Dr. Hossam Badrawi and “Nietzsche in Alexandria”
By the invitation of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the second seminar for the book “Nietzsche in Alexandria”, the latest philosophical work by Dr. Hossam Badrawi, was held today, Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the library’s headquarters in the enchanting city of Alexandria.
Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed Hijab — Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina — introduced Dr. Badrawi as one of Egypt’s scholars and thinkers, and as a leading figure in contemporary thought, whose ideas have had a tangible impact on many readers and intellectuals. On the other hand, Dr. Fatma Al-Boudi, President and Founder of Dar Al-Ain Publishing, described Dr. Badrawi as possessing an exceptional philosophical mind, able to express reality with ease and a calm rhythm, yet at the same time surprising and astonishing readers with the depth of his writings. She expressed her delight at the book’s notable and tangible reception, noting that the first edition sold out within only two months, and that the publishing house would soon begin printing the second edition.
The seminar was masterfully moderated by journalist Nesma Al-Saeed, whose intelligent questions delved deeply into the author’s mind, eliciting a rich stream of insight, philosophy, and the underlying layers of Dr. Badrawi’s writings.
The seminar opened with a question that seemed simple on the surface but was profound in meaning:
“Do we read this book, or is the book reading us and describing the reality we live in? And how has this book bridged past and present, as if we are living our past, and our past is living our present?”
Moments of enjoyment and reflection passed over the attendees like a gentle breeze carrying the weight of knowledge. Dr. Badrawi intertwined past and present, philosophy and reality.
He spoke about the virtual dialogues that form the backbone of the book, explaining that they serve as a means to discuss contemporary situations through the minds of philosophers of the past, drawing on Socrates, Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Ibn Khaldun, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Hypatia, Simone de Beauvoir, and others — not as historical symbols, but as minds alive in contemporary conditions that continue to trouble humanity. He then moved on to discuss the thinkers who personally influenced him, from Naguib Mahfouz and the symbolism in Children of Our Alley, to Al-Aqqad, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Khaled Muhammad Khaled, and others who shaped part of his intellectual formation.
The seminar was rich and engaging, marked by calm, interaction, and the captivating and thought-provoking discourse of Dr. Badrawi.
It concluded with a lively book-signing session, where attendees eagerly approached Dr. Badrawi to have their copies signed in an atmosphere of warmth, appreciation, and admiration.
