44 pages • 1 hour read
Moustafa BayoumiA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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.
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.
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.
Recommended
Lexile Level
1010LSociology
History: Middle Eastern
History: U.S.
Relationships: Marriage
Education