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Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2024: A Global Cultural Extravaganza

This year, the ADIBF pays homage to Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, celebrating Egypt’s profound influence on Arab thought and creativity. As the Focus Personality, Mahfouz’s legacy serves as a testament to the enduring power of literature to transcend borders and unite diverse communities…reports Asian Lite News

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), is poised to make waves once again as it gears up for its 33rd edition in 2024. Renowned as a pinnacle event for the cultural community and publishing industry worldwide, this year’s fair promises to be bigger and more diverse than ever before.

With over 1,350 exhibitors from an impressive 90 countries, the ADIBF continues to uphold its status as a beacon of cultural exchange and literary exploration. The theme for this edition, “Where the World’s Tales Unfold,” encapsulates the essence of the fair, inviting visitors on a journey through the diverse narratives of global literature.

Taking place at the esteemed Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from April 29th to May 5th, 2024, the event boasts an impressive lineup of 145 new exhibitors and publishing houses, alongside the participation of 12 additional countries. From Greece to Indonesia, these nations contribute to the rich tapestry of cultures showcased at the fair, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a global cultural hub.

Central to the ADIBF’s success are the initiatives spearheaded by the ALC to support publishers, exhibitors, and authors. By waiving rental fees for participants for the third consecutive year, the ALC demonstrates its commitment to fostering the growth and sustainability of the publishing sector while promoting the prominence of the Arabic language on the world stage.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, emphasizes the fair’s pivotal role in facilitating intercultural exchange and promoting global dialogue. He remarks, “The sustained efforts and excellent support that the book fair has received have cemented its reputation as a global cultural center and a beacon of knowledge.”

This year, the ADIBF pays homage to Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, celebrating Egypt’s profound influence on Arab thought and creativity. As the Focus Personality, Mahfouz’s legacy serves as a testament to the enduring power of literature to transcend borders and unite diverse communities.

In a rapidly evolving world, the ADIBF remains a steadfast advocate for the preservation and promotion of literary heritage, offering strategic opportunities for growth and innovation in the publishing sector. As the fair continues to evolve, it reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant cultural landscape and fostering global connections through the universal language of storytelling.

ALSO READ-UAE Capital Gears Up To Host Art Fair

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Dr. Alka Pande’s ‘108 Portraits’ Book Collection Launches

The set of books features historical, cultural, and visual exploration of subjects ranging from Objects, Dance, Food, Architecture, Printmaking, Crafts, and Music to Photography, Sculpture, Design, Traditional Art, Textiles, Modern & Contemporary Art, and Vernacular & Indigenous Art…reports Asian Lite News

Art historian and curator Dr. Alka Pande has written a set of 14 collectable books titled “108 Portraits of Indian Culture and Heritage” that puts the spotlight on 14 disciplines ranging from art, architecture, objects, crafts, and more. The immersive collection set is an encyclopedic work looking at the development and history of Indian visual culture through various eras of history to the contemporary world.

Complete with anecdotal personal stories, the author has employed the lens of Indian art and aesthetics to unpack the rich cultural history of the country’s illuminating art, architecture, and cultural landscape. The subject of each book unfolds in a visual and textual story of 108 narratives. Since the number 108 is of immense significance in Indian art and it also emerges from the Upanishadic tradition of Indian philosophy, it has emerged as a connecting thread among the set of books through which images and histories of the subject engage with each other.

The set of books features historical, cultural, and visual exploration of subjects ranging from Objects, Dance, Food, Architecture, Printmaking, Crafts, and Music to Photography, Sculpture, Design, Traditional Art, Textiles, Modern & Contemporary Art, and Vernacular & Indigenous Art.

Each book begins with a personal story by the author who reflects on how her childhood impressions and exposure have been pivotal in introducing her to the rich and myriad cultures of India. She reminiscences about her first brush with ‘Kumhaars’ (potters) at her maternal grandmother’s house in Meerut in the ‘108 Portraits of Indian Crafts’ book which soon delves deeper into the beauty of glazed pottery of the Indus Valley Civilisation and eventually takes readers through the craftsmanship of varied Indian states.

