What We Are Reading Today: ‘What – Reason Behind Every Desire’

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Updated 20 April 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘What – Reason Behind Every Desire’

  • “The book’s strength lies in its blend of research and relatable examples, making complex theories accessible to a wide audience,” Ghaffar told Arab News

Author: Abdul Ghaffar

In his second book, “What – Reason Behind Every Desire,” Saudi author Abdul Ghaffar takes readers on a journey through the depths of human desires, exploring the underlying motivations that drive us.

Ghaffar, a Riyadh resident, offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of fulfilment.

Ghaffar’s first book was “Why – Reason for Every Action,” and in his new work he is equally eloquent and thought-provoking as he delves into the fundamental question of why we want what we want. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and his own life, Ghaffar skillfully unravels the intricate layers of our desires, shedding light on the subconscious forces that shape them.

Through engaging storytelling and astute analysis, Ghaffar encourages readers to reflect on their own desires and consider the deeper meanings behind them.

“The book’s strength lies in its blend of research and relatable examples, making complex theories accessible to a wide audience,” Ghaffar told Arab News. “The inspiration came from my deep curiosity about the reasons behind desires and motivations. I believe that understanding the ‘why’ behind our desires is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment. The impetus behind this work was the desire to provide readers with a valuable perspective on this topic, empowering them to make more conscious choices in life.”

Whether discussing the role of societal norms in shaping desires or exploring the concept of desire as a form of self-expression, the author has maintained a captivating narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Moreover, “What – Reason Behind Every Desire” offers some practical insights and actionable steps for readers to better understand and navigate their desires.

Ghaffar’s writing is lucid and concise, ensuring that even complex concepts are presented in a simple manner.

The book has been nominated for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Non-Fiction, Self-Help category, Ghaffar said, adding: “To be acknowledged by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group is truly humbling.”

 


What We Are Reading Today: Money Capital

Updated 21 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Money Capital

Authors: Patrick Bolton & Haizhou Huang

In this book, leading economists Patrick Bolton and Haizhou Huang offer a novel perspective, viewing monetary economics through the lens of corporate finance.

They propose a richer theory, where money can be seen as the equity capital of a nation, playing a similar role as stocks for a company. 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Crossing Thoughts’

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Updated 20 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Crossing Thoughts’

Author: Sultan Ayaz

“Crossing Thoughts” is a fantasy novel in English by Saudi author Sultan Ayaz, published in 2017.

Ayaz’s novel is about humans defending their homeland against demon oppression. It is about the eternal fight between humanity and demons, and the person who stands between them.

The story begins with Drake, a child who lives a peaceful life with his family in a small town. However, a demonic attack destroys the village, but Drake somehow survives.

Three characters emerge: Aria, Ray and Amber, who study the nature of elements at the Grand College of Elements in the Kingdom of Iora, one of three kingdoms suffering demonic oppression. They learn to employ elemental magic as a weapon against their demonic opponents.

Aria (wind element user), Amber (fire element user) and Ray (thunder element user) end up fighting a sea demon and are discovered by a mysterious man called Soul, who admires their powers and helps them train to become “demon slayers,” to free humans from oppression.

There are many fight scenes in the storyline using magic and elements, and the book is full of drama, plot twists and terror.

What I liked about the narrative is how easy it is to read and follow, and the development of the world building —from the village to the Kingdom of Iora.

The female characters in the novel shine brighter and have distinct styles, making them more intriguing to read about, and each possesses a particular power.   

It might be confusing for some readers that the story begins with Drake’s perspective and then cuts to the story of Aria, Amber and Ray. However, the more you read, the more intriguing the female storylines become.

The book has received four-plus star ratings on the Goodreads website and is simple enough to read in one sitting.  

In 2020, Ayaz became one of the first Saudi novelists to have a fiction work in English published overseas when Olympia Publishers, a British publishing house, purchased the rights to “Crossing Thoughts.”

The novel is also set to be adapted into a Manga comic by Manga Arabia.

 


What We Are Reading Today: When the Bombs Stopped

Updated 20 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: When the Bombs Stopped

Author: Erin Lin

Over the course of the Vietnam War, the United states dropped 500,000 tonnes of bombs over Cambodia—more than the combined weight of every man, woman, and child in the country.

Fifty years after the last sortie, residents of rural Cambodia are still coping with the unexploded ordnance that covers their land.


What We Are Reading Today: Father Time

Updated 19 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Father Time

Author: Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

It has long seemed self-evident that women care for babies and men do other things.

Puzzled and dazzled by the tender expertise of new fathers around the world— several in her own family—celebrated evolutionary anthropologist and primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy set out to trace the deep history of male nurturing and explain a surprising departure from everything she had assumed to be “normal.”


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Breaking the Mold’

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Updated 18 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Breaking the Mold’

Authors: RAGHURAM G. RAJAN AND ROHIT LAMBA

India’s economy has overtaken the United Kingdom’s to become the fifth-largest in the world, but it is still only one-fifth the size of China’s, and India’s economic growth is too slow to provide jobs for millions of its ambitious youth.

In “Breaking the Mold,” Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba show why and how India needs to blaze a new path if it’s to succeed.