Each section of the book focuses on a specific part of the plant — such as roots, stems and trunks, leaves, cones and flowers, and seeds and fruits
Updated 22 September 2018
Arab News
Author: Stephen Blackmore
All the plants around us today are descended from simple algae that emerged more than 500 million years ago. While new plant species are still being discovered, it is thought that there are around 400,000 species in existence.
From towering redwood trees and diminutive mosses to plants that have stinging hairs and poisons, the diverse range of plant life is extraordinary. How Plants Work is a fascinating inquiry into, and celebration of, the complex plant kingdom, says a review on the Princeton University Press website.
With an extended introduction explaining the basics of plant morphology — the study of plant structures and their functions — this book moves beyond mere classification and anatomy by emphasizing the relationship between a plant and its environment.
It provides evolutionary context drawn from the fossil record and information about the habitats in which species evolved and argues for the major influence of predation on plant form.
Each section of the book focuses on a specific part of the plant — such as roots, stems and trunks, leaves, cones and flowers, and seeds and fruits — and how these manifest in distinct species, climates, and regions. The conclusion examines the ways humans rely on plant life and have harnessed their capacity for adaptation through selection and domestication.
Abundantly illustrated with 400 color images documenting a wide range of examples, How Plants Work is a highly informative account about an integral part of our natural world.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘On the Freedom of the Will’
Schopenhauer distinguishes between different types of freedom, including physical, intellectual and moral
Updated 17 January 2025
Ghadi Joudah
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer’s “On the Freedom of the Will” is a landmark philosophical work that explores one of humanity’s most debated questions: Do we have free will?
Published in 1839 as part of a prize competition held by the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences, this essay won first prize for the author and remains one of his most influential works.
In it, Schopenhauer rigorously examines the concept of free will, combining insights from metaphysics, psychology and science.
He argues for a deterministic view of human action, asserting that while humans may feel free in their decisions, their choices are ultimately determined by external circumstances and internal motivations beyond their control.
Schopenhauer distinguishes between different types of freedom, including physical, intellectual and moral.
While he concedes that humans have physical freedom (freedom from external coercion), he rejects the notion of metaphysical freedom — the idea individuals can act independently of causality.
One of the essay’s key contributions is Schopenhauer’s clear articulation of the relationship between will and action. He asserts that our actions are a direct expression of our unchanging character, which itself is shaped by factors outside our control.
This perspective challenges traditional notions of moral responsibility, as it questions whether individuals can be truly “free” in a moral sense.
The essay also explores the implications of determinism for ethics and human behavior.
Schopenhauer’s arguments are deeply rooted in his broader philosophical system, particularly his concept of the “will” as the driving force behind all existence.
He blends philosophical reasoning with practical examples, making his work both intellectually rigorous and accessible to readers.
Schopenhauer’s writing style is notable for its clarity and precision, though it carries his characteristic pessimism and sharp critiques of opposing views. His dismissal of metaphysical freedom as an illusion is provocative and has sparked debate among philosophers for centuries.
“On the Freedom of the Will” is a profound, thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about free will, causality and moral responsibility.
Schopenhauer’s arguments remain relevant today, influencing contemporary discussions in philosophy, neuroscience, and psychology.
The citizens’ struggle in this regard stands as one of the few instances of a popular democratic uprising succeeding in sub-Saharan Africa
Updated 17 January 2025
Arab News
Author: Ernest Harsch
In 2014, huge protests across Burkina Faso succeeded in overthrowing the long-entrenched regime of their authoritarian ruler, Blaise Compaore. Defying all expectations, this popular movement defeated an attempted coup by the old regime.
The citizens’ struggle in this regard stands as one of the few instances of a popular democratic uprising succeeding in sub-Saharan Africa.
In this book, Ernest Harsch provides a compelling history of this little-understood country, according to a review on goodreads.com.
Saudi author Samya Al-Harbi discusses new book ‘Not Like Other Women’
The Saudi entrepreneur has compiled the inspirational stories of 12 Arab women
Updated 17 January 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: Dubai-based Saudi entrepreneur and author Samya Al-Harbi tells the stories of resilient Arab women, including herself, in her new book “Not Like Other Women.”
“The women around me have inspired me. Friends, colleagues, family, women I met in my work, in my troubles. I believe every woman has a story,” Al-Harbi tells Arab News.
