Artists explore themes of vision and cognition for the global expo Works by Hamra Abbas, Asma Belhamar, Afra al Dhaheri, Olafur Eliasson, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Shaikha al Mazrou, Monira al Qadiri, Khalil Rabah, Abdullah al Saadi, Yinka Shonibare and Haegue Yang respond to the Arab scholar Ibn al Haytham's 1021 text The Book of Optics.

In the book Al Wasl Plaza: Dubai Expo the architects, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture highlight the inspiration and innovation of the design of Al Wasl Plaza. The book explores each aspect of the project including the garden, the trellis, three office buildings, and two hotel buildings, all of which serve to define the center of Expo 2020. The book is essentially divided into three phases of design. The first phase focuses on the inspiration and conception of the project. Architectural studies, sketches, and models show the process that led to the final iconic form. The second phase introduces each of the parcels including the garden, trellis, offices, hotels, the Leadership Pavilion, and the Arrivals Plaza. Each chapter illustrates the design process, architectural details, and the development of the technical systems. The third and final phase summarizes the construction process, sustainability achievements, and looks to the future to reveal the District 2020 legacy master plan concept by AS+GG.

In this original and illuminating book, Denise A. Spellberg reveals a little-known but crucial dimension of the story of American religious freedom—a drama in which Islam played a surprising role. In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qur’an. This marked only the beginning of his lifelong interest in Islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on Middle Eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on Islam as it relates to English common law. Jefferson sought to understand Islam notwithstanding his personal disdain for the faith, a sentiment prevalent among his Protestant contemporaries in England and America. But unlike most of them, by 1776 Jefferson could imagine Muslims as future citizens of his new country. Based on groundbreaking research, Spellberg compellingly recounts how a handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jefferson’s political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Founders’ ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done. As popular suspicions about Islam persist and the numbers of American Muslim citizenry grow into the millions, Spellberg’s revelatory understanding of this radical notion of the Founders is more urgent than ever. Thomas Jefferson’s Qur’an is a timely look at the ideals that existed at our country’s creation, and their fundamental implications for our present and future.

"Can you distil the essence of a country into just 100 words? We think so. 'Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Word' will make you fall in love with a country with one of the most unusual histories out there. It'll also show you how languages intersect and whole cultures arise, and make you realise just how interwoven our world is. Along the way, you'll find out why quarks are made from curd cheese, learn what elephants have to do with a Central European country, and discover how pierogi saved an entire town. Plus, you'll get to enjoy 100 illustrations by Polish graphic designer Magda Burdzyńska"--Back cover.

"The Congo Basin in Central Africa harbors approximately one quarter of the world's rainforests. Second in size only to that of the Amazon, the heart of this rainforest is populated by communities whose lives are vastly different from much of the rest of the world. This stunning photo series is part of the Tales of Us project, which sets out to demonstrate that the powerful but fragile ecosystems and the mythologies of the peoples who call them home are inextricably linked. In this book, local Congolese living in the Mbomo District staged and enacted the oral history of the Congo for fine art photographer Pieter Henket under the canopy of the ancient rainforest from which these stories sprang." --Page 4 of cover.

When Expo 2019 Beijing came to a close on October 9, 2019, it was hailed one of the most successful expos in history. Adopting ‘Live Green, Live Better’ as its theme, the International Horticultural Exhibition Beijing revolved around a philosophy of horticulture as central to helping humanity rediscover the principles of ecological civilization. With environmentalism at its heart, the event aimed to highlight the need for unity among the global community in tackling climate-related issues, and the wider challenges facing humanity. Beijing’s expo welcomed more than nine million visitors over the course of six months. In that time, rich dialogue took place between millions of attendees, more than 110 participating countries and international organizations, and around 2,000 VIP visiting groups. The exhibition’s influence was felt far beyond Beijing, with two billion online visitors. Setting the standard for future expos, Beijing Expo offers valuable lessons as Dubai puts the final touches to Expo 2020. This paper offers a detailed analysis of the many months of preparation and planning that went into Expo 2019 Beijing, exploring its guiding principles and the key factors in its success, such as a scientific approach to its design and robust organizational practices. The paper also considers the overall impact of Beijing expo, as both a model for others to follow and an inspirational example of a major event that was able to galvanize the international community behind an important cause.