Mai Ghoussoub A A A A - artist, writer and co-founder of Saqi A A A A- commented widely on culture, aesthetics and the Middle East, and published many books in English, Arabic and French. Gathered here is a selection of her finest writings A A A A - on war (in the Middle East and elsewhere), the sexist gaze, censorship, Abu Ghraib, the city, art A A A 's encounter with tragedy A A A A - always laced through with Ghoussoub A A A 's signature humor and an enduring sense of humanity.