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Manhood Is Not Easy

Manhood Is Not Easy

(2019) In this in-depth ethnography, Karin van Nieuwkerk takes the autobiographical narrative of Sayyid Henkish, a musician from a long family tradition of wedding performers in Cairo, as a lens through which to explore changing notions of masculinity in an Egyptian community over the course of a single lifetime. Central to Henkish’s story is his own conception of manhood, which is closely tied to the notion of ibn al-balad, the ‘authentically Egyptian’ lower-middle class male, with all its associated values of nobility, integrity, and toughness. How to embody these communal ideals while providing for his family in the face of economic hardship and the perceived moral ambiguities associated with his work in the entertainment trade are key themes in his narrative.

Nubian Encounters

Nubian Encounters

Before the residents of Egyptian Nubia were resettled at Kom Ombo in 1963–64, the Kenuz homeland lay in the northern part of this region, extending south along the Nile from the neighborhood of Aswan to the district of al–Madiq. Even before their relocation, however, most of the Kenuz had settled in Egyptian cities, where they retained their ethnic identity and much of their culture. Kenuz culture, a blend of Arab and Nubian features, emerged during the ninth and tenth centuries AD. Kenuz religion, clearly Muslim, still includes some direct links with the pre-Arab past in spite of extensive reforms that were carried out in this century to remove practices regarded as non-Islamic. The Kenuz of Dahmit was organized by two systems: residence, manifesting itself in such units as households and villages; and descent, involving patrilineal lineages and tribes.

Neymar

Neymar

(2018) Neymar da Silva Santos Jْnior is the boy with the big smile who carries the hopes of Brazil on his shoulders. Neymar now stands alongside Pelé and Ronaldinho as a Brazilian sports hero. Bidding a fond farewell to his home in Sمo Paolo, Neymar’s dreams finally came true when he joined Barcelona. Now, alongside Messi and Suarez, he is part of the most feared attacking trident in the game.

Ronaldo

Ronaldo

(2017) Escaping the hot streets of Madeira, Ronaldo first proved himself as a wonder-kid at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, before becoming a legend for Real Madrid and Portugal. This is the story of how the gifted boy became a man, a team-player, and a soccer legend.

Messi

Messi

(2017) Lionel Messi is a legend—Barcelona’s star player and the world’s best soccer player. But when was young, he was so small that his friends would call him “Little Leo: and coaches worried he wasn’t big enough to play. Yet through bravery, talent and hard work, he proved them all wrong.

Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Gita

(2019) The Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God Retold in Simplified English is the latest title in the Essential Wisdom Library. This unique edition of the timeless epic is designed to be accessible for readers without any prior experience of Hinduism. Not simply a translation of the original, Viljoen has simplified and restated the Gita’s complex ideas, so that a first-time reader can fully appreciate the scope and beauty of this magnificent Indian classic. Written in concise, modern language the retelling vividly captures the power and depth of the original work. Part of the Mahabharata, the Gita is a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Its verses contain some of the key ideas of Hindu philosophy?Dharma, Moksha, and various yogic practices. Originally written well over a thousand years ago, the Gita has proven to be a timeless source of wisdom, inspiring philosophers and revolutionaries alike in the millennia since it was written. In addition to the retelling of the text, this edition includes a character list, a glossary of important terms, and chapters exploring the back-story from the Mahabharata and the impact and meaning of the Bhagavad Gita itself. The Bhagavad Gita is an approachable way for today’s readers to engage with one of history’s richest spiritual epics

When Things Fall Apart

When Things Fall Apart

(2016) How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart—when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chِdrِn suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Here, in her most beloved and acclaimed work, Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy.

Art of Happiness

Art of Happiness

This will be the first book by the Dalai Lama written to appeal to a general audience and focusing on the practical application of his spiritual values.

The Dalai Lama’s commentary is amplified and augmented from a contemporary western perspective by psychiatrist Howard Cutler to make this a genuinely accessible self-help guide.

Addressing every kind of daily problem, the subjects covered include: the sources of happiness; desire and greed; marriage and romance; resolving conflict; facing our suffering; overcoming fear and anxiety; anger and hatred; honesty and self-confidence; finding balance.

Playing Cards in Cairo

Playing Cards in Cairo

PLAYING CARDS IN CAIRO is a fly-on-the-wall account – like THE BOOKSELLER OF KABUL – of life (for western readers) in a strange and exotic environment. Hugh Miles lives in Cairo and is engaged to an Egyptian woman. Twice a week he plays cards with a small group of Arab, Muslim women and through this medium he explores their lives in modern Cairo, the greatest of Arab cities. It is a secretive, romantic, often deprived but always soulful existence for the women as they struggle with abusive husbands and philandering boyfriends. The book is a window onto a city – and a way of life – which is at a crucial juncture in its history. Hugh Miles, who knows the Arab world intimately, is the perfect guide.

Meditation

Meditation

In this essential meditation handbook for the twenty-first century, Osho turns the traditional notion of meditation practice on its head. Meditation: The First and Last Freedom shows that meditation is not a spiritual discipline separate from everyday life in the real world. In essence, it is simply the art of being aware of what is going on inside and around us. As we acquire the knack, meditation can be our companion wherever we are―at work, at play, at rest.