Jalal Toufic's 'Distrait' Published by Les petits matins

Jalal Toufic's book 'Distrait' has been published by Les petits matins, a French publishing house founded in 2004 known for experimental literature blending theory, fiction, poetry, science, and humor. The book, originally written in English, is praised for its powerful aphoristic writing and excellent French translation. Toufic, of Iraqi father and Palestinian mother, lived for decades in war-torn Lebanon, which influences his embodied, humble philosophical thought. He is a scholar in physics and genetics, as well as a film theorist and filmmaker. 'Distrait' develops a philosophy of the visible, focusing on the body's irreducible distraction, as seen in everyday gestures. Toufic also engages with theological-political questions, reflecting his origins. The review notes his other work, 'Retrait de la tradition suite au désastre mesuré,' published by Les Prairies ordinaires.