Following the events of October 7th, writer and broadcaster Jake Wallis Simons has become one of the leading voices holding accountable those who are spreading antisemitic rhetoric. Previously editor of The Jewish Chronicle, Simons now regularly writes for The Telegraph, the Spectator, The New York Post and The Jewish Chronicle, and he authored the 2023 book ‘Israelophobia’. His latest book, ‘Never Again: How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself’, was released in October.
I’ll admit that ‘Never Again: How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself’ wasn’t the book I was expecting when I began reading. With the (live) hostages now released from Gaza following the war between Hamas and Israel, I had been anticipating a dissection of the response of the world to the atrocities committed by Hamas. That’s not what this book is. Instead, Simons combs through history to discuss the many points that planted the seeds for the way that the Jewish people are being treated today.
‘Never Again’ isn’t by any means a light read. Simons packs plenty of history into its pages and has clearly done plenty of research to put his argument forward. For some readers, that may result in a book that is quite dense and not always easily accessible. While Simons knows his subject matter inside out, it’s safe to say that many of his readers won’t and there’s a lot to get your head around here. One aspect of the book that will resonate with readers though is the topic of immigration. A hot topic at the polls every election, and increasing anger across the world at the decisions politicians have made, immigration is what Simons believes is responsible for the state of modern society.
What does he mean by that? Essentially a huge influx of people with different religions and belief systems, has meant that many countries across the world have lost their identity. He discusses the increasing Muslim presence, particularly here in the UK, which is at around 7% of the population. Despite that being a small portion of overall society, Simons’ argument is that the beliefs of the minority are being favoured over the beliefs of the many in the name of political correctness and tolerance. With so few people holding so much sway, is it any wonder that antisemitism has reared its ugly head once again?
Simons also takes aim at centrists, who he says mean well but ultimately don’t really understand what it is they are doing and/or supporting. He believes this has resulted in societies throwing away their own traditions in favour of the beliefs of our religions. Simons supports his arguments throughout the book with quotes from the likes of Douglas Murray and Sir Niall Ferguson.
‘Never Again: How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself’ is an interesting read but I didn’t find that it told me much that I didn’t already know. The early chapters are hampered by references to Simons’ podcast, feeling more like an advert for that than an engaging read. Once that subsides the book becomes more engaging but be warned that the subject matter is very heavy. Simons is clearly incredibly knowledgeable about antisemitism and its causes, but I would have liked a little more focus on the post October 7th world to further add context.
Publisher: Constable Release date: 2nd October 2025 Buy ‘Never Again: How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself’ now
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