In the book ‘108 Portraits of Indian Objects’, the author delves into the designs of utilitarian objects and examines how they are both functional and pieces of aesthetic art. The ubiquitous pot or lota is a recurring motif in this book.

The cultural significance of food in the form of prasad, customs, or rituals is documented in ‘108 Portraits of Indian Food’. The reader is taken through a journey of food in literature, and painting before taking a deep dive into examining the broader culture of food across the globe. Archaeology of raw and cooked food is looked at, and the reader gets inside the heart of royal kitchens and regional Indian cuisines before illuminating the modern version of fusion cuisines.

Indian textiles have a long, rich, and layered history. The reader is taken on a fascinating exploration of the complex warp and weft techniques in ‘108 Portraits of Indian Textiles’ but also delineates costume styles. Finer points of draped clothing and the stitched costumes of stylish ‘Chooridars’ and Mughal Angrakhas, luxurious silks and cotton, natural pigments and dyes, brocades, and zardozi, complemented with a finely curated selection of visuals of ancient sculptures, paintings, and textiles are discussed.

In ‘108 Portraits of Indian Music’, various styles including the contributions of Amir Khusro to qawwali; Swami Haridas and Tansen to dhrupad; ancient Sanskrit and Tamil treatises, Purandaradasa, and the renowned “Trinity” to Carnatic music; Pandit Bhatkhande’s treatise on Hindustani classical music; and Rabindra Sangeet are discussed. This fascinating story is richly complemented by descriptions and images of performers and instruments.

“Indian culture and heritage are vast, diverse, and deeply rooted in history, spirituality, traditions, and art forms. Attempting to encapsulate the entirety of Indian culture within a single book has indeed been a monumental task. But it has equally been enriching to see how the set of 14 books encapsulates the enriching historical and contemporary journey of each discipline succinctly. This set of books is my humble attempt to create an encyclopedia for each discipline to help readers understand the development of a particular subject from its beginning to the present,” says the author who was at the recently held Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival.

Additionally, each book comes with a takeaway –it could be in the form of a recipe (Food), a masterclass in making your Jama (Textile), or an insightful read on different types of Aipan and creating your own (Traditional Art). The idea of including these nuggets of information and activities at the end of each book is to drive engagement and learning.

The books have been published by the Artshila Trust and will be launched on February 18.

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UAE Ministry of Economy Official Launches Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki’s Book on Smart Cities in Dubai

The book highlights the growing significance of cities as urban centres that keep up with accelerating changes related to digital advancement and artificial intelligence…reports Asian Lite News

In the presence of H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy in the UAE, the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates organised a signing ceremony to launch the latest book of Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki, Founder and Managing Director of Orient Planet Group, titled ‘Smart Cities in the Arab World and their Socio-Economic Impact.’

The launch of the new book was held at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of distinguished guests – including Maha Al Gargawi, Executive Director of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers, and Charles Jeha, President of the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, among other dignitaries and businessmen.

The book highlights the growing significance of cities as urban centres that keep up with accelerating changes related to digital advancement and artificial intelligence. It also sheds light on successful Arab smart city models and experiences. The book delves into the future of Arab smart cities, underlining extraordinary experiences, technology, and tactics applied in labour and infrastructure systems. It also looks at some of the ambitious efforts being made across the Arab world to construct new cities based on the notion of smart cities.

H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh said: “The book’s release coincides with the Arab region’s accelerating pace of smart transformation, particularly in the GCC countries and the growing reliance on technologies and its applications to advance economic and social development. The UAE has made tremendous progress in comprehensive digital transformation, making qualitative leaps in the information technology and digital transformation sectors to consolidate its leading position, further shaping the future based on advanced technology supported by artificial intelligence and smart cities, and lay the foundations of a knowledge economy that achieves development. A sustainable and smart city has the potential to ensure societal well-being.”

Charles Jeha, President of the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said: “The book highlights smart transformation projects and experiences in prominent Arab cities. It examines the challenges and opportunities that Arab cities face as they strive to become smart and sustainable cities. Among the Arab world, the UAE model is one of the most successful in terms of smart transformation. It is regarded as one of the top countries in terms of implementing smart practises in different facets of daily life.”

