Must Read for Journalism Students, No; Cultural Must-Read, Yes

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This is on the list of books recommended by members of the CMA listserv as a book that all journalists should read.

A memoir of her life as a Somali refugee, Muslim, former Muslim, political activist, Dutch politician and advocate for freedom from oppression for Muslim women, this book tells the story of a woman who went through radical changes in her life. While I value this book for the cultural richness it provides, I don’t see this as a must-read for its superior reporting or writing. Memoirs rarely provide great examples for aspiring journalists who are studying reporting and writing skills. However, this book does provide Westerners with a view of the Muslim world that we rarely, if ever read about.

Ali’s upbringing in a Muslim society alone provides the reader some insights into life as a Muslim woman as seen through the eyes of someone who grew up Muslim, then questioned her faith and turned away from it. While that doesn’t provide for an objective look at Muslim life, it does provide some food for thought that runs counter to what many in the West see, hear and read.

An especially interesting and eye-opening aspect of the book for me is Ali’s illumination of two countries—Somalia, her country of birth, and the Netherlands, her adopted country. These two countries figure prominently in Ali’s story, but along the way she also describes other countries, in particular the religious aspects of Saudi Arabia and Kenya. For anyone unfamiliar with these countries, their histories and beliefs in terms of tolerance, especially Somalia and the Netherlands, give a wonderfully personal view of how history and tolerance play out in religion, politics and war.

People who are interested in the Muslim religion would also find this book interesting. Formerly a devout Muslim, Ali became an atheist after fleeing to the Netherlands. Now, she actively speaks against the Muslim religion, thus sealing her position as an Infidel.

Infidel may not provide the depth of reporting of other books I’ve reviewed, but I would say it is a definite must-read for all people who want to learn more about the world around them. So you probably want to read Infidel for its illumination of Somalia and the Netherlands and to give you another perspective on what it’s like to be a woman in a Muslim country.

Up next, Thomas French’s Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives.