How did Arabic writing appear? There are legendary tales and there are historical facts. The Arabic language travelled a very long road before becoming what it is today. In this marvelous book, artist Mohieddin Ellabad takes us on a journey to learn the origins of Arabic calligraphy and understand the stages of its development, from Nabataean writing without dots, through the addition of vowel marks, and then dots in a later age. He explains the proportions of Arabic script, its tools, and its dazzling arts, delights us with examples of Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, and Ruq‘ah, tells the history of each, follows their development across Arab civilizations, and brings the story all the way to typewriters and computers. It is a book rich in information, stories, and fascinating images—indispensable for lovers of art and script.