Salman Rushdie - ‘I’d rather have had a different life’

Jun 5, 2024

Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author who survived a violent attack, shares insights on love triumphing over hatred, his new book 'Knife', advice on creativity, childhood struggles, failed acting aspirations, and lessons from early writing rejections. He also reveals what Margaret Thatcher was really like, offering a glimpse into his remarkable journey and wisdom for embracing imperfections.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Resilience and Love: Overcoming Trauma with Strength and Care

01:31 • 20min

Exploration of Unexpected Realizations and Writing Struggles

21:25 • 2min

Reflections on Childhood and Sports Struggles

23:53 • 10min

Transition from Acting Aspirations to Novelist: Lessons Learned

33:27 • 2min

Cameo on Curb Your Enthusiasm

35:41 • 4min

Exploration of Character Creation and Early Writing Failures

39:37 • 2min

From Rejection to Recognition: A Writer's Journey

42:01 • 8min

Exploration of Self-Identity and Writing Journey

49:44 • 3min

TW: this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and injuries.

Two years ago, Sir Salman Rushdie, one of the most celebrated and famous authors in the world was on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York, when a figure dressed in black clothes and a mask rushed onto stage and stabbed him numerous times. He nearly died.

Today, I’m so honoured that this extraordinary man joins me to talk about what this experience taught him - and how the forces of love ultimately triumphed over the forces of hatred. We talk about his new book, Knife: Meditations on an Attempted Murder, as well as his early failures at boarding school where he was bullied for being a foreigner who was too clever and bad at games. Plus his failure to be an actor and his early writing rejections. There is some amazing advice in here for anyone involved in the act of creativity about leaning into the messy imperfections and getting to understand who you really are in the process. And…what Margaret Thatcher was *really* like.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear about your failures. Every week, my guest and I choose a selection to read out and answer on our special subscription offering, Failing with Friends. We’ll endeavour to give you advice, wisdom, some laughs and much, much more.

Knife by Salman Rushdie is available to buy now.

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Manager: Lily Hambly

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Tickell and Josh Gibbs

Senior Producer: Selina Ream

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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