44 pages • 1 hour read
How Does It Feel to Be A Problem: Being Young and Arab in America (2008)
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Book Brief
320
Book • Nonfiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
1010L
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
2,238 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
2,238 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Sami
Sami
A strong-minded young man of Egyptian descent who serves as a Marine in the Iraq war, Sami struggles with his identity as an Arab-American while working through his experiences in the military.
Yasmin
Yasmin
A determined high school student who wears a hijab, Yasmin fights against her school's discriminatory policies, challenging stereotypes and advocating for Muslim rights.
Akram
Akram
A young Palestinian-American who balances college with working at his family's store, Akram deals with post-9/11 discrimination and eventually considers a future beyond the United States.
Lina
Lina
An intelligent woman from an Iraqi family who experiences life in various U.S. cities and Iraq, Lina explores her heritage and eventually seeks a new start in Syria.
Omar
Omar
A young man of mixed Chilean and Arab-American heritage, Omar becomes more connected to his Palestinian roots after 9/11 and faces challenges in pursuing a career in media.
Rami
Rami
A 19-year-old student of English literature at Brooklyn College, Rami turns to Islam for comfort after his father's imprisonment and works to make his religion accessible to a broader audience.
320
Book • Nonfiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
1010L
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