Professor Harb is working on a book entitled Wonder in Classical Arabic Literary Theory, in which she tries to ascertain the aesthetic criteria used to evaluate poetic speech in the medieval Islamic world. She shows that their aesthetic outlook is based on poetry’s ability to evoke wonder in the listener. Prof Harb will use her sabbatical this year to finish the book and start working on her next project.  She advises students to make sure to allow themselves the time to get bored. That’s when they start getting creative. Professor Harb spent the summer working in libraries in Italy and relaxes by spending time with friends and family.