he is a blogger at the very popular "the arabist" which was founded by cassandra el rani. so we are here largely to launch ashraf's new book. it was published just last month. we have copies outside. it's entitled "inside the egyptian revolution and the rebirth of a nation: liberation square," an emotive cover. this book has been received to quite critical acclaim. it was noted it was perfectly calibrated in its amount of background commentary and prognostication, and above all a thrilling account. publishers' week described it as an essential read evoking the urgency and vitality of the arab spring's egyptian chapter. and the daily beast noted that it paints a full canvas of the domination built by mubarak's police state. so we have copies of the book that will be arriving, and afterwards ashraf is available to sign and chat with you further as, i think, rob has to leave immediately. but we will try to cover as much ground as we can in the discussion. just to begin with you, ashraf, your book sort of sweeps through three decades of mubarak's rule before going into trackin