Dr. Abou Zaki said: “While writing this book, I placed a strong emphasis on highlighting the intricate connections between technology, society, and the economy. I underscored the significance of harnessing the power of data, artificial intelligence, and sustainable approaches in the creation of smart cities, as we now live in a new phase of digital transformation. We are witnessing a major shift towards transforming entire cities into smart, sustainable ones based on the latest ICT technologies. The book further emphasises the importance of cooperation and partnerships among governments, institutions, and society in accomplishing these objectives.”

“Smart cities are key drivers of long-term sustainable growth. They help in increasing resource efficiency by leveraging latest digital technologies and advanced data analytics to deliver high-quality services that boost economic growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. I believe that this book will offer motivation and will inspire collaborative efforts towards the creation of smart cities and the promotion of economic and social development in our society,” Dr. Abou Zaki added.

The signing ceremony served as an ideal forum to discuss the relevance of smart transformation and city development in the Arab world. The book is expected to be internationally appreciated and to serve as a roadmap for initiatives in the region to construct smart and sustainable cities. The event also allowed attendees and others interested in this sector to share ideas and skills on how to achieve sustainable and smart development across the Arab world.

Dr. Abou Zaki published his first book, ‘The Future Gulf – Economic Challenges and Opportunities in the Post Oil Era,’ in 2018, in which he provided a comprehensive analysis of economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council since the beginning of the oil era, the stages of economic development, and its implications across the region. He further gave an insight on current economic variables, results of which can be seen in the transition to a more diverse and balanced economy, which offers the private sector a stronger role in job creation, economic stimulus and technical advancement towards a knowledge economy.

ALSO READ-‘UAE Looks Forward to Fruitful Discussions at UNGA’

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Books UAE News

Dreamwork Collective to Showcase UAE Authors

Convening in the Hotel Excelsior on Lido di Venezia, the Book Adaptation Rights Market is part of the Venice Production Bridge, which stages a range of unique initiatives to advance the development and production of film…reports Asian Lite News

Dubai-based publisher, The Dreamwork Collective, has been selected to take part in the 8th edition of the Book Adaptation Rights Market, to be staged next month as part of the 80th Venice International Film Festival. One of just 34 international publishing houses and literary agencies chosen for the exclusive invitation-only event, The Dreamwork Collective will have the opportunity to represent the UAE and present its entire catalogue of books for adaptation to the film industry.

Convening in the Hotel Excelsior on Lido di Venezia, the Book Adaptation Rights Market is part of the Venice Production Bridge, which stages a range of unique initiatives to advance the development and production of film. The Market provides publishers with a dedicated platform to conduct one-on-one meetings with the producers registered to the Venice International Film Festival, to discuss the adaptation of novels, dramas, children’s literature, short stories, comics, graphic novels, essays, and biographies.

As an independent publisher with a focus on authors in the Middle East and North Africa regions, The Dreamwork Collective has established a reputation for championing voices often neglected by the mainstream. The invitation to the Venice Book Adaptation Rights Market is a first among publishers across the region and recognizes the diverse voices and powerful stories backed by the all-female team.

CEO and Founder of The Dreamwork Collective, Kira Jean, said, “We are honoured to be among the select few publishers to receive Gold Accreditation and to present our titles for adaption to the film industry. It is a huge step towards introducing the powerful stories we publish in the Emirates to the screen, and we are thrilled to represent the region’s best writing talent as we meet renowned filmmakers and producers at this year’s Venice International Film Festival.”

The annual Book Adaptation Rights Market places a spotlight on a different literary genre each year and the 2023 edition will be dedicated to publications for children and young adults. Among the titles to be presented by The Dreamwork Collective is The Secret Life of Dubai’s Street Cats, by Bashayer Arif. A touching and triumphant story for cat lovers of all ages, the book has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide. Also featuring in the publisher’s children’s literature catalogue is Just Jessica, by author and Paralympian Jessica Smith, who draws on her own life experiences to tell the story of a schoolgirl who is slightly different from her friends.

