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In “Stem,” Stella Wong intersperses lyric poems on a variety of subjects with dramatic monologues that imagine the perspectives of specific female composers, musicians, and visual artists, including Johanna Beyer, Mira Calix, Clara Rockmore, Maryanne Amacher, and Delia Derbyshire.
Whether writing about family, intimate relationships, language, or women’s experience, Wong creates a world alive with observation and provocation, capturing the essence and the problems of life with others.
Author: Terrence Lyons
The book offers insight into a political group, with its origins in a small insurgency in northern Ethiopia, which transformed itself into a party (the EPRDF) with a hierarchy that links even the smallest village in the country to the center.
“The Puzzle of Ethiopian Politics” offers a study of legacies of protracted civil war and rebel victory over the government, which continue to shape Ethiopian politics.
Terrence Lyons argues that the very structures that enabled the ruling party to overcome the challenges of a war-to-peace transition are the source of the challenges that it faces now.
“The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World” by Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses how humans are relying heavily on technology and digital interactions in modern times.
Rosen argues in her 2024 book that this reliance has made people dependent on them for almost everything.
Digital experiences, according to the author, are replacing real-world experiences and, with time, this will push people even further from genuine contact and physical presence.
According to Rosen, this could potentially reduce people’s understanding of empathy and connection, or even memory.
She stresses the importance of utilizing technology wisely and calls for a critical and mindful approach to it. She also emphasizes the need to bring back genuine experiences through physical interaction so they can be treasured.
One of the strong points of the book is the author’s writing style and how she narrows down and simplifies the issue of technology dependency for readers.
On the other hand, its weaknesses — that have been highlighted by readers — are that some of its chapters lack a realistic view of the world we live in, and keep repeating issues and complaining about current problems without providing solutions.
Rosen is also the author of “My Fundamentalist Education” and “Preaching Eugenics.”
Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade.
In this magisterial history, Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India—which includes today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan—and the people who have lived there. A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilization to the 21st century.
I recently visited the newly opened Culture House public library, an initiative by the Libraries Commission and Riyadh municipality.
The library is part of the King Salman Science Oasis project in Al-Ta’awun neighborhood, and it exceeded my expectations.
Before visiting, I was aware that I needed to book a time for my preferred section. This is an important detail to note, as you must have a reservation to access any area of the library.
Upon arrival, I easily scanned a QR code, filled in my name and phone number, and waited just 10 minutes for my tour.
The staff at the library were exceptional; the representative who guided me was friendly and informative and made the experience more enjoyable.
The library itself is designed with comfort in mind, offering various zones, including a tech space, a kids’ area, flexible workspaces, and a cafe on the ground floor.
The first floor features the main library with ample seating for both group and solo activities, as well as an outdoor space. It was great to see workstations equipped with computers, printers, and scanners that facilitate scanning colored books.
I particularly enjoyed the outdoor area, which includes a playground and relaxing spots near the water, as well as food trucks. It’s a great place for families and friends to gather.
While I was unable to explore the middle or main section fully, I am eager to return.
A couple of guidelines to consider: The library’s washroom closes at midnight and while cycling on the grounds is not permitted, skateboards are allowed. Additionally, sitting on the grass is not allowed, though sitting on the floor is.
I highly recommend a visit to the library. The clean, quiet environment, combined with friendly staff and great amenities, makes it a standout space in Riyadh.
For a city of its size, I hope to see more libraries like this across the Kingdom’s capital and beyond.
Author: Anabel Hernandez
This book is a product of years of investigative reporting, and is considered a publishing and political sensation in Mexico.
The book offers a definitive history and anatomy of the drug cartels and the “war on drugs” that has cost thousands of lives in the country, according to a review on goodreads.com.
The book explains in detail how Mexico became a base for the mega cartels of Latin America and one of the most violent places on the planet. The previous books of the writer have focused on political corruption in the country.
