All-American: 45 American Men on Being Muslim (I SPEAK FOR MYSELF) [Paperback]

Wajahat Ali (Editor), Zahra T Suratwala (Editor), Keith Ellison (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2012 | Series: I SPEAK FOR MYSELF (Book 2)

Follow up work to White Cloud's successful and highly acclaimed May 2011 book I Speak For Myself: American Women on Being Muslim. With this second book in the I Speak For Myself series, American Muslim men speak out on their lives and how their Muslim beliefs play out in private and on the public stage. Contributors include high profile figures in the American Muslim community, representing a new generation that is making a profound impact inside and outside the Muslim world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wajahat Ali (playwright) is a Muslim American of Pakistani descent. Ali’s essays and interviews on contemporary affairs, politics, the media, popular culture and religion frequently appear in the Washington Post, The Guardian, Salon, Slate, Wall Street Journal Blog, Huffington Post, and CNN.

 

Zahra Suratwala is President/CEO of Zahra Ink, Incorporated, a writing and marketing firm that works with organizations across the globe. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

 

Congressman Keith Ellison is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He is the first Black Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress and the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota. He is also the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and one of the organizers behind the 1995 Million Man March.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: White Cloud Press (June 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935952595
• ISBN-13: 978-1935952596
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tynan Power is an author, editor and communications consultant, as well as a progressive Muslim and interfaith leader. As the founder of Pioneer Valley Progressive Muslims, he is deeply committed to non-sectarian community building and encourages full participation and inclusion of those often traditionally excluded from congregational life and leadership, such as women and LGBTQ individuals. His writing and expertise cover a range of topics including contemporary Muslim concerns, interfaith understanding, disability rights, sexuality and gender.


Photo credit: Yahya Alazrak ©2009

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read June 19, 2012

By JS

Format:Paperback

This is a great read for people who want to know more about Muslim life in America. I would also recommend the book for Muslims who have questions of identity living in the west. Many of these entries are very funny and poignant as well as heartfelt and resonating. All around great read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book with Great Stories of American Men June 19, 2012

By Irfan Rydhan

Format:Paperback

As one of the 45 contributors, I was happy to share some of my life experiences in this book. It is only a small glimpse into my life as an American Muslim, but contains very defining moments. I also really enjoyed reading all the other essays from the other contributors and was amazed myself at the diversity of the American Muslim Community. Sometimes we get caught up in our own little world and we forget that there are other people out there who are going through similar things, while others are going through a much more difficult time than we are. Even though we may not all agree on ways to practice our religion or different lifestyles we may have, we should all learn to accept each other as Human Beings and treat everyone with respect and dignity. Isn't that what all religions teach in the end? Whether Muslim, Christian, American, Arab, Native born, Immigrant or what have you: "Treat everyone they way you would like to be treated." I highly recommend people read this book and share it with their family, friends and co-workers. You will learn a lot, not just about American Muslims, but American Men in general as well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars America desreve to hear from American-Muslims June 18, 2012

By tulipgold

Format:Paperback

For too long, American main stream media has portrayed American-Muslim as so called "others" who really don't conform to American way. Now, American-Muslims are speaking for themselves. And doing their best to correct this false image, created by media that is more interested in sensationalizing, and stereo-typing, the lives of Muslims in America, then providing the true picture. With this book, American-Muslims are painting their own pictures, with the brush in their own hands. This book is about American-Muslims who are living an All-American life. It's actually anthologies by 45 American Men who happen to be Muslims, and from various backgrounds, sharing their experiences living in this country as Muslims. The stories are real-life, about living in America as Muslim, trying to juggle between faith (being Muslim), and being American. In this post 9/11 world, there is so much interest in Islam and lives of Muslims. Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation as well, spread around by so-called experts on Islam and Muslims, that ordinary person cannot really get the true idea about the lives of Muslims in America. With this book, one can get the true story about the lives of Muslims in America from American-Muslims themselves. I really would recommend this book. Well thought out, good read, and timely material. Even though there are many instances in these stories about the struggle of life, I still enjoyed it very much. After reading these stories, one can get the message that Muslims living in America are ordinary people trying their best to be Good Muslims, and good American. I am sure you will enjoy these stories as much as I did. Happy Reading!