Renowned among publishers worldwide as one of the top three annual gatherings in the field, the Venice Book Adaptation Rights Market has provided a platform for the sale of numerous adaptations to both cinema and television in its previous seven editions. The Dreamwork Collective will be among 12 publishers and literary agencies participating in the event for the first time this year.

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Amit Dasgupta’s new book explores the Power of embracing failure

But because of the vagaries of life, sometimes a decision needs to be made despite the possibility of it failing, yet it is still important to make such decisions. What should one’s attitude be in such a situation…writes Kavya Dubey

Failure is an inevitable part of life, and oftentimes surer and more impactful than success.

In his book ‘Why We Fail And How to Rise Above Failure’ (Wisdom Tree; Rs 325), former diplomat Amit Dasgupta is an empath in tough times, and a companion for the times ahead.

The fact is that our perception of success and failure is defined by what we consider as our purpose, but what matters more, according to Dasgupta, is “the ability to do what we are passionately driven by, irrespective of the outcome.”

In an email interview he added: “It reflects the essence of equanimity. You don’t pick up the cricket bat to bat like Tendulkar. You pick it up because it is where your passion lies.”

He went on to say, “Once you start placing ‘value’ on your efforts, you get overwhelmed by externally imposed perceptions of success or failure.”

Making a more stone-cold reference to what success is now understood as, Dasgupta said: “In today’s world, success is valued in terms of material gains and yardsticks of economic prosperity. Van Gogh didn’t paint in order to become a millionaire by selling his paintings. He painted because it was what drove him.

“His painting ‘Starry Night’, which is considered a masterpiece (‘success’, in other words), had disappointed him because, in his view, it didn’t capture what he had in mind. ‘Success’ and ‘failure’ are part of the scheme of things. They happen. The idea is to not get overwhelmed by either.”

But because of the vagaries of life, sometimes a decision needs to be made despite the possibility of it failing, yet it is still important to make such decisions. What should one’s attitude be in such a situation?

The author pointed out: “Nobody does anything in order to fail. When you are driven by passion, it is all that matters. You give your best. You then learn to define ‘success’ or ‘failure’ on your terms. What we often tend to do is to define these along lines other people expect of us. We start to constantly seek validation of our efforts from others.

“This translates into an externally imposed pressure, which often has terrible consequences and ends badly. As the existentialist philosopher Sartre reminded us, hell is other people.”

He concluded by adding: “Taking control of how we see ourselves and what the meaning of our life is, can be a transformational experience. And, it is well within our powers to achieve this. It is then that success and failure disappears and only action remains.”

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‘Lies our mothers told us’

While these problems apply to all women across the country, those in India’s middle class face an altogether unique challenge because middle-class families have mastered the art of simulating an environment of empowerment in their homes…reports Asian Lite News

Savitribai Phule, Mahasweta Devi, Amrita Pritam, Medha Patkar, Kamla Bhasin, and countless others have, since the 19th century, fought for and won equal rights for the Indian women in a variety of areas — universal suffrage, inheritance and property rights, equal remuneration, prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, and others.

Pioneering feminists believed that due to these hard-won rights, their daughters and granddaughters would have the opportunity to have rewarding careers, participate in the social and political growth of the country, gain economic independence, and become equal partners in their marriages.

On paper, it would appear that the lot of Indian women in the twenty-first century has vastly improved but, in reality, the demands of capitalism and the persistence of patriarchal attitudes have meant that they continue to lead lives that are hard and unequal, especially when compared to their male counterparts.

The Indian women are among the most overworked in the world — they spend on average 299 minutes on housework and 134 minutes on care-giving per day, shouldering 82 per cent of domestic duties. They are burdened with work from such a young age that many are forced to drop out of schools, leave the labour force, and give up dreams of financial independence.

For those who have the privilege of choosing to have a career, the only way they can make this viable is by doing a “double shift”: women are expected to do most of the housework, childcare, and care-giving, whether they have jobs or not.

While these problems apply to all women across the country, those in India’s middle class face an altogether unique challenge because middle-class families have mastered the art of simulating an environment of empowerment in their homes.

