SUICIDAL EMPATHY
By Gad Saad
Publisher: Broadside
The host of the podcast “The Saad Truth” argues that what he considers misguided compassion is having a negative impact on society.
Review by By The Books Reviewer
Gad Saad's latest work, "Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind," presents a scathing critique of what he terms "suicidal empathy"—a phenomenon where excessive and misdirected compassion leads to societal self-destruction. Saad argues that this pathological form of empathy prioritizes the feelings of ostensibly marginalized groups over objective truth and public safety, resulting in policies that coddle criminals, protect rapists, and brand self-defense as toxic behavior. ([netgalley.com](https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/823999?utm_source=openai))
The book is replete with hyperbolic assertions, such as the claim that Western civilization is in rapid decline due to "lunatic policies" that elevate victimhood to a virtue and consider punishment cruel. Saad contends that this misguided compassion actively dismantles the pillars that keep societies safe and free. ([netgalley.com](https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/823999?utm_source=openai))
Critics have lambasted the book for its lack of empirical evidence and reliance on cherry-picked anecdotes. Valerie Stivers, writing for UnHerd, dismisses "suicidal empathy" as "fake science," arguing that Saad's central claim is never empirically established and relies on hyperbolic framing that feeds a climate justifying cruelty and xenophobia. ([unherd.com](https://unherd.com/2026/05/suicidal-empathy-is-fake-science/?utm_source=openai))
Furthermore, the book's style has been described as almost impossible to read, with incessant references to Saad's previous works, podcasts, and social media feuds. A review in El-Balad.com notes that Saad's tendency to conflate sarcasm with wit and repeat jokes rather than make them entertaining makes the book hard work for the reader. ([el-balad.com](https://www.el-balad.com/17005869?utm_source=openai))
In summary, "Suicidal Empathy" is a polemical work that offers a provocative perspective on contemporary social issues. However, its lack of rigorous analysis, overreliance on anecdotal evidence, and self-indulgent writing style undermine its credibility. Readers seeking a nuanced and evidence-based exploration of the complexities of empathy in modern society would be better served elsewhere.
Recommendation: Not recommended.
written on: 5/21/2026