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Random House Trade Paperbacks

Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder

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NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • 1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, a searing, deeply personal account of enduring—and surviving—an attempt on his life thirty years after the fatwa that was ordered against him A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Time, NPR, Town & Country, New York Post, Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews On the morning of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was standing onstage at the Chautauqua Institution, preparing to give a lecture on the importance of keeping writers safe from harm, when a man in black—black clothes, black mask—rushed down the aisle toward him, wielding a knife. His first thought: So it’s you. Here you are. What followed was a horrific act of violence that shook the literary world and beyond. Now, for the first time, and in unforgettable detail, Rushdie relives the traumatic events of that day and its aftermath, as well as his journey toward physical recovery and the healing that was made possible by the love and support of his wife, Eliza, his family, his army of doctors and physical therapists, and his community of readers worldwide. Knife is Rushdie at the peak of his powers, writing with urgency, with gravity, with unflinching honesty. It is also a deeply moving reminder of literature’s capacity to make sense of the unthinkable, an intimate and life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art—and finding the strength to stand up again. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Trade Paperbacks


Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 8, 2025


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593730259


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 56


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.17 x 0.57 x 7.97 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #68,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #24 in Survival Biographies #75 in Censorship & Politics #686 in Memoirs (Books)


#24 in Survival Biographies:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Life Changing Event from the author
Format: Hardcover
Excellent read. I really enjoyed the book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026 by Amazon Customer
    • A necessary read.
Format: Paperback
This was my first interaction with Rushdie. And I have to say I loved his prose. He has a way with words that made me want to pick up any of his other books, and keep going. He is able to quote from the deep and obscure all the way to Groucho Marx. I found the first half of the book engaging like a great novel. The first-person narration of the experience might as well be a movie script! His meditation on "knives" was simply brilliant. The second half was a lot less sharp (pun, yes), for me. When he diverts into the political I found it distracting and unoriginal, somewhat preachy. It was a bit of a disappointing surprise, after the cutting (another pun, yes) wit and penetrating (sorry) explorations. The conversation with "the A." was sluggish. But the second half finishes in a flurry of philosophical reflections that fill our chests with hope for the time each of us has left on this planet. Overall, it is a wonderful read from a very important and brave voice. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026 by Gabriel Martinez
    • a life revisited
Format: Kindle
I had not read any of Salman Rushdie’s books before I saw and bought Knife. Of course I knew who he was and the fatwa but those were passing stories which did not touch my world. What a mistake I made but I have time to ready it and read more. Rushdie’s story flows with grace and a strong truth as to the facts of his attack and the aftermath but is never sentimental nor cloying. There’s no begging for sympathy, no oh poor me. But beautifully crafted sentences which flow back and forward through the relevant parts of his life to the well set conclusion. All may be forgiven, made peace perhaps but certainly not forgotten. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024 by C. Wakefield
    • Extraordinary
Format: Kindle
For an exceptional writer to use himself as the focus of a book about his attempted murder and recovery is remarkable enough. That it is such a brilliant work, full of great writing, great insight, and above all great love, is truly extraordinary. This is a must read book for everyone who cares about Salman Rushdie, yes, but also about the power of art and love to overcome horror. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2025 by J. Silva
    • An authentic and reflective memoir of battling intolerance
Format: Hardcover
Review Image by FH
KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder | Salman Rushdie, Random House (2024) 224p Salman Rushdie’s "KNIFE" emerges not merely as a memoir following a profound personal crisis but as a meditative, philosophical exploration of violence, survival, and the indomitable spirit of the word against the sword. With "KNIFE," Rushdie again demonstrates why he remains one of our most crucial voices against the fascism of certainty. Rushdie’s self-reflections are neither deep nor profound. He is a much better writer than he is a thinker. His orthodox critical theory genuflections grow tiresome. But as a survivor on the front lines in the battle for free minds, he’s a hero. The book’s 224 pages are not just a recounting of the horrific attack on Rushdie but introspection and interrogation of the forces that continue to shape our discourse around freedom of speech and extremism. Was In "KNIFE," Rushdie’s narrative weaves through the personal and the universal, tying his near-fatal encounter to the ongoing global struggle against authoritarianism and fanaticism. His prose, as ever, is sharp, incisive, and earnest. He doesn’t just recount the event but uses it as a lens to scrutinize the nature of hate, the burden of fear, and the courage it takes to speak one's truth in the face of potential annihilation. Rushdie’s latest work is compelling in its refusal to concede to despair. His meditations on the knife, both as a physical object that nearly ended his life and as a symbol of broader cultural and religious conflicts, serve as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in the battle for artistic and intellectual liberty. Rushdie also addresses a particularly controversial aspect surrounding the aftermath of his attack— reactions like that of ex-President Jimmy Carter, whom Rushdie correctly notes offered an undue defense of his assailant. Rushdie's engagement with Carter's stance is a rebuttal and a deeper inquiry into how narratives are shaped after violence against public figures. He questions the implications of empathizing with a perpetrator of violence and the danger of diminishing the severity of such acts through well-intended yet misdirected advocacy. The irony of Rushdie, a member of the established woke literati, getting attacked by a terrorist and then having his fellow travelers defend them does not get a robust reflection. It does not prompt Rushdie to consider that his worldview has helped radicalize, not subvert, the attacker. In conclusion, "KNIFE" is a significant cultural and literary contribution that deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone who values the power of the written word to challenge, transform, and transcend even the most dire circumstances. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024 by FH
    • Rushdie is a wonderful writer…
Format: Kindle
I was not prepared for that, having formed expectation by what I thought I knew. Rushdie writes with thoughtfulness and humor, offering an inspiring story of his process and choice to move beyond a terrible event in his life.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2026 by Sandra S.
    • insight into an attack: what he experienced
Format: Kindle
Salmon Rushdie does a very good job in relating the story of the attack on him with a knife by Young Muslim fanatic. His description of his recovery in the hospital and his treatment is detailed. The Reader will know everything that happened, and he felt and how the incident impacted His wife, his family and his friends. Having experienced the loss of an eye myself I found it both enlightening and amusing to read about the adaptation that is required. The only previous book by Rushdie that I’ve read was Midnight’s Children which is a masterpiece. The Knife was chosen by my book club, which is why I have read it. There is nothing in this book so profound that I would recommend it to other people that I know, but having read it, I will say that I enjoyed it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2025 by Amazon Customer
    • An American story of survival and love
Format: Kindle
Salman Rushdie writes with such strength and depth. He shows the world he has survived and shares his success with everyone who played a part. Even as his body struggled to mend, his brilliance and intellectual level remained in tact. I have read countless stories of survival against all odds and have witnessed several examples. Salman, while painting a portrait of the events, made you want to be more educated; more conscious of the world around us; more open to the possibilities of life. To anyone who may be considering choosing this book, please make this choice. You will come to know a truly compassionate and resilient man who has had the great fortune to find the love of his life. That is the message of the book entitle The Knife. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024 by Karen A. Mitchell

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