“Lies Our Mothers Told Us” (Aleph) dares to ask and evaluate if, in our patriarchal society, the assertion that “women can have it all” comes at too high a price. Taking a unique look into the state of women in India’s middle class in the 21st century, the book uses the available data and in-depth interviews to reveal the real lives of Indian women across the country.

Authored by a brilliant award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience in the field, Nilanjana Bhowmick’s book is an epiphanic read for every aspiring Indian woman.

Bhowmick has won three international awards for her reports on gender and development. She began her career as a producer for the BBC Asian Network in Birmingham and The World Today, the flagship current affairs programme of the BBC World Service Radio based in London.

She was the correspondent for TIME magazine’s South Asia bureau in New Delhi. She has written for the Washington Post, Al Jazeera, and National Geographic Magazine. Her non-fiction work, poetry, and short stories have appeared in several international anthologies.

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‘Leaders without vision put population in trouble’

Leaders with visions are able to create strategies to reform societies. It is quite natural for them to face problems and find solutions. Success is abstract and the book is an attempt to compile the success of six leaders … reports Anasudhin Azeez

Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor of the US Dr Henry Kissinger believes that leaders without a vision are putting people in trouble.

Dr Henry Kissinger @C Jurgen Frank

Addressing a press meet organised by Foreign Press Association (FPA) in London as part of his book release, Kissinger said, “Transformational changes are taking place across the world. My book, ‘Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy’, is my concern about the changes. Leaders with visions are able to create strategies to reform societies. It is quite natural for them to face problems and find solutions. Success is abstract and the book is an attempt to compile the success of six leaders.”

Responding to a question on Ukraine, 99-year-old Kissinger said leaders should have a clear idea about their political objectives and should be aware about the military situation. “You can’t simply go on fighting without any objective,” he added.

In May 2022, speaking at the World Economic Forum, Kissinger advocated for a diplomatic settlement that would restore status quo, effectively ceding Crimea and the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russian control.

Kissinger also urged Ukrainians to “match the heroism they have shown with wisdom,” arguing that “pursuing the war beyond that point would not be about the freedom of Ukraine, but a new war against Russia itself.”

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Kissinger’s suggestions, saying Ukraine would not agree to peace until Russia agreed to return Crimea and the Donbas region to Ukraine.

In his latest book, Kissinger analyses the lives of six extraordinary leaders through the distinctive strategies of statecraft which he believes they embodied. After the World War II, Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of West Germany, brought defeated and morally bankrupt Germany back into the community of nations by what Kissinger calls ‘the strategy of humility’.

According to Kissinger, Charles de Gaulle set France beside the victorious Allies and renewed its historic grandeur by ‘the strategy of will’.

During the Cold War, US President Richard Nixon gave geostrategic advantage to the United States by ‘the strategy of equilibrium’.

Regarding the Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, he said the assassinated leader brought a vision of peace to the Middle East by a ‘strategy of transcendence’.

Against the odds, Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kwan Yew created a powerhouse city-state by ‘the strategy of excellence’.

In the book, he has praised British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her determination to stay with the US despite opposition from her own party. Kissinger said that Thatcher wanted Britain to be a bridge between the US and Europe.

“Although when she came to power Britain was known as ‘the sick man of Europe’, Thatcher renewed her country’s morale and international position by ‘the strategy of conviction,’” he said.

To each of these studies, Kissinger brings historical perception, public experience and – because he knew each of their subjects and participated in many of the events he describes as personal knowledge. The book is enriched by insights and judgements such as only he could make, and concludes with his reflections on world order and the indispensability of leadership today.

Dr Henry Kissinger’s new book
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‘ How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life’

Love, the most powerful of human emotions, the source of all creativity, collaboration, insight, and excellence, has been systematically drained from our lives – our work, teams, and classrooms…reports Asian Lite News

World-renowned researcher and New York Times bestselling author Marcus Buckingham helps us discover where we’re at our best – both at work and in life.

You’ve long been told to “Do what you love”. Sounds simple, but the real challenge is how to do this in a world not set up to help you. Most of us actually don’t know the real truth of what we love – what engages us and makes us thrive – and our workplaces, jobs, schools, even our parents, are focused instead on making us conform. Sadly, no person or system is dedicated to discovering the crucial intersection between what you love to do and how you contribute it to others.