“(My book) talks about women who have struggled in life and faced so many difficulties, and they overcome those struggles and difficulties, and they become wiser. These are women who have really challenged themselves to become stronger.”
“Not Like Other Women” is by Samya Al-Harbi. (Supplied)
“Not Like Other Women” features 12 stories of such women interspersed with Al-Harbi’s own experiences of balancing her personal and professional life. One of the most emotional and challenging chapters to write, she says, was “Munifa.”
“The story was very emotional for me because I always thought Munifa was my friend’s mother and never doubted it. But on the night of her funeral, I found out she wasn’t his real mother; she was actually his mother’s neighbor and best friend. What touched me the most was the strong friendship between the two women and the loyalty they showed to each other. It’s a bond that truly moved me.”
When asked if there was any pushback when it came to telling these personal stories, Al-Harbi is quick to point out that, in fact, the opposite happened.
“There are women who want to tell the world their story. Society doesn’t accept discussion of sensitive issues when it comes to women and their feelings, especially in the Arab world,” she says. “So, they always need women who have the ability to take their stories to an audience and tell them that there are women who face these problems, but fight to overcome them.
Samya Al-Harbi. (Supplied)
“As a woman, as a mother — as a grandmother now — I believe that, with the position I have now, it's my responsibility to talk about these issues.”
While putting the stories together for “Not Like Other Women,” Al-Harbi noticed a common thread. “I have traveled a lot, and I have seen so many women in different cultures and countries,” she says. “I noticed that we share most of these issues. If I'm talking about a lady in China, she has the same problems as a lady in Africa. We have certain problems in common, whether it is finance, respect, passion… These problems remain the same no matter where we are from.”
As an example, Al-Harbi pointed out Indian-American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s “The Palace of Illusions,” a retelling of the Indian epic “Mahabharat,” from the point of view of Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandava brothers.
“The message I got from her book is that women are facing the same problems they did 3,000 years ago. Still. We are being treated the same way. So, will that change? I don't think so. Yes, it's not like before, and yes, it will take time. But still there are women afraid to come out and express their feelings or talk about their issues. In fact, when I gave these stories to the publisher, there were three that they deleted. They said, ‘No, you cannot publish these stories because they’re very sensitive, and society will not accept this kind of story yet.’”
The Makkah-born businesswoman, who also acts as a mentor to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, said she has one piece of advice for all the young women she speaks to, including her daughters.
“They have to keep on dreaming, but, at the same time, they have to work on their dreams,” she says. “They should not listen to anyone if they believe that what they are doing is right for them and for other people — without crossing the line, especially here in the Arab world.”
What We Are Reading Today: Calculus Reordered by David Bressoud
Updated 16 January 2025
Arab News
“Calculus Reordered” tells the remarkable story of how calculus grew over centuries into the subject we know today. David Bressoud explains why calculus is credited to 17-century figures Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, how it was shaped by Italian philosophers such as Galileo Galilei, and how its current structure sprang from developments in the 19th century. Bressoud reveals problems with the standard ordering of its curriculum—limits, differentiation, integration, and series—and he argues that a pedagogy informed by the historical evolution of calculus represents a sounder way for students to learn this fascinating area of mathematics.
Published in 2020, “Fifty Words for Rain” by Asha Lemmie is an invitation to explore identity, belonging, and the complexity of family dynamics in 1940s Japan.
The story takes the reader to Kyoto in Japan almost 100 years ago, following the Second World War, where Nori, a biracial girl born to a Japanese mother and an American father, struggles to find her place in a society that avoids her existence.
When Nori meets her half-brother, Akira, she forms a strong bond with him and makes him an ally despite her grandparents’ opposition to their friendship as they believe it irrevocably changes the lives they were always meant to lead.
One of the story’s strong points is its exploration of the intersection of race and gender, with Nori embodying the struggles faced by those on the margins of society.
Her journey is filled with challenges, including abuse and social rejection, yet it also shows her resilience as she hopes for a brighter future.
The author highlights the impact of the Second World War on the lives of the Japanese, creating a narrative that, while strongly rooted in a specific place and time, is universally relatable.
The story has received backlash from Japanese audiences as some consider it disrespectful to Japanese culture and history, especially where it describes Japan during the 1940s.
Overall, “Fifty Words for Rain” invites readers to reflect on themes of family relations, loss, and identity and serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit.
