Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Infidel
Book Review: 5 stars for Ali's Infidel
Summary: 5 Stars
I give this book 5 stars for the following reasons:
1)It is a moving account of young female intellectual awakening, which is a point of view we rarely see and desparately need, especially in the United States where the word "Feminism" has been twisted to simply mean "man-hater" which is a ridiculously incorrect and shallow definition.
2)It is a clearly written account of an extremely complicated story with myriad people, places, values and events that most Americans know nothing about and can barely understand. We need this clear presentation. This is certainly my first encounter with many of these ideas, belief systems and cultures, and I appreciate the direct cadence.
3)The importance of literacy, reading, languages and thoughtful questioning are spoken of authentically and throughout the narrative, making it a vital book for all educators to look at and use, especially those of us working with the vast number of illiterate and sub-literate American children and teens alive in this nation--children and teens woefully ignorant of the power of knowledge and full of disdain for education in general.
4)Another refreshing facet of the book is the back and forth emotional struggle of a person trying to determine what she believes for herself in terms of religion and politics. Again, this is a topic that Americans need to start thinking about. It is important for citizens in a Democracy to figure out what they believe and why they believe in it as they grow into young adulthood and beyond. The examined life is crucial to the health of democracy.
5)The irony of this latest twist in her life (being asked to leave the "enlightened" country she was trying to embrace) is an important reality for all Western activists to examine--the political landscape across the world is in such great upheaval and it is time for ALL of us to examine all levels of alliances and political definitions. The world is changing rapidly, and we need to move quickly to help shape this world in a positive and meaningful direction and be open to all kinds of ideas that are brand new! Clearly, the old ways are crumbling. It is up to us to shape the future. Being open-minded and questioning seems to be a crucial first step!
6) This book motivates me to learn and to act--as a feminist, as a mother, as a peace activist, as a teacher, as a poet, and as a human being trying to make sense of the world and in shaping the world. It has been a long time since I've felt so inspired.
Get the book as soon as you can and decide for yourself. I don't know why Ali chose to go to a conservative think tank now, but I trust her and look forward to learning about the next chapter in her journey of discovery.
Her life and words give me great hope for the future.
Book Review: A long and painful journey
Summary: 4 Stars
Although Ayaan Ali is not a gifted writer, I highly recommend "Infidel" because of its fascinating account of her journey from Muslim fundamentalism to atheism. As an atheist myself, I could not help comparing how easy that jouney was for me with how difficult it was for her. To fully appreciate the difficulty, one has to read the book and learn the horrible things that were beaten (literally beaten) into her as a child. Yet, when she was about thirty, she looked into a mirrow in her hotel room in Greece, where she was on vacation at the time, and said, "I do not believe in God." How she got from her childhood in Somalia to that hotel room in Greece is a story that will hold any reader's interest, regardless of the reader's beliefs about religion. "Infidel" is also a story of exceptional courage, courage at overcoming her fear of Hell (beause of her upbringing, Hell was very real, not just an abstract concept), fear of bringing dishonor to her tribe (Americans cannot appreciate how horrrible this is), and fear for her personal safety (a man with whom she had made a controversial film about Islam was assinated by a Muslim fanatic). With respect to her personal safety, she will probably have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life, because, for a Muslim, there is apparently no greater sin than renouncing a belief in God. Ultimately, this is the story of a young girl, who, despite being subjected to brainwashing of the worst kind, never lost the capacity to ask, "Why?"
Book Review: A Beautiful and Troubled Journey through Life (But is there any other Kind?)
Summary: 5 Stars
The beauty and universality of this fine piece of work is that we can recognize Ayaan Ali's journey as our own. No matter where we are, or, where we are from, in one way or another, we too have taken this same life journey. It is the un-tethered solitary trek across space and time in search of our own place in this world. Always it is first a journey against the built-in tyrannies of society, and its ultimate evil: societal ignorance disguised as certain and benevolent knowledge.
Ayaan has reached the last leg of the journey, which invariably is learning to overcome the disabilities of discarded ignorance and becoming content and comfortable in ones own skin and with what we have constructed; that is learning to be happy within our new selves.
We know the disguises and the games all too well for they pollute all societies in equal measures whether primitive or modern, developed or developing: They are always the games played by the indecipherable higher authorities ostensibly looking out for our own (always lower) better (usually moral) interests. But as we have learned from the Wizard of Oz and other fairy tales -- all the way up through the brutal experiences of everyday adult life -- these emperors of authority never have any clothes. They rule by fiat, hidden behind the clock always with their suspect legitimacy and questionable self-defined, heavily guarded and unchallengeable truths.
