Ukrainian War Memoir Named Among Washington Post’s Best Nonfiction of the Year
A book by Ukrainian writer Artem Chapeye has been included in The Washington Post's list of the best nonfiction publications of the year.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Suspilne.
The American publication The Washington Post included "Ordinary People Don't Carry Machine Guns: Thoughts on War" in its list of the 50 best nonfiction books of the year.
In this book, Ukrainian writer and soldier Artem Chapeye candidly recounts his own journey: from pacifist to soldier, forced to rethink his beliefs in the face of war. He speaks honestly about his motives, fears, nightmares, and changing worldview, revealing the intimate experience of a person who never imagined himself on the front lines.
Chapeye explores his role in defending his country, the balance between his duties as a father, writer, and soldier, and the difficult decisions that war imposes on everyone. He reflects on the choices made by his comrades, those who stayed to fight or were forced to leave, and how his children feel at home.
This is a profound, emotional, and insightful book that helps readers see how war changes people, and why ordinary people are sometimes forced to make extraordinary choices.
“The stories offer candid, darkly funny observations on topics ranging from domestic squabbles to rural life and crime. What becomes obvious is Chapeye's love for travel and the truths it reveals,” said Ella Creamer from The Guardian.
The editors of Book World highly praised the honesty and philosophical depth of Chapeye's observations about war, people, and inner transformation.
“Chapeye represents a modern-day Ukrainian counterpart to classic American writers like Mark Twain or O. Henry, capturing the dignity and respect his characters might not get but nonetheless long for and deserve,” shared Kate Tsurkan from the Los Angeles Review of Books.
The English-language version of the book was published by Seven Stories Press in April 2025, translated by Zeni Tompkins. Prior to this, the author prepared a French edition to “explain” the situation to foreign readers.
The book has already gained recognition at the national level: it was shortlisted for the BBC Book of the Year 2025 award in the “Essays” category.
Artem Chapeye is a well-known writer, reporter, and traveler, a member of the Ukrainian PEN Club, and, since 2022, also a soldier in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His works have been repeatedly recognized in international rankings.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukrainian books The Language of War by Oleksandr Mykhed, Chernobyl Roulette by historian Serhiy Plokhiy, and The Ukraine by Artem Chapeye were included in the ranking of the 50 best publications of 2024 according to the British edition of The Telegraph.
Read more on The Gaze: Here’s How You Can Read the Best Ukrainian Books in Your Own Language