Doha: In the new year, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) has added a long list of newly published books to its catalogue of works.
The new titles span across all genres and include a mix of original language works in Arabic and English as well as translated works from other languages.
HBKU Press now participating in the Ibn Ryab Cultural Street Festival in Katara (located behind the amphitheatre), where the full collection of its works are available to the public.
“COVID-19 forced our staff to work from home for the better part of the year, and presented many logistical challenges as well, but we are proud to have overcome such a challenging time and to be able to launch a truly wonderful collection of literary works that highlight the talented authors, illustrators, translators and researchers from the region to the world,” said Executive Director of HBKU Press, Bachar Chebaro.
Among the new tittles, a Refreshed Soul is penned by Qatari author Asma Al Dosari, who is a researcher in the field of Islamic values and culture, a lecturer at the Community College of Qatar, and a consultant in the field of human development and community work. Also by a Qatari author comes the biographical non-fiction work titled, Zheng-He: The Chinese Emperor and Sailor by author Dr. Ali Al Hajri, a book in Arabic detailing the life and times of the Chinese sailor and Muslim admiral Zheng-He (in Arabic, Hajji Mahmoud Shams).
Also in the realm of academic history is the original language Arabic work titled The Hajj from Qatar’s Past: A Collection of Memories by Mohamed Hammam Fikry ,who currently serves as the Heritage & Rare Books Advisor at the QF Cultural Advisor Office. In his first collaboration with HBKU Press, this book is a testament to Qatari history: a collection of memories of the holy pilgrimage to Makkah as told by Qataris, from ancient times until the present day.
HBKU professor Dr. Mohamad Ghaly’s pioneering work titled, Islam and Disability, is now available for the first time in Arabic published by HBKU Press. This book explores the position of Islamic theology and jurisprudence towards people with disabilities.
Also translated into Arabic are two new books addressing both sociological and anthropological issues. Knowledge: Is Knowledge Power? by Marian Adolf and Nico Stehr.
In Raising Children: Surprising Insights from Other Cultures, author David F. Lancy takes us on a journey across the globe to show how children are raised differently in different cultures.
Available for the first time in Arabic, The Natural Menopause Plan by bestselling author Maryon Stewart shows how you can alleviate the symptoms of menopause naturally and effectively; through diet, supplements, herbal remedies, exercise, and relaxation.
Additionally, HBKU Press has released the remaining three books from the Mind Zone series. The five books Instant Recall, Brain Workout, Mastering Numbers, Boost Your IQ (2020), and Think Smart, Act Smart (2020) provide readers with brain training exercises that are the natural, effective and fun way to improve mental activity and processing.
For fans of fiction, HBKU Press has two new Arabic books hot off the presses. Translated from Japanese into Arabic, the critically-acclaimed The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai probes the destructive effects of war and the transition from a feudal Japan to an industrial society in the early post-war years.
Ladder to the Sky by Ibtesam Terraisi, follows the protagonist Heaven who suffers at the hands of her abusive husband. With no family or friends to turn to in the coastal city of Jeddah, Heaven can only dream of an escape.
Hard copies of these books, and other HBKU Press publications can also be purchased and delivered to locations in Qatar from the Rafeeq, Snoonu and Purplebox applications (available to download from the Apple Store and Google Play).
