Youssef Ziedan's 'The Ruler of Ibn al-Haytham's Madness' plunges readers into the enigmatic world of Alhazen, the renowned Arab polymath. Set against the backdrop of Fatimid Cairo under the controversial Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, this gripping novel explores the fine line between genius and madness. It delves into Ibn al-Haytham's monumental contributions to optics and scientific methodology, while also unraveling the psychological complexities of a mind that perhaps feigned insanity to escape an impossible task, or was truly consumed by its own brilliance. Ziedan masterfully weaves historical fact with philosophical inquiry, presenting a compelling portrait of one of history's greatest scientific minds and the societal pressures that shaped his extraordinary life and perceived eccentricities.