In his deeply moving new book, No Way but Forward, author and American professor Brian K. Barber shares an intimate and transformative narrative of life in the Gaza Strip. Moving beyond the noise of politics and media coverage, Barber delivers the personal stories of three individuals—Hammam, Hussam, and Khalil—and their families, whom he has known for over 30 years. Their lives serve as a lens to reveal the daily challenges and moments of joy that exist in a region so often misrepresented.
Over decades, the people of Gaza have endured extraordinary hardships: economic deprivation, military control, and political upheaval. Yet in No Way but Forward, these stories are not told through numbers or abstract conflict. Instead, Barber introduces readers to the men, women, and children who live their lives with dignity, strength, and hope in a setting of relentless adversity.
The book chronicles moments universally familiar to readers everywhere: a family’s joy at the birth of a child, the struggles of navigating education under impossible conditions, the weight of making life-altering decisions, and the profound loss of loved ones. Barber immerses readers in these families’ worlds, showing how they persevere with determination and an unwavering focus on the future.
What makes No Way but Forward unique is its perspective. Rather than dissecting history or geopolitics, Barber captures the essence of everyday life, offering readers a deep understanding of a place often reduced to stereotypes. He invites readers to look beyond headlines and statistics, offering a narrative that emphasizes humanity.
Barber’s work is grounded in decades of firsthand engagement. Since his first visit in 1995, he has returned to Gaza virtually every year since then for weeks and months at a time, developing unparalleled relationships with its people. Through those connections, he has been able to document not only hardship and loss but also the love, determination, and aspirations that make up ordinary lives in an extraordinary place.
Poignant, beautifully written, and timely, No Way but Forward reminds us that while Gaza’s challenges are unique, its people’s hopes and struggles are universal. Readers will emerge with a new perspective on this small, misunderstood strip of land and the lives within it.
The book will be released on January 15, 2024. For more information or to arrange an interview, visit bkbarber.com or email [email protected].