Eli Sharabi's book "Hostage" has been dominating Israel Hayom's weekly bestseller list since its initial publication, and approximately one week ago, an English-language version of the book was released. Now, the international edition has entered a particularly prestigious ranking: the New York Times bestseller list, currently positioned at number four.
On the left is a photo of Eli Sharabi being released from Hamas hell after 491 days of torture, shortly before learning his wife, daughters and brother were murdered.
On the right is Eli eight months later, with his bestselling memoir "Hostage".
Our hero. pic.twitter.com/24vNouldvz
— Yael Bar tur 🤞 (@yaelbt) October 15, 2025
Sharabi, 53, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri who was kidnapped from his kibbutz during the massacre, writes in "Hostage" that he refuses to sink into self-pity and is determined to rebuild his life. His wife Lian, daughters Noya and Yahel, and brother Yossi (who was also taken captive) were murdered. Sharabi met with US President Donald Trump and delivered a speech before the UN Security Council. About the moment of abduction, he wrote, "I focus and concentrate on one mission: my survival and return home. There is no more regular Eli. From now on, I am Eli the survivor."
The American edition of "Hostage" was released by HarperCollins publishing house on October 7, exactly two years after the massacre. Time magazine noted that, beyond Sharabi's personal experiences, this is a document expressing the Israeli perception of the war. The New York Times defined the book as a testimony to suffering and the possibility of hope.
From Sela Meir Publishers, which released "Hostage" in Israel, it was stated that they are "proud and not particularly surprised by the book's success in English. Beyond being a historical testimony of supreme importance, Eli wrote a timeless and universal work about the power of the human spirit, and every person's ability to choose their path even under impossible circumstances. This is a book not only about difficult reality, but also about our ability to change, and therefore it will continue to succeed, move, and influence the world for the better."
"Hostage," which is the first documentation from someone who was held captive in Hamas tunnels and spent most of the period shackled at his legs and starved, sold more than 20,000 copies in Israel in the first five days after its release, and after about a month, more than 100,000 copies were sold.
On the bestseller chart, "Hostage" is preceded by memoirs written by the late Ozzy Osbourne and Kamala Harris, and a self-help book by John Kennedy. In the list's fourth position, "Hostage" stands as a powerful testament to human resilience.
