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Author Talk: Eric Silberstein, author of In Berlin

Aug 20, 2025

IN BERLIN is an entangled story about two women whose lives are upended, one by an achingly rare spinal stroke and the other by political violence. In this interview conducted by Susie Felber, Eric Silberstein explains what inspired him to write his second novel, following THE INSECURE MIND OF SERGEI KRAEV, and why he chose Berlin as the setting. He also talks about making some of the mouth-watering Syrian dishes that are described in the novel and recalls a memorable discussion he had with a book club.

—Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States

—Heather Krill, author of the novel TRUE NORTH and writer for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

—Stanley Sagov, MD, former Chair, Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital

—Midwest Book Review

—Karen Roy, LCSW, Ms. Wheelchair America 2019

—Nina Ephremidze, former host of "Trip to Europe"

—BookLife Reviews (Editor’s Pick)

—Ali Aljasem, PhD, scholar in Conflict Studies at Utrecht University

—Ashley Lyn Olson, founder of wheelchairtraveling.com