55 pages 1 hour read

Laila Lalami

Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2020

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami is a collection of essays examining the complexities of American citizenship through the lens of immigration, race, gender, and religion, interweaving personal anecdotes with historical and political analysis. Lalami critiques the conditional nature of citizenship for marginalized communities and explores themes of loyalty, assimilation, and systemic inequality, culminating in a hopeful call to action for a more inclusive society. The text includes discussions of discrimination, terrorism, hate crimes, and sexual assault.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Laila Lalami's Conditional Citizens offers a poignant and deeply personal exploration of the complexities of American citizenship, particularly for immigrants and marginalized communities. Critics praise Lalami's eloquent prose and insightful analysis, though some feel the narrative can be overly anecdotal. Overall, it serves as a powerful reflection on identity and belonging.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Conditional Citizens?

Readers who appreciate Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami are typically interested in identity, immigration, and social justice. They likely enjoyed Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates or The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, which explore similar themes of belonging and systemic inequality in America.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Politics / Government

Social Justice

Race / Racism

Themes

Identity: Race

Society: Immigration

Society: Politics & Government

Genre

Biography