S2 Ep 3: Nadia Wassef, Diwan (Cairo, Egypt)

Diwan is a story, not just a store. And today's we will hear the story of this Egyptian bookshop from its founder, Nadia Wassef. Opened in 2002 as the only independent bookstore of its kind in Egypt, Diwan enchants its patrons with its mix of east and west, old and new, serious and playful.  They say ... "Our approach is to enrich our clients’ lives by transforming the act of “buying a book” into a cultural, artistic, and culinary experience, and offering them a visually appealing and relaxing ambiance every time they step into our stores." It is all about intentionality: every detail is thought through, from the name - Diwan, to the aesthetic of the bookshops, and of course to their wide book selection, in Arabic, but also English, French and German. If you cannot visit Cairo and Diwan at the moment, what you can do is read Nadia Wassef's very recently published book, Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller. The book will take you back in time, to visit the Cairo of long ago, through the eyes of a charming bookseller. It will make you even more aware of the meaning of a bookshop for a community, even in times as troubling as a revolution. Nadia kindly agreed to chat with me today about Diwan, her all time favourite books, and what success means for a bookshop.