The book is edited by internationally renowned British Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif, who has also guided the selection of the writers. The contributors The contributors have been invited to the Museum from across the world: poet Adam Foulds, writer Anton Shammas, poet Bejan Matur, historian Eric Hobsbawm, poet Ghassan Zaqtan, novelist Jabbour al-Douaihy, novelist Jamal Mahjoub, poet James Fenton, physicist and historian Jim Khalili, novelist Kamila Shamsie, mathematician and broadcaster Marcus du Sautoy, novelist Najwa Barakat, architectual historian Nasser Rabbat, Museum of Islamic Art director Oliver Watson, novelist Pankaj Mishra, novelist Philip Hensher, novelist Radwa Ashour, author and essayist Raja Shehadeh, actor Riz Ahmed, poet Sarah Maguire, film director Shirin Neshat, writer Slavoj Zizek, journalist Sonia Jabbar, writer Suad Amiry, novelist Tash Aw, writer and broadcaster William Dalrymple, writer and photographer Youssef Rakha.