The following books about Cairo are worth checking out before you leave and also nice to bring along on your trip. Especially the books by Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz are worth checking out because of their detailed descriptions of life in Cairo.
Books
Palace of Desire
author: Naguib Mahfouz
isbn: 0385264682
subject: Literature
**Memories of a Lost Egypt : A Memoir With Recipes **
author: Colette Rossant
isbn: 0609601504
subject: History
Cairo the city victorious
author: Ma Rodenbeck
isbn: 0679446516
subject: History
**Egyptian Cooking : A Practical Guide **
author: Samia Abdennour
isbn: 0781806437
subject: Cooking
Sugar Street
author: Naguib Mahfouz
isbn: 0385264704
subject: Literature