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Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,724 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Internationally bestselling author Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells the stirring story of her search for a new life in America, recounting dramatic stories of her family and the challenges they faced adapting to Western society as Muslim immigrants.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali captured the world’s attention with Infidel, her compelling coming-of-age memoir, which spent thirty-one weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Now, in Nomad, Hirsi Ali tells of coming to America to build a new life, an ocean away from the death threats made to her by European Islamists, the strife she witnessed, and the inner conflict she suffered. It is the story of her physical journey to freedom and, more crucially, her emotional journey to freedom—her transition from a tribal mind-set that restricts women’s every thought and action to a life as a free and equal citizen in an open society. Through stories of the challenges she has faced, she shows the difficulty of reconciling the contradictions of Islam with Western values.
In these pages Hirsi Ali recounts the many turns her life took after she broke with her family, and how she struggled to throw off restrictive superstitions and misconceptions that initially hobbled her ability to assimilate into Western society. She writes movingly of her reconciliation, on his deathbed, with her devout father, who had disowned her when she renounced Islam after 9/11, as well as with her mother and cousins in Somalia and in Europe.
Nomad is a portrait of a family torn apart by the clash of civilizations. But it is also a touching, uplifting, and often funny account of one woman’s discovery of today’s America. While Hirsi Ali loves much of what she encounters, she fears we are repeating the European mistake of underestimating radical Islam. She conveys an urgent message and mission—to inform the West of the extent of the threat from Islam, both from outside and from within our open societies. A celebration of free speech and democracy, Nomad is an important contribution to the history of ideas, but above all a rousing call to action.
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"A gripping history. This is the only book I've read from Hirsi Ali and its so good (I think mostly because its a personal account, and I've heard that 'Infidel' is even better). Hirsi Ali presents the growing problem with muslims emigrating from the middle-east and other Islamist countries; Islam as an ideology is just incompatible with the modern world, and muslim immigrants just don't want to change their ways; they want (and demand) all amenities, comforts and advantages of the modern world, but at the same time are not willing to concede that all that is the result of a society that has shed away just the kind of dark-aged ideology they still drag around (and worst of all, modern society -Europe- is playing-along with them). Just a very few of those immigrants are capable of changing, as Hirsi Ali did ."
— G.P. (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“In this brilliant sequel to her seminal Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali warns the West of the dangers of the failure to integrate the Muslim populations in our midst. Nomad is a must-read!”
— Winston Spencer-Churchill -
“Here…is the story of a young African woman, born into Islam, who was given every possible occasion to feel grievance, resentment, and humiliation yet who has employed her own life as an example of internationalism, tolerance, multiculturalism, and the redemption of others…For me, the three most beautiful words in the emerging language of secular resistance to tyranny are Ayaan Hirsi Ali.”
— Christopher Hitchens, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“There is more wisdom and compassion in this book than can be found in most university libraries…Hirsi Ali’s voice and example are simply indispensable. There is no one like her—and we need thousands like her.”
— Sam Harris, New York Times bestselling author -
“Illuminating analysis…[Nomad’s] special strength…lies in the way that her arguments and perceptions are rooted in personal experience…She rages eloquently…writes revealingly. Nomad is an excellent read.”
— New York Review of Books -
“Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s new memoir is the most powerful book you will have read in a long time.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“Brilliant”
— Daily Beast -
“A thought-provoking book sure to stir as much debate and controversy as Infidel.”
— Booklist -
“[An] achingly honest, human, and heartfelt account of her family and personal history…Everyone who cares about the Enlightenment values that so many of us take for granted in the West will want to read this deeply moving, beautifully written book. In an age of empty celebrity, Hirsi Ali is a truly great woman, and in Nomad she has written an instant classic.”
