Elif Shafak author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, licenciado bajo CC BY-SA 4.0.

Elif Shafak

Nacido: October 25, 1971 – Strasbourg, Grand Est, France

Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist and essayist whose work explores identity, memory, migration, gender, and politics. Her notable books include The Bastard of Istanbul, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, and The Island of Missing Trees. She is widely translated and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Biografía y Trayectoria del Autor

Elif Shafak was born in Strasbourg on October 25, 1971, to Turkish parents, but her childhood was shaped less by rootedness than by movement. After her parents separated, she was raised largely by her mother and maternal grandmother in Ankara, in a female-led household that left a lasting mark on her understanding of gender, faith, and belonging. Diplomatic postings later took her to Madrid, Jordan, and Germany, and the repeated experience of displacement helped form the outsider’s perspective that runs through much of her fiction. In her late teens, she replaced her father’s surname with her mother’s first name, and she went on to study international relations, gender and women’s studies, and political science at Middle East Technical University. ((https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elif-Shafak))

Mostrar Más

Citas

quote
Books held my pieces together
-Storytelling, Fake Worlds, and the Internet
quote
Every new language is an additional zone of existence
-Writing in English brings me closer to Turkey
quote
So why not concentric circles of belongings?
-Elif Shafak on the book she’s waited years to write
quote
For me, home is storyland
-Strasbourg, Ankara, Madrid: none felt like home, but in books I discovered my people
quote
Literature can be incredibly powerful, universally relevant and, most importantly, a healing force
-We need to tell different stories, to humanise the other
quote
Character is far more important
-We’re living in the Age of Angst
quote
I am not only interested in stories past and present, but also in silences
-President’s Medal awarded to novelist Elif Shafak
quote
Women are water-carriers, just like they are memory-bearers
-9 Questions for Elif Shafak

Descubre más

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
LIBROS

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Explore Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's books on feminism, identity, and race, including We Should All Be Feminists and Americanah.

Equipo BeFreed

An Ordinary Woman’s Fight: Gisèle’s Journey to Justice
LIBROS

An Ordinary Woman’s Fight: Gisèle’s Journey to Justice

Books frequently read by Gisèle Pelicot that shaped her resilience and fight for women’s rights.

Equipo BeFreed

Baek Se-hee Book List: Memoirs on Mental Health & Healing
LIBROS

Baek Se-hee Book List: Memoirs on Mental Health & Healing

Discover Baek Se-hee’s complete book list on mental health and depression, including summaries, reading order, and where to read each memoir.

Equipo BeFreed

Books Recommended by Ezra Klein
LIBROS

Books Recommended by Ezra Klein

Explore Ezra Klein's book recommendations on politics, purpose, and human connection to rethink modern life and make deeper sense of the world.

Equipo BeFreed

Best Nobel Prize in Literature Books
LIBROS

Best Nobel Prize in Literature Books

Discover the best Nobel Prize in Literature books that challenge ideas, explore humanity, and transform how you see the world through powerful storytelling.

Equipo BeFreed

10 Powerful Books for International Women’s Day 2026
BLOG

10 Powerful Books for International Women’s Day 2026

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with 10 powerful books that inspire change, spark action, and amplify women’s voices worldwide.

BeFreed Team

Best National Book Award Books
LIBROS

Best National Book Award Books

Discover top National Book Award winners—powerful fiction and nonfiction that challenge ideas, spark emotion, and stay with you long after the last page.

Equipo BeFreed

Ezker Abertzalea
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

Ezker Abertzalea

The Ezker Abertzalea represents a complex intersection of regional identity, leftist ideology, and independence aspirations that continues to shape Basque Country politics. This learning plan benefits those interested in European regional movements, identity politics, and the evolution of nationalist-socialist ideologies in contemporary political landscapes.

5 h 10 m3 Secciones

Voces de la Comunidad

"Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature"

Ian McEwan

"Elif Shafak's lyrical command of language and narrative is breathtaking"

Helena Kennedy

"It will make you think, cry, rage – and hope. It is Elif Shafak at her best"

The New Statesman

"Elif Shafak is one of the great writers of our time"

Peter Frankopan

"Elif Shafak continues to resist Turkey’s repressive government with brilliant fiction"

The Washington Post

"Elif Shafak's extraordinary 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in This Strange World is a work of brutal beauty and consummate tenderness"

Simon Schama

"Elif Shafak brings into the written realm what so many others want to leave outside"

Colum McCann

"The Island of Missing Trees is Elif Shafak's best work yet"

The New York Times Book Review

Preguntas frecuentes sobre esta página

Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco

BeFreed Reúne a una Comunidad Global de 1,000,000 Mentes Curiosas

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Comienza tu viaje de aprendizaje, ahora