Knife

Meditations After an Attempted Murder

By: Salman Rushdie

Narrated by: Salman Rushdie

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From internationally renowned writer and 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

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.

©2024 Salman Rushdie (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Candid, plain-spoken and gripping . . . Knife is a clarifying book. It reminds us of the threats the free world faces. It reminds us of the things worth fighting for.”—The New York Times

“Knife isn’t so much about pondering imminent death than it is an affirmation—an insistence—on returning to life.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“The subject—the idea for which Rushdie nearly died—is the freedom to say what he wants . . . Rushdie survived, but he has too many scars to be certain that the idea will. This book is his way of fighting back.”—The Atlantic

A beautiful love story

First Rushdie book I have listened to. Enjoyed it so much! Looking forward to exploring more of his works.

Thank you Salman

Thank you for all that you have done. You and your friends have changed my life.

An extremely powerful testimony

This compelling account offers a poignant glimpse into the harrowing experience of the author during a violent assault, for which I am deeply appreciative of Rushdie's willingness to share. Despite the unsettling nature of the narrative, Rushdie's adept storytelling makes it accessible and engaging. It's my sincere hope that more individuals embrace his approach to discourse and expression, favoring dialogue over violence. The author's bravery, both in enduring such trauma and in subsequently recounting it, is truly commendable. It takes extraordinary courage to undertake such a task, and I'm grateful that Rushdie chose to do so.

In his own words

It was much more powerful that Rushdie narrated this chilling (& also deeply loving) account. As they say, the knife cuts both ways. It felt like being in an intimate space with an old friend, and hearing first hand- about the profound love in his life, and the deep loss.

One of my all time best listens.

I loved the It is voice of the author
and he changes your worldview
about what happened to him.
He is fine, very intelligent and even
a fun loving person even after this
terrible attack. It is truly heartwarming.

Amazing, lyrical and horrifying

Wow! Although I have long been familiar with the story of Salman Rushdie - the fatwa, the glamorous life, I hadn’t read his writing. When he was savagely attacked in my home town, his story became personal. I listened, spellbound, to his recounting of that horrific experience, his survival, recovery, great love and beautiful reflections on life, politics, religion, freedom and fear with fascination and admiration. Thank you, Mr Rushdie for this amazing piece of work. Cannot wait to read more.

Excellent Listen!

I've been a fan of Rusdie's writing over the past 25 years, met him at a book event in 2008 and shook his hand. I was shocked at the news of this attack and after listening to his memoir Joseph Anton (about 5 months before his attack) I was pleased to see Knife as a necessary though unfortunate follow up.

Chapters 1 and 6 (where he has a fictional conversation with his attacker) were standouts.

Highly recommend for anyone following this man's journey through existence!

Beautiful book

Rushdie’s account of being attacked and almost killed, his healing and recovery, and the powerful force love played in the process is extremely moving, The book is beautifully written. I couldn’t put it down. I love his voice, both literally and literary, as he read the book himself.

Medical mayhem club initiation

Quick read. Meaningful. Thoughtful. Embedded in this beautiful plea for a new era to be recognized is a good commentary piece on some of the current health care system problems AND a rare view into how to manage the feelings that come with it. Thank you.

A meditation on life

Beautifully crafted with the kind of emotional honesty that engenders optimism in life’s darkest moments.