...new Egypt will not come into being except from the ancient, eternal Egypt. I believe further that the new Egypt will have to be built on the great… - Taha Hussein

Most of the book is an anthropological exploration of human evolution, culminating in a chapter where the author argues that the development of culture (which he defines as a set of evolving environmental, intellectual, existential, social, and psychological characteristics) must run through state planning

culture, cultural formations and intellectuals (…) exist and are made possible by virtue of a very interesting network of relationships with the State’s commanding, almost absolute power”

..it should not be forgotten that independence entails responsibilities and that remissness in discharging them ill suits our honor and traditional claims to leadership.