A review by joshgojosh
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

What a thrilling and haunting reflection on survival, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. What struck me most is how Rushdie shows that love truly conquers all, not just the love from his support system, but also the radical empathy he tries to extend toward his attacker and those who share that mindset. It’s a bold reminder that hate doesn’t have to be met with hate.

The book also shines a light on how dangerous it is when religion is politicized or worse, weaponized. He doesn’t shy away from exposing these risks, while also urging us to look inward and question the flaws within our own beliefs. Live and let live feels like an unspoken mantra running through the pages.

His reflections on trauma are deeply honest reminding us that healing isn’t only physical. It’s emotional, psychological, and deeply personal, and there’s no shame in taking your own time. What knife taught me the most was the crucial importance of free speech and the courage it takes to keep speaking when silence would be safer.