Bibliophiles from all around the world are arriving in droves to relish on a feast of literary content as the doors of the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) have been thrown open today, marking the commencement of a cultural odyssey that will span 12 extraordinary days.
This year, the book fair celebrates a host of renowned authors, media personalities, film celebrities, thought leaders, and global influencers, including Nobel Prize laureates and bestselling authors.
Nobel Prize laureates and bestselling authors
The stellar lineup of guests includes Nigerian author Wole Soyinka, who was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first sub-Saharan African to be honoured in that category.
Held under the theme ‘We Speak Books’, the event will feature the participation of English-born Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker Malcolm Timothy Gladwell, whose first six books made The New York Times Best Sellers list, and who was included on The Times’ list of 100 most influential people.
Other acclaimed writers anticipated at the event include Swedish bestselling author and active lecturer Thomas Erikson, whose books have sold over 7 million copies and have been translated into 60 languages; and British Pakistani novelist, writer, and brand consultant Mohsin Hamid, author of ‘Exit West’.
Space, cinema, and economy icons
In addition to the literary luminaries, the diverse lineup of participants includes astronauts, actors, and experts in investment and personal development. This year’s edition proudly hosts American astronaut and US Navy officer Sunita Lyn Williams, renowned for her participation in space expeditions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Bollywood celebrity Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has authored the book ‘Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible’ will also be in attendance. Joining her is another Indian, Monika Halan, a trusted personal finance writer, speaker, television personality, and author, offering expertise in money management and investment.
Also gracing the international book fair is Irish author and speaker Vivian James Rigney, whose book ‘Naked at The Knife-Edge,’ provides a gripping firsthand account of his Everest summit, showcasing not just the physical challenges that he had to endure, but also the mental and emotional hurdles that comes as part of such an extraordinary feat.
As the President and CEO of Inside Us LLC, a global executive coaching consultancy, Rigney seamlessly integrates the profound lessons from his Everest journey into transformative leadership development initiatives for some of the world’s foremost companies and their executive teams.
SIBF 2023 is hosting a record-breaking 2,033 publishers from 108 countries, showcasing over 1.5 million titles; 1700 activities featuring 215 guests from 69 countries; in addition to 460 events in the cultural programme with 127 Arab and non-Arab authors and artists from 33 countries.
Sharjah International Book Fair 2023 is being held at the Expo Centre Sharjah from 1-12 November, 2023.
Visiting hours:
(Daily): 10am – 10pm. (Fridays): 4pm – 11pm.
