 In the early years of his dental practice, Alaa Al Aswany had an office in Cairo’s deteriorating Yacoubian Building—eventually turning his experiences there into a successful novel by the same title. This interview with the Egyptian author highlights his views on social issues affecting the Islamic world as well as his attitudes towards literature and the West. Guiding viewers through his favorite haunts, past and present, among the streets of Cairo, Al Aswany addresses several topics—including the 2005 Danish cartoon controversy, the damage caused by stereotypes, and the author’s belief that dictatorship, not fundamentalism, is the “disease” which Egypt and other Islamic nations must cure. (29 minutes)
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