5 Arabic Books You Should be Reading- in English

A group of Arab intellectuals, academics, thinkers and writers give their top five Arabic reads translated in English, whether from Arabic or French. Iconic and venerable Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz is a constant fixture, but texts range from pre-Islamic texts to poetry to more contemporary entries.

Ever wondered what "The 12 Days of Christmas Carol" would be like in a modern day setting? Welcome to Stressmas- this Lebanese designer's version of Christmas, where leaving work early is just a fantasy.

"On the 1st day of Stressmas
My boss said to me
You don’t really think you’re leaving work early!"

This health conscious blogger raises awareness to a new kind of problem: Obesity and social class. Ironically, these has been a role reversal. The poor are suffering from worse diets and growing rates of obesity. With the obscene rates of gym memberships and the cheap prices of fast food, who can blame them. This blogger believes that Middle Eastern government must take an initiative towards enlightening its people.

American academic Joshua Landis reports on the economic, social and security situation. The consensus may not be a positive one, but these in-depth reports and selected headlines offer extra information for those wanting what's behind the news.

"Law and order are slowly collapsing in Syria, along with reliable supplies of basic goods and services."