By Naguib mahfouz The Arab world has been invited as a guest of honour in the Frankfurt Book Fair, slated for 6 October. This comes at a time when many are wondering if books are still the jewel in the crown of culture, the uncontested champion of readable matter. With the Internet becoming such a powerful media, and with many books available in cyberspace, the question seems valid. Books, however, are more than just a means of transporting information. They are convenient in form, friendlier in handling and easier on the eye than their cyber rivals. This is why we still see book fairs held regularly. This is why people still line their shelves with prized volumes. This is not to say that cyber culture is inferior to books, perhaps only in terms of the pleasure and convenience of reading. What matters in the end is culture -- its content and accessibility. It is up to readers to decide how best to divide their time between surfing the net and sitting back with a book in hand. The Frankfurt Book Fair is one indication that books are going to survive the cyber revolution, perhaps even feed on and benefit from it. Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
