--- product_id: 19259105 title: "The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir" brand: "riad sattouf" price: "€ 68.80" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/19259105-the-arab-of-the-future-a-childhood-in-the-middle store_origin: HR region: Croatia --- # The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir **Brand:** riad sattouf **Price:** € 68.80 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir by riad sattouf - **How much does it cost?** € 68.80 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/19259105-the-arab-of-the-future-a-childhood-in-the-middle) ## Best For - riad sattouf enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted riad sattouf brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Arab of the Future , the #1 French best-seller, tells the unforgettable story of Riad Sattouf's childhood, spent in the shadows of 3 dictators―Muammar Gaddafi, Hafez al-Assad, and his father In striking, virtuoso graphic style that captures both the immediacy of childhood and the fervor of political idealism, Riad Sattouf recounts his nomadic childhood growing up in rural France, Gaddafi's Libya, and Assad's Syria--but always under the roof of his father, a Syrian Pan-Arabist who drags his family along in his pursuit of grandiose dreams for the Arab nation. Riad, delicate and wide-eyed, follows in the trail of his mismatched parents; his mother, a bookish French student, is as modest as his father is flamboyant. Venturing first to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab State and then joining the family tribe in Homs, Syria, they hold fast to the vision of the paradise that always lies just around the corner. And hold they do, though food is scarce, children kill dogs for sport, and with locks banned, the Sattoufs come home one day to discover another family occupying their apartment. The ultimate outsider, Riad, with his flowing blond hair, is called the ultimate insult… Jewish. And in no time at all, his father has come up with yet another grand plan, moving from building a new people to building his own great palace. Brimming with life and dark humor, The Arab of the Future reveals the truth and texture of one eccentric family in an absurd Middle East, and also introduces a master cartoonist in a work destined to stand alongside Maus and Persepolis . ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Dimensions | 6.42 x 0.62 x 9.32 inches | | Edition | Illustrated | | Isbn 10 | 1627793445 | | Isbn 13 | 978-1627793445 | | Item Weight | 2.31 pounds | | Language | English | | Part Of Series | The Arab of the Future | | Print Length | 160 pages | | Publication Date | October 20, 2015 | | Publisher | Metropolitan Books | ## Images ![The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81qPA1nNzEL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Made me feel sentimental for the revolutionary ideals of the 60's and 70's *by on Reviewed in the United States August 27, 2016* The renderings were wonderful. I love the color schemes .People here really dislike the father figure and see him as a tyrant of sorts. While I didn't "like" him per se, I found him to be a sympathetic character. Imagine growing up in a rural, nearly medieval village and being the only person in your family to become literate, get an advanced education, learn new languages, and travel abroad? How does one reconcile their new knowledge with culture and family of origin? This is a man trying to straddle two very disparate cultures and make sense of it, decide what should be adopted and what should be thrown away. It wouldn't be an easy task for any one, and in our globalist world we know plenty of people are dealing with this very struggle on a daily basis.While there are dark elements in the story, I also felt sentimentality and nostalgia for the idealism expressed by the father and by Quadaffi's communitarian vision. This was the era when people believed that Marxism and Pan-Arabism would transform society and move it forward. The father embraces these ideals and believes a new society is possible. It all seems quaint now, in an era where much of the Muslim vanguard has discarded Marxist ideals and instead embraced the retrograde, Wahhabist vision of life organized around theocratic principles. This story may have been different if it took place in the modern era.It's a great book, hard to put down, and challenging to modern western sensibilities. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A painfully funny account of a family in very strange circumstances *by on Reviewed in the United States November 24, 2015* Entertaining, humorous and disturbing. The insights here are deeply real, very personal. You just want to know more -- how and why is this marriage holding together? When will it end and how? At times, this is a very painful account of a family in some very strange circumstances. It is also the amusing perspective of a tiny, quirky outsider who is forced to bridge different worlds. The insights into the Arabic mindset are electrifying and especially relevant. I will be looking for the next book. Superb. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Looking forward to the sequel *by on Reviewed in the United States April 28, 2017* I read about this Graphic Memoir on a book blog and had previously only read one other graphic memoir (Persepolis) and loved it, so I thought I'd try this one. My first reaction was that it was "strange" but graphic novels/memoirs are really a genre unto themselves and need a bit of getting used to. Eventually, I was processing the story as though it were written text because the author/artist is so adept at choosing just the right narration with a few words of dialogue and the perfect graphics to create understanding within the reader. There were moments of hilarity such as when the author, as a small boy, gets assistance from his grandmother in getting something out of his eye. In addition, the characterization of the parents and the extended family was done well and it is difficult not to leave the story without specific feelings for each. The story, in general, is a wonderful look at a child from mixed cultures trying to deal with the Arab world in the late 1970s, early 1980s. The book left me with the need to read its sequel and looking forward to it. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Arab of the Future: A Graphic Memoir - Metropolitan Books The Arab of the Future 2: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1984-1985: A Graphic Memoir --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/19259105-the-arab-of-the-future-a-childhood-in-the-middle](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/19259105-the-arab-of-the-future-a-childhood-in-the-middle) --- *Product available on Desertcart Croatia* *Store origin: HR* *Last updated: 2026-07-18*