For many years, people have been talking about the decline of the book, with shorter attention spans and a general thirst for instant gratification. But we have seen reading and books make a major mainstream come-back since the start of the pandemic. 

So instead of interviewing an author or recommending books, today, we dive into the results of a study we have just published about trends in literature with our partners and friends from Four Communications.

The Emirates Literature Foundation team are joined by Natalie Amos, Managing Director Lifestyle MENA, and dialling in from London is Truda Spruyt, Managing director Culture at Four Communications, where her clients include the International Booker Prize, and the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.

Download the white paper: https://www.elfdubai.org/en/white-paper-read-between-the-lines

Click here to take the test and find out what kind of reader you are!

Lemn Sissay knows more than most what it takes to change the story. Until he was seventeen he didn’t even know his real name, having been brought up in a succession of foster families and care homes against his mother’s wishes. In his memoir My Name is Why, the award-winning writer and poet tells the story of his fight for justice and finding hope and creativity while caught in an uncaring and dangerous bureaucracy. In this wide-ranging and inspiring conversation, Lemn reflects on the response to his powerful book, his writing life and his discoveries about life and culture in difficult times.

For all of women’s advances in recent years, feminism remains a fraught topic and women still have to find creative ways to assert themselves in different areas. Hafsa Lodi and Houriya Altaheri, trailblazers in fashion and football respectively, discuss their careers and the recent events and ongoing trends that have affected women’s prospects.

American journalist Hafsa Lodi has covered fashion in the Middle East for the past decade. Her book Modesty: A Fashion Paradox has enjoyed critical praise, with Harper’s Bazaar calling it “a well-researched and tender portrait of the politics and people behind a movement.” Houriya Altaheri is an Emirati sportsperson, FIFA coach and instructor, and businesswoman, currently Head Coach for the UAE Women’s National Football Team. Her book Becoming a Legend tells the story of how she contended with both a traditional culture and a male-dominated sport in pursuing her dreams.