2025 NYC Big Book Award WINNER in the Cultural Heritage category

The Soul of War is a profoundly moving account of the human face of conflict, told through the eyes of Ivona Olofsson – therapist, peace worker, and fellow human being. With roots in post-war Poland and a life shaped by the legacy of war, she travels to Ukraine in the midst of an unfolding conflict.

On train platforms, in refugee camps, hospitals, and among ruins, she meets children, soldiers, mothers, and medics. They share stories that redefine courage, endurance, and what it means to remain human. Interwoven with her own memories, these voices form a narrative where the personal and the universal meet.

This book is both a testimony and an inner journey – about the invisible scars carried by individuals and communities, about the ways history continues to echo within us, and about the will to stand for something greater than ourselves.

Written in language that is both poetic and unflinching, The Soul of War captures moments of pain and beauty in a world torn by conflict. It is a powerful, timely contribution to understanding the impact of war and the enduring human capacity for hope.