I learned a new term this weekend: ‘muzzle velocity’, which means the velocity with which a bullet or shell leaves the muzzle of a gun. The context within which I heard the term was, however, entirely unrelated to a firing range, although, the metaphors do pile up.

The words were spoken by Trump ally, strategist and populist, Steve Bannon, as a ‘flood the zone’ strategy of overwhelming the public, the opposition, and in particular the media, and so far, it has worked. 

The world has been stunned by the barrage of executive orders, press conferences, and numerous utterances by the new administration (and those to be) in Washington, and is struggling to regain its footing in the face of relentless gut punches.

We are all, governments, stock markets, and humans, alike, feeling unsure, afraid and off-kilter, which is the entire point of the exercise, as that puts us at our most vulnerable. The accompanying sense of urgency makes it seem dangerous or unwise to take a minute, a breath, or whatever else we need to take, to calm down and think twice. But that is exactly what everyone needs to do. 

It is time to compartmentalize. 

The importance of good governance, of decent politics, and of following the news, makes it difficult to subscribe to the prevailing sentiment of our times, namely to shut it all off and out. It is essential to know what is happening, for how else can we react to potential injustices, or stand up for what we believe. However, there is a tipping point; a point at which the ‘muzzle velocity’ renders us incapable of thinking, of sleeping, and of enjoying life. 

When asked how they manage to juggle it all, people with vast and vital areas of (sometimes 24/7) responsibility, often describe some version of ‘compartmentalization’. They focus fully on one thing at a time. They strive to isolate areas of work and responsibility, they leave it behind, until it is time to refocus. It may not always be the perfect solution, but it does allow for respite, and for experiencing joy in times of difficulty. 

So, as we wonder about the possible fallout of the current tectonic geopolitical shifts, it is essential to carve out time for community, for reading, for reflection, for whatever nurtures our souls and not merely our minds. If we make sure to give each of these areas their own (spacious) compartments, we will have found the super power we need to dodge the bullets. 

At Books & Company, we are here to help, and the tools at our disposal are books, bookclubs, community events, coffee, excellent service, friendly faces, and comfortable chairs. 

We are thrilled to announce a new and exciting bookclub partnership with our friends at Jazzed on Grains. 'A Readable Feast' is a bookclub for 'foodie readers' looking for an excuse to combine food related books with good food. The bookclub will meet bi-monthly, enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal, and discuss a book. What’s not to love about that!

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly Books & Company team

A few days ago, in 2024, I watched a young woman in Damascus trying to balance her hopes and fears for a new Syria. She was strong, determined, and articulate about what she saw as the possibilities and pitfalls for her country as it treads carefully into a new and more promising future. 

I saw her excitement, and felt her trepidation, almost viscerally, as it reminded me of pictures and footage from those heady days in 1979 during the Islamic revolution in Iran, after the Shah had fled the country, and Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile in Paris. When asked what he felt upon setting foot on Iranian soil, the Ayatollah famously stated: ‘Nothing’. Perhaps that should have been a warning.

After a few jubilant days, the regime clamped down on women, and the iron fist has remained clinched ever since. Hopefully, Syrian women will be spared what has befallen their Iranian, not to mention Afghani sisters, and the world will not stand by in silence should the ugly face of oppression show itself among the new leaders in Damascus.

The fireworks are over, a new year is slowly taking hold, and there is much work to be done. Washington will see a new sheriff (and his posse) ride into town later this month, and what that will mean for the world, no one truly knows. 

One thing, however, is certain. Trump’s is not a regime interested in strengthening democratic values, or upholding the rights of the vulnerable, at home or elsewhere. Afraid of being caught in the crosshairs, one by one, corporations and their leaders are falling in line, choosing to placate rather than provoke; retire rather than rise up. This is, perhaps, not surprising, but it is certainly disappointing. 

How long until this lack of morality and abundance of self interest turns into a free for all of infighting, backstabbing and utter chaos. Probably not long, and in the meantime, those who did not vote for Trump and those who saw him as their savior, will look on in dismay. The question is, will their disappointment be strong enough to unite them in what used to be the base of the Democratic Party?

Europe, meanwhile, could benefit from spending less time trying to position itself in relation to the United States, and more time fixing its own problems, strengthening its own shaky democracies, and making most of its untapped potential. With Russia on our border, and Putin in the driver’s seat, we must rethink and re-evaluate, but we must do so without the doom and gloom that drives people into rabbit holes of fearful self sufficiency. Focus must be on opportunity, not abandon. 

So, as we, once again, cross the threshold of a new year, we too carry with us our hopes and fears in a balancing act that with a little luck and a lot of focus will keep us securely walking the tightrope. For while our fears are based on the unknown, our hopes must stay securely pinned to the well-known; that most people, by far, are good, and that our shared humanity has carried us thus far, and is more than capable of taking us beyond whatever may come. 

