What We Are Reading Today: ‘Eyeliner: A Cultural History’

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Updated 08 September 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Eyeliner: A Cultural History’

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  • Hankir, who grew up Arab and Muslim in a predominately white neighborhood in the UK, candidly writes in the first part of the book about how eyeliner was a way for her to feel a sense of belonging

Author: Zahra Hankir

In her 2023 book, “Eyeliner: A Cultural History,” Lebanese British author Zahra Hankir helps us understand how and why eyeliner became so popular.

An accomplished journalist with degrees in politics and Middle Eastern studies, Hankir often writes about the intersection of politics and culture.

Her latest work is about something personal to her but also equally universal: eyeliner.

She reminds us how, throughout history, icons such as Queen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt, pop idol Amy Winehouse, Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, as well as the anonymous men of nomadic tribes, and you or I — anyone, really — could pick up an eyeliner pencil and feel instantly transformed.

Hankir takes us on a journey that spans generations and continents. It starts with her at 17, being “dragged” to a family engagement party, vividly remembering her mother’s hazel eyes framed in forest green on her eyelids and jet-black kohl along her waterlines.

Hankir, who grew up Arab and Muslim in a predominately white neighborhood in the UK, candidly writes in the first part of the book about how eyeliner was a way for her to feel a sense of belonging.

“Originated in the East, I often felt as if I were traversing space and time and conversing with my ancestors while wearing it in the West,” Hankir writes in one passage. To her, eyeliner was a way to celebrate her identity and honor those who came before.

Then she detaches from her personal narrative and goes deeper into cultural history.

To minorities and communities of color, eyeliner transcends aesthetics, she writes. She emphasizes the rich historical and cultural significance of eyeliner through a journalistic eye, describing it as a tool infused with centuries of layered histories, including those of empires, royalty, nomads, and anyone in between.

You’ll see it sported by women on the New York City subway, models on the Paris runway, as well as Bedouin men in the remote deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Members of the Taliban similarly smear a form of eyeliner onto their lids to repel the sun, as do those from indigenous tribes along mountain ranges.

“Eyeliner: A Cultural History” explores how, in ancient and modern times, the act of lining the eyes was imbued with various meanings ranging from the spiritual to the seductive.

The Prophet Muhammad is said to have used eyeliner, specifically kohl, which was believed to possess medicinal qualities. The Old Testament also describes eye paint in association with characters such as Jezebel, implying that eyeliner could have served as a means to challenge the social norms of the time.

Eyeliner can change the shape of your eye, making it appear larger or smaller, more fierce or subdued, depending on the angle, tint and intent.

Like the mighty pen, it can be a sword, as Hankir quotes in a popular Taylor Swift lyric: “Draw the cat eye sharp enough to kill a man.”

Overall, the history of eyeliner is rich and varied, as Hankir writes, with each culture and era assigning its own meanings and purposes to this seemingly simple cosmetic tool.

Hankir edited the 2019 anthology “Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World” in which Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, wrote the foreword.

 

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bodypedia’

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Updated 06 October 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bodypedia’

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Author: ADAM TAOR

“Bodypedia” is a lively, fact-filled romp through your body, from A to Z. Featuring almost 100 stories on topics ranging from the beastly origins of goosebumps to the definitive answer to the Motown classic “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” these fascinating tales from your entrails explore the wonders of anatomy, one body part at a time.

With a keen scalpel, Adam Taor peels away the layers to bring your under appreciated insides to light.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Arabian Love Poems’

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Updated 04 October 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Arabian Love Poems’

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Author: Nizar Kabbani

Nizar Kabbani’s book “Arabian Love Poems” (1998), translated by Palestinian scholars Bassam Frangieh and Clementina R. Brown, takes readers on an emotional journey driven by the power of love and grief.

Legendary poet Kabbani (1923-1998) was born in Damascus, Syria, and was one of the most popular Arab poets of the 20th century.

During his lifetime, Kabbani was a diplomat, poet, writer and publisher. Inspired by his surroundings, Kabbani’s collection anthology explores the themes of love, religion, grief, as well as Arab and women empowerment.

As the title of the book suggests, “Arabian Love Poems” has a theme of love embedded in each poem. Kabbani gives readers a glimpse of his romantic mind through his poetry that pierces the soul.