— Bruce Bawer, author of While Europe Slept and Surrender
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Nomad Listener Reviews
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" Facinating look at the plight of Muslim women and her policy ideas of how to change it. "
— Kari, 2/18/2014 -
" Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a very impressive person. Her previous book, Infidel, blew me away, so when I found out she had written a new one I had to read it. Like many of my favorite books, it taught me new ways of understanding and seeing things. I give it five stars for this and for providing interesting analysis of some of today's social issues, but Infidel remains my favorite of hers. "
— Ali, 2/17/2014 -
" Not as good as Infidel but still an interesting read. "
— Katia, 2/7/2014 -
" Read Infidel first. She is extremely anti-Islam, possibly justifiably. "
— Frank, 1/28/2014 -
" May 2013 - This book was incredibly thought provoking and well written. Ali is talented with words and extremely passionate about the growing threat of radical Islam and the peril of Muslim women. Most intriguing to me was the final chapter, "Looking for God, but Finding Allah" in which Ali, a committed atheist lays out what she sees as the greatest weapon in the flight against the spread of Islam, the Christian church. I plan to revisit this book later in the year - it's given me plenty on which to ruminate. "
— Sarah, 1/26/2014 -
" While I really enjoyed Hirsi Ali's first account of her life this book was a bit scarry. Her hate of Islam and call for a war against it is kind of disturbing. "
— Valena, 1/17/2014 -
" Clarifies the Muslim culture. A must read for Christians! "
— Janene, 1/14/2014 -
" Great and controversial insights. Courageous and well written. "
— Farhin, 1/9/2014 -
" Solidified my stance on organized religion. "
— Lindsey, 1/9/2014 -
" Fascinating book... (although not as good as Infidel.) As Canadians, tolerance of other cultures is really impressed upon us and her view that this tolerance can actually be a negative thing is certainly eye-opening. Highly recommend! "
— Erika, 1/8/2014 -
" Though this was a fascinating read, I can only rate it 3 stars because of how often the author repeats herself, which seriously affected my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely still recommend it, though, because the ideas presented within it are worth the effort. "
— Rachelle, 12/29/2013 -
" An extraordinary woman whom I admire enormously. Relevant/honest/fearless... "
— Tama, 12/4/2013 -
" This sequel to her debut, Infidel, should be a required modern-day feminist call to action. Despite some unpopular and far from mainstream opinions, the eloquence with which Ali shares her convictions is a work of biting intelligence. "
— Mallory, 11/25/2013 -
" This was a very different perspective to the first book that I read by this author, and I think, a necessary one. Although 'Infidel' stands alone in its message and content. I think of these two books as a pair that should be read as part one and part two. They complete each other. "
— Zoltan, 8/19/2013 -
" Really intriguing. Story of a Somlali woman who has rejected traditionalism and Islamic belief for Western ideals and atheism. See's Islam as a major threat to Western Society, prescribes an action plan to address key issues. "
— Lacey, 1/4/2013 -
" Her story is awesome "
— Grandma, 12/15/2012 -
" Not as appealing at the start as Infidel, this is another excellent read nonetheless. Illuminating, intelligent, and enlightening look at religion and culture. Eye opening for a liberal like me. "
— Maggi, 9/19/2012 -
" great reflections on Islamic immigration throughout the world "
— Martha, 8/3/2012 -
" "Nomad" is a sequel to an earlier book "Infidel" and is the author's response to criticisms of Infidel. She is immensely brave as well as methodical and logical. One of the best non-fiction authors I've read. She is brilliant and inspiring. I do recommend this book, as well as Infidel. "
— Carrie, 5/22/2012 -
" If you haven't, read the first (Infidel). I have some problems with the idea that an atheist is hoping that the Catholic church will help save women from oppression. She's arguing that people need something to convert to, to fill the empty void in their lives if they leave Islam. "
— Caroline, 1/23/2012 -
" Lots of food for thought! "
— Ellen, 8/25/2011 -
" This book was SO interesting. I read it in one day and couldn't put it down. "
— Taylor, 6/17/2011 -
" I thought this might be "Infidel 2", but it had more to offer. She gives a lot of insight into the Islamic culture in Europe and America and has a unique perspective. "
— Jill, 6/3/2011 -
" It is a great book as a sequel to her book Infidel. One must read that book first. "
— Ploni, 5/16/2011 -
" Controversial and thought provoking. Her ideas have a credence because she is describing her experience and the views that came from those experience. Controversial because these are not all views that are mainstream in Western society. Read and think and decide for yourself. "
— Adrienne, 5/15/2011 -
" Really intriguing. Story of a Somlali woman who has rejected traditionalism and Islamic belief for Western ideals and atheism. See's Islam as a major threat to Western Society, prescribes an action plan to address key issues. "
— Lacey, 4/30/2011 -
" Absolutely fascinating! Clearly her own perspective on the Islamaic world as it affects women primarily.<br/> "
— Jim, 4/21/2011 -
" amazing story and wonderfully informative. Hirsi Ali exposes Americans to a new perspective on Muslim relations. "
— Jenifer, 4/12/2011
About Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is the author of several books, including New York Times bestselling Infidel and Heretic. A prominent speaker, debater, and journalist, she was chosen as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. She is a fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is the founder of the AHA Foundation. Born in Somalia and raised Muslim, she grew up in Africa and Saudi Arabia before fleeing as a refugee to the Netherlands in 1992.