look. Wearing red scarf on jeans. If this was you, then I was the one who talked in french to this other slacker sharing my chair.
yes, I was wearing a red scarf, took the last copy of g.g.s. Wow! Good observation. And yes too, I go to MJunior in zamalek. World is so small.
I remember the couple sitting on the chair. the black curly haired (spanish gypsy) look girl?
Now I am very curious!
I am not surprised. Most scorpios are like that.
M
How rude is that? My friend, that is. What can I say, friends!
M
This was my impression. You do have an 'archetype'look, original one... something your friend won't really understand ;)
What does archetype mean aslan?!
Well my friend, archetype means, apart from dictionary definition, a face that carries the features of many role models. Can easily be felt as a sister, mother, friend, lover, seducer, playful, funny, harsh, serious, .... The master copy! :)
Here you go, more compliments. But, Mae he wont understand still.
One difference about that archetype, is that this one is not harsh or heartless ;)
Which occasion r u talking about?
What occasion?! Well, not the simonds occasion for sure.
Lucky indeed.