Happy New Year!
Isabella and your friendly Books & Company team

Wow! Summer 2024 is definitely one for the history books - with ample opportunity to ask that (in)famous question: ’Where were you when..?’.

‘Where were you when Simone Biles literally catapulted herself back to the top of the Olympic podium?’

'Where were you (eyes covered, toes curled) when Joe Biden and Donald Trump met on the debate stage?’ and ‘Where were you when Joe Biden (finally) decided to step down?’

‘Where were you when a surprise coalition upended a practically given French election result?’

And just this past week, ‘Where were you when riots broke out across the UK?’

These moments obviously don’t even cover a summer where the war in Ukraine continues to rage, as tensions in the Middle East fail to ease.

So pulling the plug and just laying in a field listening to the grass grow was not just a ‘nice to have’ this year, but also a ‘need to have’; to preserve one’s sanity, but also to remain positive about our shared future. 

We need the energy to stay informed about - and alert to - changes that have been creeping towards us, in some cases for years, but have now developed into full-blown crises. We see autocrats either remaining or ascending to power across the globe, we see inequality on the rise as those who have remain resistant to cede wealth to the have nots, and we see migrant patterns changing daily in large part due to climate change. 

But equally, we are slowly, slowly hearing louder voices for change, opposing autocrats, considering the consequences of inequality, and developing new and exciting ideas to battle climate change. 

The studies have landed, the books are being published in droves, and the dangers are so clear and present that even the debates are becoming more nuanced. Yes, there will always be some who prefer the ‘black or white’ responses, those for whom the essential gray matter between the poles doesn’t serve them well, but hopefully a restful summer has given us all the drive to argue against opportunistic polarization and for unity.

Even the most self aware among us struggle with confirmation bias, but I will risk it and report from my recent trip to America, that there is a palpable sense of relief. No one really knows where the country is headed yet, but there are now two people at the top of the Democratic ticket who reflect, to a much greater extent, the population of the country, be they immigrants, people of color, or a slice of white Middle America; two people who prefer to look to the future instead of beating up on the past, and that, for now, at least, feels more hopeful.

Illustration: Zen Pencils

Historians might disagree - and they might very well be correct - but it is, nevertheless, difficult to think of a time when the world felt as much on edge as it does right now.

Should Donald Trump get elected in November (and Narendra Modi next month), we will have authoritarian strongmen ruling India, China, Russia, and The United States - not to mention the less than democratically minded leaders wreaking havoc elsewhere.

What this will mean for the future of the world remains to be seen, and while it is essential to remain optimistic, there is, as it stands, much reason to fear for the lives of the more fragile communities, the oppressed, the minorities and the unsafe.

As a result, there has never been a more important time to be aware of, to focus - or indeed insist - upon adherence to Human Rights and the Rule of Law. 

It is therefore with immense pleasure that we round out this Spring season’s events calendar by inviting you to a very special conversation with Elaine Pearson, Director of Human Rights Watch Asia, on 
 

Wednesday, June 12
19:00 - 21:00 

Elaine will talk about how she came to work in the field of Human Rights, and the importance of the work in today’s world. We will discuss her exciting her new book, 'Chasing Wrongs and Rights', and get a front row seat to the inner workings of the UN committees as well as the front lines. 

To sign up and read more about the event, please click below or visit our events page.

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

Dear friends,

May 2009 was, by all accounts, a relatively unremarkable month as far as world events go, but in our tiny corner of the world, I am happy to say, it will forever be remembered as the month we opened our doors and invited you in. 

That was 15 years ago this month, and the sun was shining, just as it is today. We had, what I believe is called a ‘soft opening’, which really just meant that I could be as (insanely) nervous as I wanted (and was), because only friends and family knew we existed. 

I am proud to say that things have changed A LOT since that day in May, and that it has been my immense privilege ever since, and with the best colleagues imaginable, to build a book community that can rival the best of them. 

In celebration of our 15th birthday, and the incredible staying power of great Books & amazing Company, we invite you to join us on 

Friday, May 31 from 15:00-18:00
for drinks and nibbles
 

So mark your calendars, drop by, say hi, reminisce about your favorite reads, events and encounters, and help us celebrate 15 years of literary magic. 

Gratefully yours,

Isabella and your wonderful team at Books & Company

RSVP is not mandatory, but would be helpful so we can plan a bit. 

In September 1997, 14-year-old Smadar Elhanan was on her way to buy books for the upcoming school year when she was killed in an attack by a Hamas suicide bomber, and in 2007, 10-year-old Abir Aramin was on her way home from school when she was killed by shots fired by the Israeli border police.

