We all are drawn to books that we can relate to in some way, even while they transport us to places we have never been to or present us with situations we have never confronted. My main criteria for a good book is either a story that pulls me in, is beautifully written, teaches me something, or ideally all three.
I enjoy reading a variety of fiction and non-fiction, and I am always open to book recommendations from people of different cultures or walks of life. Here are my five recommended reads, even if you’re not an Egyptian, an American, a writer or a runner (I assume you’re at least a human being).
The Beginning and the End by Naguib Mahfouz (1956)
In case you don’t know who Naguib Mahfouz is, he is the godfather of Arabic contemporary literature and won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. The Beginning and the End follows a middle-class Egyptian family during the Second World War. It is a powerful portrayal of how poverty and desperation can lead to moral dilemmas.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2013)
This is not an American novel and the author is Nigerian. It is about a young Nigerian woman who immigrates to the US to attend university. She discovers what it means to be a non-American black person in America and through this lens examines the issue of race. Her observations are insightful and witty, and masterfully woven into the story.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (1995)
This may not interest non-writers, but for writers and writers-to-be this guide gives some helpful tips and inspiration without being dry. Lamott tells stories and injects humour while addressing how to overcome challenges such as writer’s block, finding your voice and dealing with bad first drafts.
How Bad Do You Want It? Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle by Matt Fitzgerald (2015)
Switching gears to a completely different genre, this is a great book for anyone who considers themselves an athlete or is curious about what it takes to develop mental toughness. In this book Fitzgerald, an endurance runner and coach, shows the mental aspects of improving performance.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu (2016)
This was a recent choice of my book club, which has been going strong for 13 years. I’m generally not a big fan of self-help books, but who better to give advice on finding happiness than ever-smiling spiritual leaders the Dalai Lama and South African archbishop Desmond Tutu?
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
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