The subtext of their hidden game is never too well hidden: it is maximizing their own power at our expense. They do it by colonizing weaker minds through the manipulation of basic fears, especially the fear of the unknown, and the fear of being socially isolated. They are all cowards and bullies and we know this, but we nevertheless allow them to intimidate and manipulate us.
We are the life-projects of these demons of tyranny, for they can only make the world safe for themselves and their own selfish interests by controlling our minds and our behavior. Each society serves as the crucible for preparing and perfecting its own peculiar witches brew. The portions may vary but the ingredients used to colonize the mind seem to always reduce to the same ones: religion, class, sex, tribe and race.
In Somalia, as is true of many developing societies, heavy doses of "tribal" and "religious" ignorance is sufficient to do the job. In more sophisticated developed societies, like the U.S. the tyranny of colonization has become a much more sophisticated (or as we like to say these days a more nuanced subtler and compassionate) game. Yet the rules and the objectives remain the same: use ignorance, fears, and social insecurities as a bludgeon to pound the weaker minds into shape - that is into an internalized and colonized state of mind - so that they mutilate themselves, on autopilot. The stronger minds will always follow.
Yes, it is true that the Enlightenment period in the West did help to beat back a lot of organized ignorance, at least for a time. But the most formidable of them, religious ignorance, at least in the U.S., is making a determined comeback.
Ms. Ali can be forgiven temporarily for being "blown away" and blinded by the dramatic contrast between the West and the rest. There is indeed a lot to be said for one society being a little less ignorant than another, but not a lot. As for the West's seeming openness, orderliness and kindness, there will be plenty of time after her honeymoon is over (and she has been used up and discarded) for her to be jolted back to her normal good senses and sensibilities.
I don't suppose she failed to notice that in the year of Our Lord 2007, we have four (count them) four candidates for U.S. President who do not believe in Evolution. How is that for underscoring Western enlightenment?
Five Stars.
Book Review: A Good Look From the Inside!
Summary: 5 Stars
As Americans, we often don't get to see what life is like for those born under different circumstances. Conversely, folks born in other cultures often see Americans as decadent and self-absorbed. That neither side really understands the other's position creates a cultural divide that few dare to cross. Ms. Ali is one of very few people with a mind open enough to cross that divide, and at perilous expense to her own well-being.
Reading her book I was taken into the world of Islam. I could see the sense of family and purpose that drives the Muslim thought process. The societal norms of her culture are structured in such a fashion to maintain that culture and all its habits, good and bad. Western culture is seen as the makings of the infidel and avoidance of it's trappings is seen as the goal of any good Muslim. After all, who would want to allow their children to fall into the decadent lifestyle as seen in western countries. Islam offers a solution to such a dilemma, but it comes with a high price. Submission to Islam carries with it a very narrow social context to which it's believers must adhere. This is especially incumbent upon Muslim women who suffer many indignities as second class citizens of this culture.
The crux of her life crisis comes when she is betrothed in an arranged marriage to a Muslim man she does not care for. Ms. Ali must choose to remain a good Muslim and travel to Canada to be with this 'husband' or to make a break and seek refuge in a western country that will grant her refugee status. One must consider the huge risk she undertook in leaving Islam. As she learns the ways of western civilization, she comes to realize precisely what her Muslim culture didn't understand. That secular governments can provide services to its people in a humane and efficient way. When a Dutch policeman offers her help and doesn't expect a bribe in return, she is grateful and amazed. This would never happen in her Muslim culture.
Eventually she becomes a spokesperson for Muslim women and, with the help of an associate, produces a short film titled 'Submission' that exposes the inner-world of Islamic subcultures in western society. Her associate is then brutally murdered by a Muslim extremist who pins a note to his chest with a knife. The note threatens Ms. Ali for her work in exposing Islam. She goes into hiding but remains steadfast in her actions to put an end to Islamic persecution of women.
Once I started, I could not put this book down. Her story is simple yet so provocative. A Muslim women daring to abandon her culture with all the possibilities for retribution. Then to defiantly expose Islam and face the wrath of its' extremists. That her story corroborates another book I read, While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within, tells me that there isn't just a grain of truth to either story. Their conclusions are even similar in that they both call for the assimilation of Muslims into western culture rather than allowing them to be 'outside-of-the-law' in their adopted western countries. A very interesting read with an important message for our world. Five stars without a doubt.
Book Review: A Great Eye Opener
Summary: 5 Stars
[..]. This book is a real eye opener. I reveals much about the cultures and lives of people living in the Middle East, as well as parts of Africa such as Somalia, and the Netherlands. I really enjoyed reading this book as it was a great eye opener.