The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine

What happens when family, memory, history, and a lifetime of complicated experiences collide?

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine is a witty and deeply human work of literary fiction set in Lebanon. The novel follows 63-year-old Raja, a philosophy teacher living in Beirut with his strong-willed octogenarian mother, Zalfa. Their close but often frustrating relationship becomes the center of a story filled with humor, memory, love, and reflection.

When Raja receives an invitation to attend a writing residency in America, he sees an opportunity to step away from his complicated life in Beirut. Instead, the invitation leads him back through decades of memories and experiences he would rather leave behind. As his story unfolds, the novel moves across six decades of Lebanese history, including the civil war, economic crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and Beirut port explosion.

Why Readers May Enjoy This Book

If you enjoy literary fiction with humor, memorable characters, and a strong sense of place, this novel offers plenty to explore.

Readers will find:

• A complex and unforgettable narrator
• A complicated mother-and-son relationship
• A vivid portrayal of Beirut and Lebanese life
• Themes of identity, family, memory, and forgiveness
• Humor alongside difficult moments
• A story that moves across six decades of personal and national history

The novel’s storytelling is particularly distinctive. Raja’s voice is conversational, digressive, and often wickedly funny, allowing personal memories and major historical events to unfold together.

Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) won the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction, adding an important literary distinction to an already acclaimed novel.

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