We Are Not Numbers

Reviews / Votes

If you want to read something meaningful and impactful this summer, make it We Are Not Numbers ... Is it an easy read? No. Is it a vital one? Absolutely ... Tell all your friends * British Vogue * A powerful new collection of writing by young people living in Gaza ... shining a light on the realities, emotions and everyday worlds of both those living in Gaza, and those who have found a way to leave * Service95, founded by Dua Lipa * These brilliant young people have embraced writing as a form of liberation, both for the self and to resist the global invisibilisation of Gaza. Ad meliora, young talents of Gaza. -- Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Picking up this book may seem hard because of the subject matter; putting it down is even harder. The voices of Gaza's young writers are so moving and varied and astonishing. You'll carry We Are Not Numbers in your heart for a very long time -- Kamila Shamsie Wondrous, devastating and vibrant beyond measure. These essays, piercing and searching, striking and warm, grapple with the question of how to make a life. An achievement and a marvel, an absolute shooting star -- Bryan Washington With lovingly crafted words and stories, the authors in We Are Not Numbers open portals in Israel's apartheid wall, inviting readers into the impossible realities of life under siege in Gaza. The collective commitment to doing whatever it takes to produce this extraordinary symphony of testimony is evident on every page. This book is a jailbreak - and a miracle -- Naomi Klein A brilliant collection of voices that lays bare the struggles and suffering of ordinary young Palestinians. More importantly, it illuminates their humanity and dignity, and the hopes and dreams that persist even in the face of death and destruction -- Monica Ali Impossible to put down or forget - a testament to the unimaginable strength of the people of Gaza -- Riz Ahmed Powerful, humane and heroic . . . the voices of Palestinians soar. This is the most important collection of writing published today. It's a book the world must know -- Jenni Fagan We Are Not Numbers is not just a book-it's my life, their life, and our shared story. I know some of these brave writers; I've walked the same streets, felt the same fear, and shared the same dreams under Gaza's skies. These pages carry the truth of our struggle and the beauty of our humanity. This is Gaza as it truly is, written by those who live it every day -- Motaz Azaiza, award-winning Palestinian photojournalist A rebellion against the singular story. An insightful, multifaceted glimpse into the besieged Gaza Strip, where millions of people continue to confront a genocide waged by an Israeli regime -- Mohammed el-Kurd They are the hopes of a cruel world, the humanity of an inhumane era, the resolve in a time of evil. Their voices will bellow through the ages -- Owen Jones A vital book. The emergence of these voices is politically and ethically urgent, of course, but it is also a profoundly important literary event -- China Mieville A testament to the dignity, courage and beauty of Gaza and her people - these voices and stories could not be more urgent -- Fatima Bhutto I felt not only deeply moved by this book but transformed. Its importance cannot be understated and I know I will press it upon everyone I meet -- Daisy Johnson As a genocide unfolds right before us, this book will stand as a testimony to this shocking and inhuman moment in history -- Neel Mukherjee [An] important and timely collection ... The voices of Gaza's youth have been palpably missing in the ongoing war. They have been reduced to grim statistics by a media overwhelmed by the brutality of the ongoing genocide ... This book is the ultimate corrective ... Through their eyes we witness the richness and warmth of their culture, and the undeniable human impact of the war ... The stories on these pages bear testimony to the resilient spirits that are Gaza's youth and ultimately give hope for its future ... Gaza's youth has spoken through this heart-rending and often beautiful collection. The least we can do is listen to them. * Middle East Eye * Utterly compelling...these stories are beautiful, tender, real ... It's impossible to read these testimonies and not want to do something, anything. Please read this book. -- Nikesh Shukla