Omar El Akkad is an Egyptian-Canadian writer and journalist who has reported from war zones such as Afghanistan and Guantánamo, work for which he received the National Award for Investigative Reporting and the Goff Penny Award for young journalists. He has published in outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian. His first novel, American War, was an international success and received multiple awards. His second novel, What Strange Paradise (2021), also earned major recognition, including the Giller Prize. His nonfiction book One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This was a bestseller winner of the 2025 National Book Award and finalist for awards such as the Carnegie Medal.