When magic failed, the world fell into chaos. For centuries, humans had relied on the power of magic to shape their reality and bring their desires to life. It was woven into the fabric of their existence, binding them to the mystical forces that governed their world. But one day, without warning or explanation, magic ceased to exist. The once vibrant and extraordinary spells that illuminated the darkest corners of the earth vanished into thin air. The enchantments that kept the world in balance crumbled into dust.
Fouad Ajami (1945–2014) was a Lebanese-born American university professor and a prolific writer on Middle Eastern issues. His writings include more than four hundred essays on Arab and Islamic politics, US foreign policy, and contemporary international history. Ajami received numerous awards, including the MacArthur Fellows Award and the National Medal of the Humanities. His writings charted the road to 9/11, the Iraq War, and the US presence in the Arab-Islamic world.
The disruptive forces of the Middle East the Cold War, the Palestinian conflict, religious extremism, the money and oil of the Gulf were only just beginning to appear. In Ajami s remarkable tour of the Beirut of this time, we get a glimpse of the various new tastes, ideologies, and ways of life that seemed to beckon a new generation.
The enchantments that kept the world in balance crumbled into dust. At first, people were in denial. They clung to the hope that magic would return, that this was merely a temporary setback.
When Magic Failed
From the author of The Arab Predicament and Dream Palace of the Arabs comes a beautiful and haunting memoir of growing up in Lebanon in the ’50s and ’60s—the story of a sensitive young man and budding intellectual caught between tradition and modernity, east and west.
As one of the most profound and insightful scholars of the Middle East, Fouad Ajami’s sensibility was powerfully shaped by his childhood and youth in Lebanon in the ’50s and ’60s. The time was a transitional one—not only for the Middle East, but for America and the world. Lebanon in this era was just coming into its own as a cosmopolitan destination of the international jet set as well as earnest American educators seeking to modernize Arab society. The disruptive forces of the Middle East—the Cold War, the Palestinian conflict, religious extremism, the money and oil of the Gulf—were only just beginning to appear. In this haunting and beautifully written memoir of his Lebanese childhood, the late Middle East scholar, Fouad Ajami, casts a discerning light into the corners and alleyways of an Arab reality that would later erupt into full view.
Fouad Ajami (1945–2014) was a Lebanese-born American university professor and a prolific writer on Middle Eastern issues. His writings include more than four hundred essays on Arab and Islamic politics, US foreign policy, and contemporary international history. Ajami received numerous awards, including the MacArthur Fellows Award and the National Medal of the Humanities. His writings charted the road to 9/11, the Iraq War, and the US presence in the Arab-Islamic world.
Assaf Cohen is an AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator. He has appeared in various plays, short films, and television shows. He grew up in Palo Alto and attended UC Berkeley where he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative biology. He continued his classical training by earning a master of fine arts in acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the instruction of legendary acting instructor William Esper.
Was cosmopolitan, modern Beirut a way out? Here, too, Ajami gives an ambiguous answer. After leaving Arnoun, we see young Fouad taken first by his mother to a mostly Armenian slum in Beirut, and then, after his father managed to attain riches through undisclosed business activities in Saudi Arabia. The young Fouad lived in Beirut through his later school days until his resolution, made at the age of seventeen in 1962, to get out—ultimately to America, where he would study, attain his PhD, and pursue his remarkable career. In Ajami’s remarkable tour of the Beirut of this time, we get a glimpse of the various new tastes, ideologies, and ways of life that seemed to beckon a new generation. The possibilities seemed endless. Young men were unleashed to make their fortunes any way they could.
But as days turned into months, and months into years, it became clear that magic was truly gone. Without magic, the world trembled. It was as if a vital lifeforce had been extinguished. The crops withered, the rivers ran dry, and the animals grew feeble. The balance that magic had maintained had been disrupted, and chaos reigned supreme. Society crumbled in the absence of magic. Governments and institutions that had relied on magical guidance descended into disarray. The wealthy and powerful, once adept at manipulating the arcane, now found themselves powerless and vulnerable. Desperation set in. People searched for answers, for a way to bring magic back. They scoured ancient texts and sought out wise sages and mystics who still remembered the whispers of magic. But all their efforts were in vain. In the absence of magic, humans had to learn to rely on their own ingenuity and resilience. They had to find new ways to solve problems, to heal the sick, and to defend themselves. Science and technology became their new allies, as they delved into the mysteries of the natural world in search of answers. Slowly, the world began to heal. It was not the same as before, but it was a new world, a world that had adapted to the absence of magic. Humans began to rebuild, to create new civilizations based on their own strengths and abilities. But still, there was a longing for magic. It was a part of their collective history, a symbol of the extraordinary potential that humans possessed. It was a reminder of what they had lost, and what they could never truly regain. And so, when magic failed, humanity had no choice but to forge ahead. They embraced the challenges that lay before them, knowing that even without magic, they still had the power to create their own destiny..
Reviews for "The Vanishing Act: Exploring the Times When Magic Disappears"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "When Magic Failed" based on the synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult for me to fully understand what was happening. Additionally, the characters felt flat and one-dimensional, lacking depth and realism. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the story and struggled to stay engaged.
2. David - 2 stars - "When Magic Failed" failed to captivate me. The writing style was clunky and the dialogue felt forced. It seemed as though the author was trying too hard to be profound, which resulted in passages that were convoluted and hard to follow. The pacing was also off, with long periods of stagnation followed by rushed and underdeveloped action scenes. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and disconnected from the story.
3. Sarah - 3 stars - Although "When Magic Failed" had an intriguing premise, the execution fell short for me. The world-building was limited, and I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the setting. There were also too many characters introduced without proper development, making it challenging to keep track of who was who. Additionally, the plot lacked cohesion and at times felt disjointed. While the story had its moments, it ultimately failed to leave a lasting impact on me.
4. Matthew - 2 stars - "When Magic Failed" was a disappointing read for me. The writing was overly descriptive, often veering into unnecessary details that slowed down the pace of the story. The characters were also difficult to connect with as their motives and actions seemed inconsistent and poorly explained. The dialogue was clunky and felt unnatural, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating and confusing experience.
5. Jennifer - 2 stars - I struggled to enjoy "When Magic Failed" due to its lackluster plot and underdeveloped characters. The story felt derivative and failed to offer anything fresh or unique to the fantasy genre. The protagonist lacked agency and often seemed to be a passive observer rather than an active participant in the unfolding events. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with long periods of inaction followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unremarkable read.