S2 Ep 3: Nadia Wassef, Diwan (Cairo, Egypt)

<p><a href="https://diwanegypt.com/">Diwan</a> is a story, not just a store. And today's we will hear the story of this Egyptian bookshop from its founder, Nadia Wassef.</p> <p>Opened in 2002 as the only independent bookstore of its kind in Egypt, Diwan enchants its patrons with its mix of east and west, old and new, serious and playful. &nbsp;They say ... "Our approach is to enrich our clients’ lives by transforming the act of “buying a book” into a cultural, artistic, and culinary experience, and offering them a visually appealing and relaxing ambiance every time they step into our stores." It is all about intentionality: every detail is thought through, from the name - Diwan, to the aesthetic of the bookshops, and of course to their wide book selection, in Arabic, but also English, French and German.</p> <p>If you cannot visit Cairo and Diwan at the moment, what you can do is read Nadia Wassef's very recently published book, <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-374-60018-1"><em>Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller</em></a><em>.</em> The book will take you back in time, to visit the Cairo of long ago, through the eyes of a charming bookseller. It will make you even more aware of the meaning of a bookshop for a community, even in times as troubling as a revolution. Nadia kindly agreed to chat with me today about Diwan, her all time favourite books, and what success means for a bookshop.</p> --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gotbooks/message