The Making of a Human Bomb

“[A] very good ethnography, richly documented and theoretically informed, which should be read by anyone interested in the anthropology of violence or the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.” — Eyal Ben-Ari, Social Anthropology

“[A]n important contribution to the understanding of this bloody chapter in the history of Palestinian resistance, as it addresses the issue from the perspective of the Palestinians themselves.” — Asa Winstanley, Electronic Intifada

“[Abufarha] offers a holistic and multi-tiered approach to account for the cultural meanings that underlie and extend beyond the political instrumentalities of using ‘human bombs’ to destabilize Israeli society. . . . Recommended. All levels/libraries.” — B. Tavokolian, Choice

“[T]he book makes an exceptional contribution to our understanding of martyrdom operations. The author’s focus on the cultural discourse of martyrdom allows the reader to understand the self-sacrificial ‘system of motivations’ for such acts; an understanding missing in English terms such as ‘human bomb’ or ‘suicide bombings’.” — Leonardo A. Schiocchet, Interventions

“The Making of a Human Bomb by Nasser Abufarha is required reading, for it links the 21st century’s leading sociological perspective (culture) with the new century’s quintessential form of political violence (suicide bombers, or SBs).” — Albert J. Bergesen, American Journal of Sociology

“[Abufarha’s] research is extensive and his thesis powerful. . . .” — Steven E. Levingston, Washington Post, Short Stack blog

“[T]he best book I've come across on explaining the source of conflict. . . . The author does a very good job of presenting a complex situation and making it understandable. It's a powerful book. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in the core reasons behind the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, understanding the Palestinian use of suicide attacks on civilians, and/or understanding some factors which drive the acceptance and use of suicide bombs in any culture.” — Debbie White, Different Time Different Place blog

“Abufarha can hardly be blamed for this apparent disconnect between his strongest material and his analytical conclusions. It results from writing perhaps the most difficult kind of ethnography imaginable, one whose physical subject has vanished and been replaced by competing ideologies. Abufarha deserves credit for rising to this challenge and writing an insightful, passionately researched, and consistently provocative if analytically uneven book. He has broken new ground; may others join him in tilling it.” — Diana Allan, American Ethnologist

“With this book, [Abufarha] has made several incisive contributions, and not only towards understanding the suicide bombers of the Intifada. Yet non-Palestinian scholars invested in research and reading about Palestine should read Abufarha’s book not only for his insightful analysis but also for the value of his reportage of the ‘on the ground’ perspectives of Palestinians in the northern West Bank. On both accounts, and various mixtures thereof, this is an important book I highly recommend.” — Les W. Field, Journal of Anthropological Research