Rife: Twenty Stories from Britain’s Youth

By Nikesh Shukla

book cover

A book of essays by writers under 24, edited

Publication date: Summer 2019
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About the book

The country is messed up and our future is looking gloomy. We, Britain’s young people, have to live with the repercussions of what the oldies have done --- we didn’t vote for Brexit, we didn’t vote in Theresa May, and you know what? We’re sick of being talked about instead of talked to. So here’s our book. Written for you by us. You’re welcome.
 If you think that’s all a bit in your face, you should know that it’s never been harder to be young, so it’s no wonder we’re angry. One in four people under 25 will be affected by mental illness. 52% of all people under 25 have looked for advice on homelessness. As university fees rise, job opportunities dry up and houses get more expensive, we are facing an ever-expanding chasm of doubt, instability and, basically, buckling down for a really, really rough time for the rest of our lives.

The voice of this generation is noticeably absent from mainstream media, online comment pieces and from news reports. Oi, editors! What are you so scared of? Why aren’t you commissioning us?

As usual, it looks like it’s up to us to commission ourselves.

Curated by author and editor of The Good Immigrant, Nikesh Shukla and journalist/Rife alumna Sammy Jones, Rife: 20 Stories From Britain's Youth collects twenty young people’s essays about money, mental health, sex, gender, equality, education, crime and the future.

The writers, all under 24 and selected from all over the UK, include Ella Marshall, Liv Little, Amber Kirk-Ford, Rosalind Jana, Ailsa Fineron and many more. Some have been chosen from Rife Magazine, Bristol’s youth magazine for 13-19 year olds, mentored by Nikesh and produced by Watershed, and some have been chosen for their outstanding contributions to a spectrum of crucial conversations.

What they all have in common are their essential insights into what it means to be young in Britain right now. Against the apocalyptic backdrop 2016 has provided us with, our stories prove we are still full of ideas and aspirations. And maybe they’ll fill you with hope too.

If you’re under 24, with an interesting story to tell, get in touch with editor@rifemagazine.co.uk - we have plenty of room for writers new to us with important stories to tell!

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