Today we talk about Reflections from the Holy Land: A Compendium of Conscience, Faith, and Resilience, a book by Munjid Kaloti published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Munjid Kaloti to get to know him better, where he found the inspiration that brought him to the writing of his book Reflections from the Holy Land: A Compendium of Conscience, Faith, and Resilience, as well as how he defines his writing style.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where and when did you find the inspiration to write your autobiographical book?
The inspiration did not come from a moment of clarity, but from a moment of collapse. In 2022, I was fully immersed in building Tourath, a social enterprise that I believed would define me. I gave it my energy, my identity, and my faith. But when the project reached a dead point in 2023, I found myself facing something deeper than failure—I was facing myself. During that period, I had a simple yet transformative encounter with a humble scholar who gave me advice I could not ignore: “Write what you do. Keep a notebook.” It sounded simple, but it became a lifeline. So I began writing—not as an author, but as someone trying to understand his own confusion, struggle, and questions. These writings were not structured, not planned, and not meant for anyone else. They were reflections born from a long and difficult journey of pursuing purpose in Palestine. This book is not the result of inspiration in the traditional sense. It is the result of endurance, of questioning, and of choosing to face what is within.
- What is the message you want to convey to your readers?
I did not begin writing with the intention of conveying a specific message. In truth, I was writing to myself, for myself. The reflections in this book are personal experiences, moments of confusion, struggle, faith, and inquiry. They are not answers—I never claimed to have them. What I offer instead is honesty. This book is an invitation rather than a statement. An invitation to pause, to reflect, and to read consciously. Not just the words on the page, but your own life, your own thoughts, your own beliefs. If there is anything I hope the reader takes from this, it is not agreement with me, but awareness within themselves. To read with an open heart, without rushing to conclusions. To question gently, rather than react quickly. We live in a world full of noise, opinions, and certainty. This book is none of that. It is a space of reflection. So perhaps the “message,” if it exists, is simple: do not take my words as truth—use them as a mirror.
- How would you define your writing style?
I cannot define my writing style in technical terms. I was not writing with awareness of literary categories. What I wrote came naturally, almost like a conversation—sometimes with myself, sometimes with the divine, and sometimes with humanity. If I had to describe it, I would say it is free. Free in form, free in thought, and free from the pressure of fitting into a defined style. At the same time, there is a real human influence behind the way I express myself. A dear friend of mine who is not only a writer but was also a life advisor to me during a difficult period, had a direct impact on my writing. At a time when I was overwhelmed and often over-explaining, she challenged me to distill a perspective into just three words. That practice stayed with me. You will notice in the book short lines, pauses, and condensed thoughts. This is not accidental—it reflects an effort to say less, but carry more meaning. So while I may not define my writing style academically, I can say this: it is simple, intentional, and shaped not only by experience, but by the people who helped me find clarity within it.
- How did it feel to read your life on the pages of your book?
It was humbling, and at times, uncomfortable. Writing allowed me to pour my emotions—frustration, anger, love, confusion—into words. But reading those words later was a different experience. It was like meeting myself from a distance, without excuses, without filters. Through writing, I began to understand my own journey more clearly. Through reading, I began to develop compassion for myself. We often move through life without pausing to reflect. But when your thoughts are written in front of you, you are forced to face them. You see your contradictions, your growth, your blind spots.This process helped me shift from reacting to understanding. In a way, reading my own life gave me a clearer lens for the present. It allowed me to see not only what I went through, but how I perceived it—and how that perception shapes my future. Writing was expression. Reading was transformation.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
There are already two more compendiums taking shape. Their reflections exist—scattered across notes, conversations, and lived experiences—but I have chosen not to rush them. For now, I stepped back from writing. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I feel a responsibility to go deeper. I am returning to research—to read more, to listen more, and to question what I think I know before I complete these next works. At the same time, my journey continues beyond the pages. One of the living expressions of this work is the story of the olive tree, which you will encounter in the book. It is not just a symbol—it is a bridge between people, land, and meaning. Through initiatives like Zeituna, we are exploring how this story can become a shared experience, connecting individuals to something real and rooted. If you are curious, I invite you to explore it further. The writing is not finished—it is evolving. And perhaps the most important part of the story is not what is written, but what is still being discovered.
Europe Books thanks the author Munjid Kaloti once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Reflections from the Holy Land: A Compendium of Conscience, Faith, and Resilience. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book allow you to stop, reflect, and take all the time you need to ask yourself questions and find the best answers for you.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!