Cairo, 2002. with her sister, Hind, and their friend, Nihal, Wassef founded Diwan, a fiercely independent bookstore. They were three young women with no business degrees, no formal training, and nothing to lose. At the time, culture was languishing under government mismanagement, and books were considered a luxury, not a necessity. Ten years later, Diwan had become a rousing success, with ten locations, 150 employees, and a fervent fan base. Here she tells the story of this journey, her impassioned regulars, and the many people, who said Diwan would never work. -- adapted from jacket