Adrift : How Our World Lost Its Way - Amin Maalouf
Amin Maalouf
French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf was born in Beirut in 1949. He spent part of his youth sailing between Lebanon and his adopted country, Egypt.
The future journalist and author attended a French Jesuit school before studying sociology and economics at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut. It was there that he met Andrée, his future wife. In 1976, the young journalist said goodbye to his homeland, torn apart by civil war. Followed by his wife and their three children, he moved to France.
Although his first readings were in Arabic, Amin Maalouf began to write in French, considered by his childhood teachers to be the "language of darkness". His first novel, "The Crusades Through Arab Eyes”, was published in 1983, and explored the themes of identity and globalization. Ten years later, The Rock Of Tanioswon the Goncourt Prize. In 2021, his essay How Our World Lost Its Way won the Literary Prize of Francophone Ambassadors.
How Our World Lost Its Way is a must-read geopolitical essay. Unique in its genre, this book shares with the reader the story of an individual, constantly confronted with collective upheavals. Combining biography, historical reality and philosophical reflection, this book highlights the importance of cultural diversity, tolerance and dialogue in a rapidly changing world.
The title, which itself alludes to the rising waters caused by global warming, serves as a metaphorical backdrop for an indepth exploration of the challenges facing our planet. This book presents a rich and varied panorama, interweaving the key events of the past with those of the present. From the turmoil of the Cairo riots in 1909, to the Suez Canal crisis of 1952, to the tumultuous Brexit, each event is skilfully woven into a narrative of conflict and tension between East and West.
The theme of repeated dictatorships and their influence in the Middle East is widely addressed. Amin Maalouf succinctly sums up this threat : "...and everything that was not forbidden became compulsory". The central elements of propaganda and repression serve as a common thread. Understanding the impact of the media in propagating misinformation, the aftermath of the 1967 war and the coups in Syria and Iran, among other things, will give readers a deeper understanding of the issues at stake in the Middle East. In particular, Amin Maalouf examines the question of ethnic and religious minorities and their influence in certain countries. In this respect, Lebanon occupies a special place in the essay as an example of a country that recognizes the rights of minorities and promotes cultural diversity.
Finally, the author also introduces us to a gallery of historical and contemporary figures who have shaped his life and world history. These include Ahmed Chawki, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Frank Sinatra and Taha Hussein : illustrious icons of literary and musical culture. These personalities, each in their own way, illuminate the pages of this captivating tale. How Our World Lost Its Way is an essential work for anyone wishing to understand the challenges of the modern world and the lessons we can learn from them.
