Abdi Nor Iftin

Abdi Nor Iftin recounts his extraordinary life story in his memoir. As a five-year-old, he experienced the Somali civil war, which forced him to become a family provider while also attending school. Amidst the war's chaos and famine, his escape came through American movies and music, inspiring him to self-teach English and dream of a life in the United States. His fascination with Western culture earned him the nickname "Abdi American," which later became a liability with the rise of Islamic extremism. To evade conscription, he secretly filed reports for NPR, risking the death penalty. After fleeing to Kenya and subsequently winning the Diversity Visa Lottery, he eventually became a naturalized U.S. citizen in Maine. His stirring memoir is a testament to the desperation of refugees and a reminder of the allure of Western democracies for those seeking a better life.