BOOKS IN BRIEF
Suqraat Ka Desh
Dr Zahid Munir Amir
Translating to ‘The Land of Socrates’, this account of travels across Greece takes in the architecture, the mythology, the museums and the immensely hospitable people of the Mediterranean country. The author intersperses his observations with thoughts on Greek philosophers, including Aristotle, Plato and, of course, Socrates. An interesting chapter compares Socrates’s student Aristotle and the latter’s student Alexander, with the Hindu sage Chanakya and his student Chandragupta Maurya, who each went on to consolidate great empires.
Thoughts on Islam and Current Issues: A Compilation of Essays
Nikhat Sattar
In this collection of articles, dating from 2012 up to 2019 and published in Dawn and other journals and websites, the author addresses topics of religious terrorism, the deep chasm between beliefs and practices of Muslims and connections between social and religious issues. The articles and essays diverge from the traditional discourse on religion and the author attempts to demonstrate that alternate views and interpretations are essential for Muslims in order to successfully emerge from the stagnant state in which they have existed for long.
Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, July 11th, 2021