Egyptian Revolution Hero, Wael Ghonim, to Write Book for US Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Egypt protest hero Wael Ghonim to write book

Published yesterday (updated) 10/05/2011 22:41

Maan, (AFP) --

Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who became a hero of Egypt's anti-government uprising, has signed a deal with a US publisher to write a book, "Revolution 2.0."

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said Monday that it has secured the rights to Ghonim's book, which it said will tell the "inside story of the Egyptian revolution and the lessons of the Arab Spring."

"Revolution 2.0 is the story of how the revolution came about with the power of social media and Internet technology," the publisher said in a statement.

"Ghonim also tells an inspirational story of how anyone can be empowered to change the world starting from his belief that the 'power of the people is stronger than the people in power.'"

"The implications of Wael's story reach far beyond the Middle East, and even beyond politics," said Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publisher Bruce Nichols.

"How Wael helped nurture a mass movement is one of the great stories of our time, with lessons for anyone who seeks to make change anywhere on earth using technology."

Ghonim, 30, will write the book in Arabic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said, adding that he is also in discussions with Arabic language publishers.

Revolution 2.0 will be published on January 25, the first anniversary of the uprising that led to the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

Ghonim announced last month that he was taking a leave of absence from Google to set up his own NGO in Egypt dedicated to fighting poverty and education. Proceeds from the book will go to the organization.

Ghonim, Google's head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa, administered the Facebook page that helped spark the uprising against Mubarak

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