This podcast episode explores Salman Rushdie's harrowing experience of being attacked on stage, the physical and emotional sensations he felt during the attack, and his reflections on life, writing, and religious fundamentalism. Rushdie's memoir, Knife, meditations after an attempted murder, serves as a therapeutic outlet for him to process the trauma. He discusses the power of dreams and premonitions, his views on magical realism and religious texts, and the struggle to find new ways to express emotions like love and happiness in writing. Despite the pain and hallucinations he experienced, Rushdie emphasizes the importance of living life fully and not being afraid to take risks. The episode also touches on the impact of the attack on Rushdie's wife and the rise of religious fundamentalism in the modern world.