Unlike many popular poets who write poetry in traditional forms such as sonnets, Kabbani uses a flexible style of writing called “free verse poetry,” resulting in an effortlessly flowing piece consisting of uncensored thoughts.

Although Kabbani uses simple and direct language in his poetry, he never fails to capture the depth of his emotions. If anything, the simplicity of his poetry is what makes it resonate with most readers.

What makes this book a standout is the sensory imagery, providing the reader with a beautiful visualization through his carefully crafted words.

 “I hadn’t told them about you.

“But they saw you bathing in my eyes.

“I hadn’t told them about you.

“But they saw you written in my words.

“The perfume of love cannot be concealed.”

Translated books can often fail to capture the essence felt in the original text, but the translation from Arabic to English in “Arabian Love Poems” is truly superb. It gives the English reader the chance to dive into the rich world of Arab poetry.

 


What We Are Reading Today: How the New World Became Old

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Updated 04 October 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: How the New World Became Old

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  • How the New World Became Old tells the extraordinary story of how Americans discovered that the New World was not just old—it was a place rooted in deep time

Author: Caroline Winterer

During the 19th century, Americans were shocked to learn that the land beneath their feet had once been stalked by terrifying beasts. T. rex and Brontosaurus ruled the continent.

North America was home to saber-toothed cats and woolly mammoths, great herds of camels and hippos, and sultry tropical forests now fossilized into massive coal seams.

How the New World Became Old tells the extraordinary story of how Americans discovered that the New World was not just old—it was a place rooted in deep time.

 

 


What We Are Reading Today: The Beekeeper’s Guide

What We Are Reading Today: The Beekeeper’s Guide
Updated 03 October 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: The Beekeeper’s Guide

What We Are Reading Today: The Beekeeper’s Guide

Authors: Meredith May, Claire Jones, Anne Rowberry, & Margaret Murdin 

Beekeeping is a popular pastime that more and more people are taking up for fun or even modest profit.

Today, you will find hives not only in large fields or rural spaces, but also in city gardens and on rooftops—to the benefit of both bee and beekeeper.

If you’re at the early or middle stages of your beekeeping journey and need a go-to guide on establishing and maintaining your hives, “The Beekeeper’s Guide” is the perfect companion. 


Book Review: ‘Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order’

Book Review: ‘Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order’
Updated 03 October 2024
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Book Review: ‘Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order’

Book Review: ‘Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order’
  • Dalio, an American investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, translated his rich experience in finance into economic cycles, political systems, and the rise and fall of empires through history

Published in 2021, the book “Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail” explores the dynamics that shape global structures in terms of power.

The author, Ray Dalio, highlights historical patterns, explaining in detail the reasons behind the rise of certain countries and the fall of other nations as well, while at the same time providing a system on how to understand the shifting geopolitical landscape. 

Dalio, an American investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, translated his rich experience in finance into economic cycles, political systems, and the rise and fall of empires through history. 

Further, he outlines several principles through the chapters that control these transitions, focusing specifically on the connection between economic and cultural aspects. 

One of the book’s strengths is the author’s simple structure. Dalio divides his thoughts into digestible sections for his readers, explaining complex terms as simple paragraphs and presenting major indicators of society such as wealth distribution and local conflicts.

His analytics add details of special events while also providing readers with the tools to anticipate future developments. 

What is worth mentioning is that the author’s insights are somehow relevant to the present-day changing world, where globalization and technological advancements challenge traditional power dynamics.

He emphasizes the potential for a conflict between established powers and rising countries while stressing the importance of adaptability and resilience in an era marked by uncertainty.

However, some readers argue that the author’s view may be overly simplifying complex geopolitical realities. While his foundations are based on historical patterns, the challenges of this time, such as climate change and artificial intelligence, require adequate solutions beyond historical analogies.  

Overall, the book was rated 4.7 out of 5 by over 7,000 readers. It stimulates critical thinking and analysis of the political relations of the world we live in. 

The author’s mixing of historical analysis of events and personal insights as well makes the book a must for readers such as policymakers, business leaders, and others who might be interested in understanding the global powers that are shaping the world.