Pico Iyer – The Global Soul
Geoffrey Miller – Spent
Ann Jones – Kabul in Winter
Tim Macintosh-Smith – Travels in Yemen
Allegra Stratton – Mujhababes
Simon Kuper – Soccernomics
Al Ries & Laura Ries – The Fall of Advertising
Jake Adelstein – Tokyo Vice
William Sutcliffe – Are You Experienced
National Geographic Adventure – Ten Years of Adventure Writing
George Fulton is something of a big name in Pakistan – reality TV star who was offered Pakistani citizenship and is certainly the most famous westerner in the country. One wonders if his love affair with Pakistan has affected his critical faculties. His opinion piece in the Express Tribune was a ridiculous piece of writing, which I have written a response to that should should be published in the Tribune in the next few days. Will post that here once it goes live.
In other news, I will be on flydubai’s first flight into Kabul on May 17th to get write some articles on the city. Should be a great trip – will post up my thoughts on here while I am there.
‘Spotlight switches to the Oscars of sport’ booms the National’s headline in today’s paper. Really? The ‘Oscars’ of sport? (notice my use of quotation marks indicating it’s not actually the Oscars of sport, that’s just a made up phrase).
The reason that sports awards ceremonies are so grim is that all the prizes that matter are won on the pitch/court/track etc. Here are the differences between a Laureus World Sports Award and the Oscars:
1. The Laureus World Sports Awards was founded in 1999
2. It was set up by a car company and a luxury goods manufacturer
3. It was set up to make money
4. Winning an award will make no difference to your career
5. Prince Albert of Monaco will be there
Of course William Johnson, the National’s Chief Sports Reporter breathlessly describes the build up:
“Over the next two days the Emirates Palace hotel will be a haven for sporting connoisseurs as heroes and heroines from past and present eras strut their stuff”
“Gongs for achievements with a disability and in “action” sports are also on offer at what promises to be another landmark night in Abu Dhabi’s history of hosting major sporting occasions.”
This is drivel. Maybe William Johnson struts his stuff while under the spotlight at a haven, but that wouldn’t make much sense now would it?
Off to Beirut now to pitch Berytech on a mobile apps concept myself and Eamonn have been working on (with the help of Narain). Should be an interesting weekend, not least when I make a trip to the Hezbollah gift shop and pick up some pillow cases. Will be staying in the Le Gray Hotel and will be writing a number of travel pieces…
New piece in the National’s Travel section – a Weekend guide to Seoul. Off to Djibouti this weekend to the do the same. Should be an interesting ride…..
Read Ed Kosner’s autobiography today – another good thing about Kinokuniya is that it actually sells media books – and although useful for those thinking about a career as editors, it was pretty dull for at least a third of it. The book, replete with cheesy cover, chronicles Kosner’s stewardship of Newsweek, New York magazine, Esquire and the Daily News. It was quite a career, just a shame the book does not live up to the CV.
Two articles published in the last week – one for HK magazine in Hong Kong and one in Silk Road, Cathay Pacific’s in-flight magazine. Both articles were written in August, which illustrates how long it can take to get something published.
Issue 2 is out – better than issue 1, 3am cover changes for the better. Issue 3 looking like the best cover yet. The beauty of doing an insert magazine is not having to worry about coverlines. So I didn’t. In other news, Conde Nast launching Love, a piece of good news after a month of layoffs in Dubai. Survival of the fittest in the UAE with multi-tasking the order of the day – hence the 3am finishes.
Have been hard at work relaunching the Khaleej Times’ weekend magazine – came up with a new title, sections, format and tone – first issue came out last Friday and was panned by the loyal readers, but given a good reception by those in the media. The magazine will get better – just finalised the second issue’s cover at 2.22am.
Spanish Esquire have some amazing covers – simple, elegant and with the absence of coverlines that clutter up so much on the newsstand. Check the latest issue with Daniel Craig. Really good stuff.
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