The new book authored by the Filipina journalist recounts her investigative endeavors concerning the orchestrated campaign of extrajudicial murders under the Duterte administration.
Should you be in search of a noteworthy book recommendation, Patricia Evangelista’s most recent work comes highly recommended. Distinguished by The New York Times as a ‘powerful read,’ her latest publication has been recognized as one of the 10 Best Books of 2023. This prestigious acknowledgment places her book in the company of four other distinguished nonfiction works and five outstanding fiction pieces.
Diving into the harrowing narratives of the Philippines’ “drug war,” where countless victims didn’t live to tell the tale, this book spans the years from 2016 to 2022, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s tenure and his relentless campaign of extrajudicial killings. As the New York Times aptly puts it, “Such killings became so frequent that journalists like Evangelista, then a reporter for the independent news site Rappler, kept folders on their computers that were organized not by date but by hours of death.”
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2023
Pointing out that journalism is an act of faith, Some People Need Killing intimately discloses the larger context of Philippine history, including that of language beyond mere communication. It shows how language is wielded to express ideas and threaten, persuade, and even spread falsehoods. Yet, in its paradoxical nature, language remains a powerful tool that enables individuals to speak the truth.
Patricia Evangelista’s Some People Need Killing is the culmination of numerous years of dedicated work and the collective efforts of remarkable individuals who bore witness to the events documented in the book. Through their shared experiences and commitment, they have contributed a significant part of themselves to bringing this work to fruition. In a post on her Instagram, the author shared: “I wrote the story, but it’s not just mine. The book was the product of many years of work and the efforts of a great many remarkable people, some of them survivors, who bore witness and chose to document a savage time. I’m glad to know the book has been read. I am humbled that there is an audience willing to listen. I hope the story goes far, and am honored to have been part of its telling.”
In addition to this accolade, Patricia Evangelista’s Some People Need Killing found its place among Time Magazine’s Top 100 Must-Read Books of 2023. Truly, the literary landscape of 2023 is a tapestry woven with compelling narratives. If you want to venture into impactful works that will allow you to immerse yourself in extraordinary tales and thought-provoking themes, here are The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2023:
Nonfiction
- Some People Need Killing (Patricia Evangelista)
- The Best Mind (Jonathan Rosen)
- Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs (Kerry Howley)
- Fire Weather (John Vaillant)
- Master Slave Husband Wife (Ilyon Woo)
Fiction
- The Bee Sting (Paul Murray)
- Chaing-Gang All-Stars (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)
- Eastbound (Maylis de Kerangal)
- The Fraud (Zadie Smith)
- North Woods (Daniel Mason)
