“With a Catholic mother and a Muslim father, I've always had a great interest in religion, but I've never practiced one myself. After I received a diagnosis of an aggressive form of leukemia at the age of 22, I put my faith in medicine.”

American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker

Suleika Jaouad is an American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker. She is known for her essays and commentary, including her “Life, Interrupted” column in The New York Times, and for work published in Vogue, Glamour, NPR’s All Things Considered, and Women’s Health. Her 2021 memoir, Between Two Kingdoms, describes her experience with leukemia and became a New York Times best seller. She later published The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life in 2025. Her work often reflects on illness, resilience, and the effort to build meaning through difficult circumstances.