In the eye-opening and uplifting ” Love and Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life “, Buckingham shows you how to break free from this conformity – how to decode your own loves, turn them into their most powerful expression, and do the same for those you lead and those you love.

How can you use love to reveal your unique gifts? How can you pinpoint what makes you stand out from anyone else? How can you choose roles in which you’ll excel?

“Love and Work” unlocks answers to these questions and others, so you can:

Choose the right role on the team

Describe yourself compellingly in job interviews

Mould your existing role so that it calls upon the very best of you

Position yourself as a leader in such a way that your followers quickly come to trust in you

Make lasting change for your team, your company, your family, or your students

Love, the most powerful of human emotions, the source of all creativity, collaboration, insight, and excellence, has been systematically drained from our lives – our work, teams, and classrooms.

It’s time we brought love back in.

“Love and Work” shows you how.

For over twenty-five years, Marcus Buckingham has been the world’s leading researcher on strengths and human performance, as well as an entrepreneur, founding the strengths-based leadership development firm The Marcus Buckingham Company.

He began his career at Gallup and was the co-creator, with Donald O. Clifton, of StrengthsFinder. He is the New York Times bestselling author or co-author of 10 books, including “First, Break All the Rules”, “Now, Discover Your Strengths”, “StandOut 2.0”, and “Nine Lies About Work”. He is currently Head of People + Performance Research at the ADP Research Institute.

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The second chance in life

The book is a message of hope; a trigger for the downtrodden to rise through the ashes, become everything they desire and turn adversities into opportunities…reports Asian Lite News

When life gives you lemons, they say make lemonade. It’s not a typical journey documenting a man’s life from grass to grace or discussing how hard work and perseverance always pay off in the end; nor is it a story about how one poor man became rich and famous. “The Second Chance in Life” depicts a story of bravery, vision, and a never-say-die attitude in the face of life’s most difficult challenges.

The book tells the story of Dr Bhaskar Bora, who nearly lost everything after suffering a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the waist down. Nothing made sense any longer; the deck was stacked against him. In his forties, Dr. Bora was already a successful man by any standard. After graduating from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and working in a variety of odd jobs and businesses, the ambitious young man moved to the United Kingdom in 2004 and rose to become a well-known medical practitioner, acquiring five medical practises and increasing their turnover from 480,000 pounds to 2.3 million pounds in just seven years.

Life was wonderful, with a wonderful family to top it all off, until tragedy struck. In 2019, he suffered a severe spinal cord injury as a result of a botched spinal surgery. It’s ironic that he should be a victim of medical complications despite being a medical doctor himself. This resulted in the paralysis of both legs, a non-functional right hand, and a lengthy hospital stay, and only two months later, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and told he needed more surgery.

“When I first experienced this life-changing event of the spinal cord injury, my initial feelings were frustration, confusion, and fear of the future. It took some time for me to adjust. Perhaps being a doctor was both a blessing and a curse. Good because I had counselled a number of patients who were in similar situations. But it’s bad because I recognised the gravity of the situation and what was at stake ahead in the future,” he says.

Dr Bora hopes that his book, “The Second Chance in Life”, would help to amplify his voice and give hope to disabled people out there who may think it is the end of the road for them. The book is a message of hope; a trigger for the downtrodden to rise through the ashes, become everything they desire and turn adversities into opportunities.

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‘The Everyday Hero Manifesto’: An attempt to transform people’s lives

Splendid question! One that balances creativity, honest productivity and elite performance with family, peak health, noble values, community service with a lot of joy and fun…Robin Sharma speaks N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

For over twenty-five years, legendary leadership and elite performance virtuoso Robin Sharma has quietly taught business titans, professional sports superstars and entertainment royalty a revolutionary system that has helped these luminaries translate their highest ambitions into daily results. Now, in “The Everyday Hero Manifesto” -his masterwork- this path blazer has distilled the best principles, protocols and tactics from his mentoring method into a gloriously valuable work that is part playbook for explosive productivity, part instruction manual for leading a world-class life and part universal guide to becoming a spiritual heavyweight that lifts the world.

