Books of My Life

Storytelling is a crucial pillar of our lives. In many ways, the human experience is defined as a series of stories. For millions, the most memorable and evocative tales live in the hallowed pages of books, for there is no medium more powerful than the human imagination. Books have a remarkable power to draw us in, to connect us with one another, to educate and entertain; they take us on journeys through love, pain, inspiration and everywhere in between. Arts and culture editor at The National, Hareth Al Bustani, will take listeners on their own journey by delving into the lives, minds and untold stories of writers through the books that shaped their experiences. In season two of the Books of My Life podcast, he sits down with influential figures from an array of fields to explore the books that have left the deepest imprints on their lives. They reveal the stories, characters and ideas that resonate with them most and how they shape their values, beliefs and careers. The series can be downloaded and subscribed to on all popular podcast platforms and apps.

Alexander McCall Smith, known as Sandy to his friends, writes around 3000 words a day, many days before 7am. Host Rupert Hawksley met up with the author and found out Sandy’s earliest reading memories, his gravest social embarrassment and the book that made him cry.  Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae  https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

When Arianna Huffington left Greece for Cambridge she could barely speak English but still made it to become the head of the debate society during her time there. She co-founded the Huffington Post in 2005 and served as editor in Chief till 2016. Host Rupert Hawksley spoke to the woman who has authored 15 books but told the first publisher who approached her, “I can’t write”. Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

Ian Rankin didn’t think he was writing a crime novel when he sat down and started writing the first Rebus novel. Host Rupert Hawksley speaks to the acclaimed writer about what he thinks of having sold more than 30 million novels and which very famous crime writer Rankin has surprisingly never read. Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and a prominent household name in the UK having written numerous books and made many documentaries about Ancient Rome. Host Rupert Hawksley spoke to the British National Treasure about her early obsession with a frightening tale, the changing meaning of Jane Eyre and her allegiance to Germaine Greer.  Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

Sir Bryn Terfel started singing at a very young age growing up on a farm in Wales. Host Rupert Hawksley found the renowned bass-baritone singer very entertaining but also found keeping him on the topic of books a little challenging. He did manage to pin down a few of his favourite reads including his early fascination with The Mabinogion, the Welsh stories dating back to the 12th century.  Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

Irvine Welsh’s book Trainspotting is largely considered one of the best pieces of literature of the 20th century but according to Welsh it only came about due to a string of failures in his musical career. Host Rupert Hawksley speaks to the Scottish author about his vast reading history and which books gave him hope when he was struggling in the depths of addiction. Be part of the conversation by sending us the books that affected you the most on booksofmylife@thenational.ae https://www.thenational.ae/podcasts

Subscribe to a new show from The National where we interview celebrities on the books that changed their lives.   bf4350047bb8263e820a822a8ab20dbbe00a20ed

In the sixth and final episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews English actor, comedian and author Ben Miller. Having found success with the BAFTA-winning Armstrong and Miller sketch show, he has gone on to feature in countless films and TV shows, including Johnny English, Paddington 2 and Bridgerton. He's also written a string of bestselling children’s books, including How I Became a Dog Called Midnight, The Night We Got Stuck in a Story and more – a passion that began by writing a story for his son. In this episode, Miller discusses the books that inspired him the most when he was young, and what drove him to write for a new generation of readers.

In the fifth episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews Kuwaiti-Palestinian author and academic Shahd Alshammari. Alshammari has a profound relationship with literature – she credits it with saving her life. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a young age, she has overcome great physical and mental obstacles to become a beacon of inspiration, strength and hope through extensive writing about disability and gender in the Arabian Gulf. Her memoir Head Above Water shines a powerful light on the rarely heard non-Western narratives exploring illness, and she brings a crucial female Arab voice to the conversation. In this episode, Alshammari discusses how the classics and Arabic literature drove a passion for life, the importance of destigmatising mental health and the need for more representation of people living with disabilities.

In the fourth episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews British writer and explorer Benedict Allen. The real-life Indiana Jones, Allen has nearly died nine times, adventuring everywhere from the Amazon to the Arctic. Keen to minimise his impact on local communities and surroundings, he never takes any GPS equipment and builds local expeditions from the ground wherever he goes. Allen has also written a dozen books documenting his exploits. He recalls being inspired by the stories of Dr David Livingstone, Peter Matthiessen and Wilfred Thesiger, people he says had a dream and were prepared to take risks to make it come true.

In the third episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews Indian historian, journalist and author Shrabani Basu. The truly great history writer walks a fine line between dramatisation and documentation – a balance Basu has mastered admirably. Basu famously wrote Victoria and Abdul, a historical novel later adapted into a feature film. Somewhat of a sleuth herself, she also wrote a fascinating account of Arthur Conan Doyle’s efforts to rescue a Parsi lawyer from injustice. In the episode, Al Bustani and Basu discuss the remarkable correlations between history and journalism, and why the best history writers have to be both.

In the second episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews chef, TV personality and writer Bobby Chinn. Born to Egyptian and Chinese parents in New Zealand, and raised in Egypt and the UK, Chinn worked on Wall Street before deciding to become a chef. Chinn launched his culinary career in San Francisco before opening a restaurant in Vietnam to global acclaim. Since then, he has gone on to conquer the world of television, where the globe-trotting celebrity chef serves as a judge on Top Chef Middle East. However, he remains committed to sustainability and philanthropy, recognised for three years as a tourism ambassador for Vietnam in Europe and, since 2012, a WWF Ambassador for Sustainable Seafood and Coral Triangle Awareness. Chinn is, whether he admits it or not, also a published author, having written books on his adventures with Vietnamese food centred on authenticity. During this episode of Books of My Life, Chinn discusses his favourite stories, the life of Vincent Van Gogh, ayurvedic diets and everything in-between.

In the first episode of Books of My Life season two, host Hareth Al Bustani interviews best-selling British author Jeffrey Archer. Starting with the blockbuster hit Kane and Abel in 1979, Archer has gone on to sell more than 275 million books. But there’s a lot more to him than that. Once a member of parliament, he rose to the heights of deputy chairman of the Conservatives and was the party's London mayoral candidate in 1999, only to resign after being embroiled in a perjury scandal that saw him sentenced to four years in jail. Following his stint behind bars, his prison diaries achieved great success, making him the only author to have had best-selling titles across fiction, non-fiction and short stories.