If this book had been titled something like “How to listen” or “How to be all ears,” the title would have been appropriate to the content and directly explained the book’s focus. Why, then, does the title prefer to obscure its subject rather than reveal it, running counter to a title’s traditional function? The reason is that this book is grounded in the experience of the unseen listener. Speakers are seen when they speak, whereas listeners recede into the background of the scene dominated by speakers. Listeners spend a long time listening to that around them, and hope to maintain their wall-flower position when they speak—their speech having no need to take front row or appear in the spotlight. The title of this book conceals its subject in a desire to protect the listener from returning to the spotlight once he or she has left it.

Kayfa ta is a non-profit Arabic publishing initiative that uses the popular format of how-to manuals (kayfa=how, ta=to) to respond to some of today’s pertinent needs; be they skills, thoughts, sensibilities, emotions, tools or other. Kayfa ta was founded in 2012 by Maha Maamoun and Ala Younis. Kayfa ta publishes in book and exhibition formats.

Author: Haytham El Wardany
Year: 2018
Pages: 64
Dimensions: 9.5 x 15 cm
Cover: Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-95679-369-1
Language: English