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This book is the incredible autobiographical account of a remarkable and beautiful Somali rationalist. Born to humble origins in Somalia, she eventually rises to become a member of Dutch Parliament. It was interesting learning about the cultural differences between the various places Ayaan lived during her childhood, of the clan based Islam in Somalia, the more layed back system in Kenya, and the Sharia in Saudi Arabia. She experiences culture shock when she moves to Europe, and eventually aband
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This copy came to me as a bookcrossing ring. I'm so glad I read it. It was a rare look into Muslim life in a variety of countries -- Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a courageous and intelligent woman -- it will be interesting to see where she goes from here. I appreciate her dedication to the plight of Muslim women. It is a bit unfair, maybe, to "learn" all of this from one person's point of view, so I don't consider myself to be entirely enlightened, but I think o
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A really great book that shows a life so different from ours that it is hard to imagine.
I think it's quite funny when people review this book and say that Ali was biased about Islam due to her experiences growing up in a Muslim society.... because growing up in a Muslim society is not an accurate representation of Islam. Is this some kind of joke? It is a wonderful book based on a woman's real life, albeit biased (because it was her life and only she lived -and is still living- it), experiences in a real life Muslim culture. Religion is what the people who practice it make it. Sayi
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Dec 04, 2007
Stephen
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May 08, 2008
Mihai
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Jul 19, 2008
Jill
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Sep 02, 2008
Sara Watson
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Aug 17, 2009
Mariam
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