Winners at the Cairo Book Fair: Science, Religion, Satire

According to the Egyptian Gazette, it was satire, religion, and science books—especially those that “had a glossy cover and were reasonably cheap”—that were the big winners at this year’s Cairo Book Fair.

I haven’t seen a list of the top sellers, but this is according to the EG:

Reflections on the Holy Qur’an by Zaghloul Al-Nagar was quite popular.

Radio presenter’s Ahmed el-Assili Kitab Malhoush Ism (A Book Without a Name) was in the top ten.

Philosophy professor and “Arabic Booker” winner Youssef Zeidan remained a best-seller; both his controversial Azazeel (out next year in English from Atlantic) and his not-so-controversial Arab Theology (probably out never in English from no-one) were big sellers.

Alaa Al-Aswani also apparently did very well this year with Do We Deserve Democracy?

And young satirist/screenwriter Bilal Fadl (pictured) was among the best-sellers with his latest, Dehk Magruh (A Chagrined Laugh).