The Man Who Read Books
- Author
- Rachid Benzine
- Narrator
- TBD
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Publish Date
- 5 November 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours
- Format
- Audiobook
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Nabil al-Jaber's story is the odyssey of a man who chose words as refuge, resistance and homeland. From exile to imprisonment, political activism to disillusionment, a love of theatre to his own love affairs, watching your children grow up to the tragedies that tear your loved ones away from you, his voice guides us through a narrative at once historical and deeply intimate. In a world where bombs could easily have the final word, he reminds us that books are our greatest chance for survival - not to escape reality, but to inhabit it humanely and fully. For, in the eye of destruction, to read is a radical act.
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Rachid Benzine
- Narrator
- TBD
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Release Date
- 5 November 2026
- ISBN
- 9781837266401
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Fiction in translation
Synopsis
Hidden between the smoking rubble of Gaza and the yellowing pages of his books, an elderly bookseller reads. One morning, during a ceasefire, a young photojournalist chances upon him in the narrow alleys of the city. As he raises his camera to take the shot, the bookseller calls out to him and asks him to listen to his story first, for 'Isn't there a story behind every gaze? The story of a life. Sometimes of an entire nation.'<br><br>Nabil al-Jaber's story is the odyssey of a man who chose words as refuge, resistance and homeland. From exile to imprisonment, political activism to disillusionment, a love of theatre to his own love affairs, watching your children grow up to the tragedies that tear your loved ones away from you, his voice guides us through a narrative at once historical and deeply intimate. In a world where bombs could easily have the final word, he reminds us that books are our greatest chance for survival - not to escape reality, but to inhabit it humanely and fully. For, in the eye of destruction, to read is a radical act.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.