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44 pages 1 hour read

How Does It Feel to Be A Problem: Being Young and Arab in America (2008)

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008

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Book Brief

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Moustafa Bayoumi

How Does It Feel to Be A Problem

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Brooklyn, New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1010L

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Super Short Summary

How Does It Feel to Be a Problem by Moustafa Bayoumi follows the lives of seven young Arab-Americans in Brooklyn, exploring their struggles with discrimination and identity post-9/11. The narratives of Rasha, Sami, Yasmin, Akram, Lina, Omar, and Rami illustrate the harsh realities they endure, from wrongful imprisonment and military service dilemmas to educational hardships and professional challenges. Topics include incarceration, racism, and Islamophobia.

Informative

Contemplative

Challenging

Emotional

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.2

2,238 ratings

75%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Moustafa Bayoumi's How Does It Feel to Be a Problem has garnered praise for its poignant exploration of Arab-American youth post-9/11, highlighting their struggles and resilience. Reviewers commend its powerful, empathetic narratives but note a lack of broader historical context. Some found the writing uneven, yet the book remains a crucial, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How Does It Feel to Be A Problem?

A reader who would enjoy Moustafa Bayoumi's How Does It Feel to Be A Problem is deeply interested in social justice, identity, and the Arab American experience. Comparable to Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me and James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time, this book speaks to those who seek personal narratives that illustrate broader societal issues.

4.2

2,238 ratings

75%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Brooklyn, New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1010L

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