After the success of over 12 books, Robin Sharma has launched a new one titled “The Everyday Hero Manifesto”.

Robin Sharma speaks about his new book which attempts to transform people’s lives and help them achieve undefeatable positivity, spiritual freedom and undisrupted discipline to get rare-air results in life.

Who do you think is a Hero? What trait defines a Hero for you? Is it the success or the qualities and virtues?

A hero-or an Everyday Hero as I call one in my new book-is a so-called ordinary human who refuses to behave like a powerless victim. Our world tells us that we must be famous and great to be a hero yet there are wider versions of heroism. The baker rises at 5 AM to prepare beautiful goods. The coder who does their work to Beethoven-composed music. The single parent who works super hard to care for their children and yet radiates positivity and goodness. Such souls-too-are heroes. The Everyday Hero Manifesto shares a transformational methodology on how anyone can recode their lives to become far happier, more productive, braver and more peaceful.

A lot of your books are on leadership, wisdom and virtues of life. What inspired you to write a book on heroism?
Great question! Heroism is the root of all success, joyfulness and spiritual freedom. Once we learn the rules and daily habits of heroism, we not only rise in our work, become more confident, enjoy richer days and get beautiful things done, we also reclaim the self-honour that so many of us have lost. Through life’s trials, hurts and busyness.

Discipline happens to be one of the toughest areas to conquer for the current generation. Procrastination is a new-age monster. Your book is an instruction manual for discipline as well. How did you discover this problem that people face?

Yes, the book has a number of key chapters on building world-class discipline so we materialize our promise, make our ethical ambitions real and lead the lives we want, versus being reactive and living our lives like a 5-alarm fire. I should mention that The Everyday Hero Manifesto also explains the science and tactics for rest, renewal and feeling more alive. As I write in the book: “success without soulfulness is an empty victory.” Being self-disciplined is incredibly important to winning yet so is enjoying the process of your life.

I added these chapters on building heroic self-control so we become fitter, stronger and more productive in this world of dramatic distraction and limitless interruption after working with so many clients who have shared that they have mighty dreams yet failed to have the discipline to get them done.

The title The Everyday Hero Manifesto leads me to the word Manifestation. How important do you think is it to wake up every morning and manifest your dreams?

Interesting! I used “manifesto” as the work distils the method, models and protocols from my mentoring of billionaires, sports icons and movement-makers. It’s a complete instruction manual for a soaring life.

Yet, you’re right. We must grow our skills at creating the ideals that speak to the higher angels of our greatest nature. And I do think a great and joy-filled life comes from waking up (early) each morning and spending our days creating success and soulfulness, in a way that feels right to us (rather than on some definition sold to us by society).

Your book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari was a huge success and loved by all. It’s been 25 years since the launch of that book. Do you think your thought process has changed or evolved in these 25 years?
Absolutely. And I confess to this in The Everyday Hero Manifesto! I’ve grown a lot and experienced so much over these past 25 years (much good and some tragic). I used to believe in the importance of living in such a way so as to leave a legacy, so those who remain after we die will admire how we’ve lived. Now, I believe that worrying about your legacy is a waste of time. Because we’ll be dead! Just a pile of dust, in a colourful urn. The key is to live beautifully while we’re alive.

I also used to believe that to be ultra-productive one must work harder. Now I believe that “elite performance without deep recovery is a fool’s sport.” Rest is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

Finally, when I wrote Monk, I was very into a super-austere life. While my life is still quite simple and I can be monastic sometimes, I’m more balanced. I enjoy being in the world and savouring its gifts (good food, films and splendid friends) while also tending to my spiritual growth.

You’re an inspiration to many people. Who is your inspiration in life? What quality of theirs do you admire the most?

My mother and my father. My beloved readers from across the planet who model heroism and creativity and kindness daily. Mahatma Gandhi. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Hedy Lamarr, Madame Curie, Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali.

How would you describe a beautiful life?
Splendid question! One that balances creativity, honest productivity and elite performance with family, peak health, noble values, community service with a lot of joy and fun.

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