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Signposts to Elsewhere
In homage to a tradition advanced by philosophers and pundits from Confucius to Oscar Wilde to Dr. Seuss, Jane Street Press is pleased to release the electronic version of Signposts to a book of aphorisms & other tailored thoughts, by Egyptian-Lebanese author Yahia Lababidi. Aphorisms, by the author’s own definition, are ‘complete fragments.� Witty, resonant, and precise, they capture the contradictory nature of human truths and sentiments, reflecting ‘the soul’s dialogue with itself.�"Signposts to Elsewhere is sorbet sharp, always leaving the palate clean for another, and another�"- Mark Simpson, The Independent (UK) ‘Books of the Year,� 2008
- GenresPoetry
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Yahia Lababidi
20Ìýbooks102ÌýfollowersYahia Lababidi, Arab-American of Palestinian background, is the author of 12 critically-acclaimed books of aphorisms, essays, poetry and conversations.ÌýLababidi's latest is WHAT REMAINS TO BE SAID (Wild Goose Publications, 2025) New & Selected Aphorisms of his written over the past three decades (1993-2024).
In this career-spanning collection, Lababidi combines Eastern mysticism, Western philosophy and his Arab heritage to explore life’s fundamental questions: love, spirituality, suffering and self-discovery. Lababidi’s aphorisms are at once philosophical and poetic, serving as beacons of truth in our fast-paced, digital age.
In a time of genocide and world conflict, soundbites, and social media noise, "What Remains..." provides a much-needed space for contemplation, offering both wisdom and solace to all who seek them.
Previously, Lababidi published Palestine Wail (Daraja Press, 2024) a love letter to Gaza, composed during the Genocide and endorsed by beloved Palestinian-American poet, Naomi Shihab Nye, who wrote:
“So many of us are wailing with Yahia Lababidi, who is not afraid to call out truth in the midst of catastrophe, to question heartless power, to embrace so-called conundrums and ‘others� who didn’t have to be, to grieve for the children who didn’t deserve any of this nightmare, and to offer revelations."
In addition to receiving favorable reviews in the press, internationally, poetry from Palestine Wail has been twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize and translated into Arabic, French, Malayalam, Gaeilge, Spanish as well as Dutch by the Poet Laureate of the Netherlands, Babs Gons.
Lababidi's poems for Palestine have, also, been read in literary festivals in the UK, Canada, Scotland, Holland, in classrooms and peaceful protests in the US, as well as widely shared, online.
As part of the annual global publishing event, #ReadPalestineWeek, in just one week 3,351 e-copies of Lababidi's Palestine Wail were downloaded, directly, from his publisher, Daraja Press
Among the other 13 books of poetry and prose by Lababidi was Quarantine Notes (Fomite Press, 2023) short meditations to heal and inspire that he composed during our global pandemic.
Prior to that, Lababidi published Desert Songs (Rowayat, 2022), Learning to Pray: a Book of Longing (Kelsay Books, 2021) as well as Revolutions of the Heart (Wipf & Stock, 2020) a genre-bending collection of essays & conversations.
He is, also, the author of 2 critically-acclaimed books of aphorisms: Signposts to Elsewhere (2019) and Where Epics Fail (2018).
Featured on PBS NewsHour, Lababidi's short meditations were generously endorsed by President Barack Obama's inaugural poet, Richard Blanco, who wrote: "Aphorisms are an ancient form, but its current-day master is Yahia Lababidi." Signposts was selected as a Book of the Year by The Independent (UK) and issued by Hay House, publishers of Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson.
Lababidi, Egyptian-American thinker/poet, and author of 5 other well-received books of poetry and prose, has been invited to speak at Oxford University and NPR as well as being featured in Best American Poetry, World Literature Today, On Being with Krista Tippett, The Guardian and Al Jazeera, among several other esteemed cultural outlets.
Lababidi's BALANCING ACTS: New & Selected Poems (1993-2015), published by Press 53, is a celebration of more than twenty years of his poetry. According to Chard deNiord, Poet Laureate of Vermont, it 'resonates in plain-spoken yet dazzling poetry--sometimes epigrammatic, sometimes expansive--that betrays the eclectic transmissions of Lababidi's myriad influences, from Rumi to Kierkegaard, Dickinson to Kafka.'
Also by Lababidi is an eclectic collection of cultural essays, TRIAL BY INK: From Nietzsche to Belly Dancing as well as two poetry volumes, FEVER DREAMS and BARELY THERE, a collection of his shorter verse, much of which was inspired by the constraints of social
In this career-spanning collection, Lababidi combines Eastern mysticism, Western philosophy and his Arab heritage to explore life’s fundamental questions: love, spirituality, suffering and self-discovery. Lababidi’s aphorisms are at once philosophical and poetic, serving as beacons of truth in our fast-paced, digital age.
In a time of genocide and world conflict, soundbites, and social media noise, "What Remains..." provides a much-needed space for contemplation, offering both wisdom and solace to all who seek them.
Previously, Lababidi published Palestine Wail (Daraja Press, 2024) a love letter to Gaza, composed during the Genocide and endorsed by beloved Palestinian-American poet, Naomi Shihab Nye, who wrote:
“So many of us are wailing with Yahia Lababidi, who is not afraid to call out truth in the midst of catastrophe, to question heartless power, to embrace so-called conundrums and ‘others� who didn’t have to be, to grieve for the children who didn’t deserve any of this nightmare, and to offer revelations."
