Never Say War

An intimate yet epic portrait of ordinary Russians living under an increasingly authoritarian regime, from the bestselling author of The Bookseller of Kabul.

“Extraordinary…A daring on-the-ground work of reportage with a distinctly human feel.” —Financial Times

Today’s Russia is one of the most closed and inscrutable countries in the world. Even as its leadership tries to wield unprecedented influence, little is known about the hopes, fears, and daily struggles of its people. How can we truly understand a country that silences its citizens and targets foreign journalists—and has even made it illegal to say it is at war?

In her brave, riveting new book, bestselling journalist Åsne Seierstad travels into the heart of Russia to find answers—from the impoverished Arctic north to the cultural elites of the big cities; from pro-Putin youth groups to dissident journalists struggling to report the truth. Along the way, she takes us behind closed doors to meet Russians from all walks of life: teachers, taxi drivers, war widows, and banned writers. She gets to know a young soldier who fled the battlefield in Ukraine, and the mothers, sisters, and wives of the fallen—who may be last voices still able to protest the regime.

Drawing upon Seierstad’s deep knowledge of Russia and her unparalleled access, Never Say War paints an illuminating and expansive portrait of a misunderstood people, showing how they are navigating life under an increasingly authoritarian regime—a story with urgent resonance for readers around the world today.