Biographies
Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman - 90,000 Lives Changed
by Hawa Abdi
2013 Grand Central Publishing 272 p.
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An encouraging autobiography of a Somali doctor who turned her farm outside of Muqdisho into a camp for 90,000 internally displaced people. (Amazon)
Nomad: From Islam to America - A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations
by Ayann Hirsi
2010 Free Press 277 p.
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Additional insights, plus a remarkable challenge to the Christian church to engage with Muslim immigrants. (Amazon)
From the Crescent to the Cross: My Extraordinary Journey to the Heart of God
by Sister Maryama
2015 Maryama Salaad Burger 192 p.
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Born and raised in Somalia, Sister Maryama made the extraordinary path from life as a shepherd in Somalia to the United States. She encountered great adversity and eventually confronted the message of the cross. As one reviewer mentioned, “I loved reading of God's loving and patient pursuit of her heart.” (Amazon)
Call Me American: A Memoir
by Abdi Nor Iftin
2018 Alfred A. Knopf 310 p.
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The captivating memoir of a Somali “visa lottery” winner’s journey from war-torn Somalia to Kenya to the United States. Gives insight into the minority Maay-speaking Somali culture. Iftin’s story was first featured in This American Life episode 560: “Abdi and the Golden Ticket” - a fascinating listen! (Amazon)
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Note: Iftin’s book has generated controversy due to his portrayal of certain members of the Somali community within the United States. Read with discernment, knowing this is just one Somali’s perspective.
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Discretion: Graphic and unedited language used to describe war events.
Infidel
by Ayann Hirsi
2007 Free Press 353 p.
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Very clear description and analysis of political & religious dynamics among Somalis both on the Horn of Africa and in the Diaspora over the past 20 years; failure of her Christian friends to clearly witness was one of sad factors leading to her current atheism. (ChristianBook.com)
Teatime in Mogadishu: My Journey as a Peace Ambassador in the World of Islam
by Ahmed Haile
2011 Herald Press 144 p.
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Autobiography of a key Somali Christian leader who passed to Glory on April 26, 2011. The testimony of a gifted Christian and a must-read for anyone interested in the development of the Somali church. (MLM-CLC)
I for My Sister: Equipping Christian Sisters to Engage with Women in Islamic Culture and Beyond
by Sister Maryama
2017 Maryama Salaad Burger 198 p.
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Having given her testimony in From the Crescent to the Cross, Sister Maryama now presents an invitation and exhortation to women, equipping them to connect with Muslim women. (Amazon)