In addition to receiving favorable reviews in the press, internationally, poetry from Palestine Wail has been twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize and translated into Arabic, French, Malayalam, Gaeilge, Spanish as well as Dutch by the Poet Laureate of the Netherlands, Babs Gons.
Lababidi's poems for Palestine have, also, been read in literary festivals in the UK, Canada, Scotland, Holland, in classrooms and peaceful protests in the US, as well as widely shared, online.
As part of the annual global publishing event, #ReadPalestineWeek, in just one week 3,351 e-copies of Lababidi's Palestine Wail were downloaded, directly, from his publisher, Daraja Press
Among the other 13 books of poetry and prose by Lababidi was Quarantine Notes (Fomite Press, 2023) short meditations to heal and inspire that he composed during our global pandemic.
Prior to that, Lababidi published Desert Songs (Rowayat, 2022), Learning to Pray: a Book of Longing (Kelsay Books, 2021) as well as Revolutions of the Heart (Wipf & Stock, 2020) a genre-bending collection of essays & conversations.
He is, also, the author of 2 critically-acclaimed books of aphorisms: Signposts to Elsewhere (2019) and Where Epics Fail (2018).
Featured on PBS NewsHour, Lababidi's short meditations were generously endorsed by President Barack Obama's inaugural poet, Richard Blanco, who wrote: "Aphorisms are an ancient form, but its current-day master is Yahia Lababidi." Signposts was selected as a Book of the Year by The Independent (UK) and issued by Hay House, publishers of Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson.
Lababidi, Egyptian-American thinker/poet, and author of 5 other well-received books of poetry and prose, has been invited to speak at Oxford University and NPR as well as being featured in Best American Poetry, World Literature Today, On Being with Krista Tippett, The Guardian and Al Jazeera, among several other esteemed cultural outlets.
Lababidi's BALANCING ACTS: New & Selected Poems (1993-2015), published by Press 53, is a celebration of more than twenty years of his poetry. According to Chard deNiord, Poet Laureate of Vermont, it 'resonates in plain-spoken yet dazzling poetry--sometimes epigrammatic, sometimes expansive--that betrays the eclectic transmissions of Lababidi's myriad influences, from Rumi to Kierkegaard, Dickinson to Kafka.'
Also by Lababidi is an eclectic collection of cultural essays, TRIAL BY INK: From Nietzsche to Belly Dancing as well as two poetry volumes, FEVER DREAMS and BARELY THERE, a collection of his shorter verse, much of which was inspired by the constraints of social
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 23, 2023
Mr. Lababidi is a multi-talented writer and poet. This reader can compare his works to those of Nietzsche; which is to say his poetry and writings deal with some serious thoughts. Mr. Lababidi composes thoughts on faith, death, art and love to name of few. Whereas we disagree on politics, that in no way prevents me from enjoying his work and poetry. I am now reading his "Barely There, Short Poems."
October 9, 2017
Aphorisms are funny things. Somehow it feels wrong to read them at all at once. We are used to hearing them predicated by the appropriate circumstance. It is doubly confusing to think of them being "created", unless by Rumi or Ben Franklin. I suppose the Dali Lama could do it if he was feeling clever.
But that is just what the author has done, and it largely works. He is obviously a thoughtful person living an internal love triangle of poetry, philosophy and wit. I read it over a weekend here and there. It is short, but like a box of assorted chocolates, too many destroys your appetite for them. However, in the same way, you seem to come to the end of the box sooner than you'd planned.
A few teasers:
- With enigmatic clarity, Life gives us a different answer each time we ask her the same question.
- A good listener is one who helps us overhear ourselves.
- Tattoo: graffiti on a masterpiece.
But that is just what the author has done, and it largely works. He is obviously a thoughtful person living an internal love triangle of poetry, philosophy and wit. I read it over a weekend here and there. It is short, but like a box of assorted chocolates, too many destroys your appetite for them. However, in the same way, you seem to come to the end of the box sooner than you'd planned.
A few teasers:
- With enigmatic clarity, Life gives us a different answer each time we ask her the same question.
- A good listener is one who helps us overhear ourselves.
- Tattoo: graffiti on a masterpiece.
June 9, 2023
Yahia Lababidi has a gift for writing aphorisms. He dances gracefully with the hard truths, has an intuitive sense of their many faces and follows their steps unselfconsciously, with style. I'll be reading and rereading these aphorisms for a long time...for their quiet humor and compassion, wisdom, and companionship.
May 16, 2017
Indeed, when someone looks back, all the dots would just connect. Not being a scientist allows me to observe things with emotions and imagination. Decade ago, I sank to Walter Benjamin and Susan Sontag, condemning wars. If there is no wars, Walter Benjamin could finish his book only contains quotations, I hope. Decade later, fortunate enough to come across Yahia Lababidi's aphorism. Wonderful, it's wonderful.
Aphorism, "the complete fragment", as the aphorist puts it, lives by its own. Each aphorism holds up a world, full of meaning, yet concise. In the future, I'd rather live in a house built by words. But will that be heavy for me to breathe? Or it will be the ultimate freedom? No idea.
The book definitely wroth re-reading. Only by reading it, it gives a meditative feeling, with soul, with thoughts.
I highly recommend this book.
Aphorism, "the complete fragment", as the aphorist puts it, lives by its own. Each aphorism holds up a world, full of meaning, yet concise. In the future, I'd rather live in a house built by words. But will that be heavy for me to breathe? Or it will be the ultimate freedom? No idea.
The book definitely wroth re-reading. Only by reading it, it gives a meditative feeling, with soul, with thoughts.
I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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