It may seem a little short-sighted to put the conclusion of a book in its title, but this lively read is so much more than the usual cliché-ridden discussion on whether the book in its traditional form will survive the digital revolution.
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Taking the format of a conversation between the author Umberto Eco and the playwright Jean-Claude Carrière and transcribed from several sessions held in the writers' homes, their musings on the internet are merely a starting point for a fascinating Socratic dialogue between two avid collectors. Throughout, the text is peppered with entertaining anecdotes about their personal libraries, books they have loved and sold and the future for their vast treasure troves.
"The story of a book can bring alive the story of an entire civilisation," declares Carrière, as the reader gets a fly-on-the-wall perspective on their passions and psyches.
They are occasionally flawed; puritanism in India, where the majority of the population is Hindu, is blamed on "the influence of Islam" and there are some broad sweeping generalisations that do not always stand up to scrutiny. But this is the ultimate invite to a dinner party with two intellectual powerhouses - and who wouldn't want to be sitting at that table?
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
