Desert island books with Yassmin Abdel-Magied

What books would Yassmin Abdel-Magied take to a desert island?

The Sudanese-born Muslim Australian author, activist and broadcaster gave her list of top five books that she would take with her at the Desert Island Books event held at Library at The Dock on August 26.

Her five books are: Hunger by Roxane Gay, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, and The Quran.

African-Australian journalist Santilla Chingaipe hosted the discussion, where Ms Abdel-Magied also talked about the production of her memoir Yassmin’s Story, written at the age of 23, her upbringing, and her personal connection to each of the five books.

Ms Abdel-Magied also mentioned several other books that have helped shape her worldview, including Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, The Geography of Thoughts, Against Elections, Orientalism and The Song of the Lioness.

She had been a host on ABC’s radio program Australia Wide and used to work at an oil rig as a mechanical engineer.

Desert Island Books with Yassmin Abdel-Magied was a sell-out free public event held by Melbourne Library Services.

Previous years’ Desert Island Books guests included personalities such as Melbourne photographer Matt Irwin, actor Alan Brough and radio presenter Myf Warhurst.