Losing a child would bring anyone to their knees in hopelessness and despair, wondering how to continue, and in this case how to live without hate in your heart. But for fathers, Bassam Aramin and Ramin Elhanan, their grief - and the realization that they were, sadly, not alone in their experience - gave way to co-founding 'Parents Circle - Families Forum (PCFF)', a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 600 families, all of whom have lost an immediate family member to the ongoing conflict.

Promoting reconciliation over conflict is not difficult in the comfort of a peaceful country thousands of kilometers away, and with no stake in the matter, but to do so in the midst of war and having lost a loved one takes real courage, and we are, therefore, extremely honored to be able to host a talk with Ramin Elhanan and Bassam Aramin at Books & Company on
 

Tuesday, January 16 at 19:00
 

We hope you will join us for an evening with these two remarkable peacemakers.

To sign up and read more on the speakers, please click below or visit our events page.

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company

Ramin Elhanan and Bassam Aramin are in Denmark to accept, on behalf of PCFF, the 'PL Foundation' prize awarded to extraordinary defenders of human rights. The award was founded by Poul Lauritzen, a Danish businessman and member of the Danish Resistance during World War II.

We are grateful to members of the foundation's board, Anders Jerichow and Eva Maria Lassen, for making an evening at Books & Company possible.

Happy New Year, dear friends.

Our desire - and technical ability - to know everything, everywhere and at once, has all but done away with the concept of surprise. So the message of abdication delivered to millions of Danes with a barely perceptible ‘gotcha’ smile by a queen who has so flawlessly served her country for 52 years was a welcome experience, one that sent shock waves through all homes and gatherings, and reminded us that not everything need last forever.

At 6:05 PM on December 31, 2023, an elegant and eloquent woman stepped down gracefully from an actual throne with a final message of - and call for - understanding, rapprochement, union and humanity, and the gasp of astonishment felt simultaneously as a release of breath held for most of 2023.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark did not herself choose, nor was she elected for the role that would define her life. Yet, she succeeded with deference and respect where most leaders, who very much choose for themselves and are indeed elected, fail.

The monarchy is in many ways and for many reasons, a relic of the past, albeit an extremely popular one, so the job awaiting King Frederik X is an awesome one. In a time when monarchists of the past (and present) face being outnumbered by a growing number of republicans of the future, it is more than ever a role that calls for serious reflection, one that can do much good in polarized times, but also risks falling flat and making itself redundant if it doesn’t realize the pitfalls alongside its potentials.

Obviously, the peaceful passing of the baton in an equally peaceful country of 6 million, means next to nothing in a world on fire, but it has given us all a much needed moment of pause before we embark on what we can only hope will be a better year.

With nearly 50% of the world’s population heading to the polls this year, 2024 will be a year of huge consequence to us all. There will be drama, there will be horror, there will be comedy and there will, hopefully, be joyful resolution and relief, and some of us will be right there in the front row popcorn in hand watching, commenting, shaking our heads and steadying our hands.

Through it all, we will continue to curate, care and challenge through that genius tool of enlightenment: the book. We hope to engage and entertain, and plan to ensure that Books & Company, as it enters its 15th year of existence, remains a hub of insight, inclusion, consideration and kindness.

I enter 2024 with immense gratitude to all our customers, so many of whom have become ‘customer friends’, for all your incredible support, AND to the amazing team of colleagues without whom there would be no Books & Company, and who make it an absolute joy to show up for work every day.

Thank you, and all the very best for 2024!

Isabella

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by AFK (Away From Keyboard)

Fair judgment requires distance, knowledge, context and impartiality, none of which can ever be complete or absolute, but must remain goals to strive for.

It follows, therefore, that it is not fair to ask a father whose child has been kidnapped from a Kibbutz or a daughter whose mother has been killed in Gaza how they feel about the perpetrators of the crimes committed against their loved ones. Their hearts and minds must be allowed to grieve and to find the strength to work their way back to a life worth living.

It also follows, that it is not only fair to ask, but should indeed be required of the rest of us to contribute to a balanced, informed reaction to horrific events to which we are not ourselves party, but merely heartbroken onlookers. Events that in this case might very well have repercussions far beyond their relatively narrow (Israel-Gaza) border.

In addition to spreading news, social media successfully creates - and continuously contributes to - a growing and increasingly perilous divide between the two sides of the conflict, reinforcing a reality where many choose affirmation over information.

Add to this the technological advances that allow both sides to fan the flames through fake images and stories, and what we are left with is a heightened sense of confusion and despair at the state of the world.

The strongest antidote to this is our own search for reliable information through trusted and vetted sources of which there are many on both sides, and, of course, books, fiction and non, written over the course of the past 75 years to help understand a cause that continues to baffle and frustrate; a cause that so often seems hopeless, but one that we must continue to face, however painful, until a solution is found that will bring peace to the children of Israel and Palestine.

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company