Uncovering the Hidden Struggles of Refugees: An Insider Look at Immigrant Life

Drago Indjic: It was in a better condition than described

United Kingdom on Jul 03, 2023

B. Decker: I read this book after having read her brother Daniel's book "Everything Sad is Untrue". Her brother's book has many of the same elements of their personal story but is overall quite a different book. By the way, his book is excellent and I recommend it. I've bought a few extra copies to give away, liked it that much.

I liked this book as well but for different reasons. She does a wonderful job of interweaving her story with the story of other refugees. In some ways it is entertaining as the stories are full of suspense, drama and often tragedy. But then you remember these are not fictional stories. These are things that really happened. So for me it was very sobering and along with her brother's book made me think more deeply on refugees. In some ways it changed my views and in others it deepened my current feelings (all in positive ways). It made me want to explore ways I could assist in a small way in the refugee community. The book opened my eyes and heart to other ways of thinking.

Without knowing the author personally, so only going by her words in the book, I think we come at many topics from a very different point of you and may disagree on solutions to...

United States on Feb 04, 2023

Amazon Customer: If you want the nuanced truth that most newcomers don't share with their new host country, this is the book for you. I have such respect for the author to document her unvarnished, often startling, truth. I learned a lot, including how I can interact more sensitively and respectfully with newcomers. Thank you.

Canada on Nov 29, 2022

Ponce: While Dina Nayeri's book is well-written, I do take issue when some of her conclusions.
Every refugee or legal immigrant must bear something in mind: they must remain grateful to the country that welcomes them in, and they must respect its traditions. The crimes and abuses perpetrated by the theocratic government in Iran are not the fault of the United States. Questions pertaining to how these mullahs took over the country ultimately reside with a large portion of the Iranian people.
It is obvious that Dina Nayeri is not a fan of President Trump and his policies. But there are many Americans -- myself included -- who agree with him for building the wall around the Southern Border. The number priority of any U.S. president is to protect its own citizens.
Moreover, Dina Nayeri's criticism of Western values and pinning the blame on its White citizens is unwise. The mere fact that most White Americans voted to elect an African American president to two terms in office demonstrates clearly that they do believe in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of judging others by their character and not by the color of their skin.
Rather than assimilating into American society, Dina...

United States on Sep 19, 2022

hilal isler: i stayed up about 3 hours past my bedtime last night, because i kept 'one-more-chapter' -ing my way through this book...written with fantastic skill and smarts...can't recommend this more. dina nayeri is a gifted writer and tremendous thinker. she has gems and bars for days and days. five stars !!

United States on Jan 16, 2022

Wallace: Assuming that this is a common response for refugees it opened my eyes to what they experience in a new country, If there is a take away , for me it was the lack of understanding by refugee's of how the citizen's of their new country feel about their arrival here.

Canada on Dec 12, 2021

#EmptyNestReader: Dina Nayeri shares her experiences (and those of her mother and her brother) of being a refugee; first fleeing Iran, then finding temporary housing in Italy, the U.A.E. and finally being granted asylum in America. She combines her family’s experiences with those of other refugees that she met along the way. Nayeri’s book is a compelling read.

Nayeri is blunt and to the point as she speaks of life as a refugee, the dangers, the struggles and the expectations of others to be a “good” refugee. Of particular interest are the refugee/asylum procedures in countries like the U.S. and how some dangers are ranked above others, "I thought of how my first retelling was in an asylum office in Italy: how merciless that with the sweat and dust of escape still on our brows, we had to turn our ordeal into a good, persuasive story or risk being sent back. Then, after asylum was secured, we had to relive that story again and again, to earn our place, to calm casual skeptics.” As to why and how some refugees are accepted and some are not Nayeri says: "Trust me, the Americans and the English, they like triumphant stories. They want to be a part of the stories. They want to find...

United States on Dec 03, 2021

KayD: I really enjoyed most of this book. It raised important issues that I was not aware of. The start of the book about the lives of the author and other refugees was really interesting and so too was the author's analysis of the stages of being a refugee. But it became very introspective/philosophical and hard to follow. I still haven't finished it - but I hope I will.

United Kingdom on Nov 16, 2021

Lucia: This book it is a must read. Everyone who does not understand or critics refugees crises should read it.
The only thing I did not enjoy that much is the last episode when I feel the author rambles on a bit about herself. The rest of it, when she tells her own and other refugees stories, the criticism from society that they face, the difficulties they go through to escape whatever threatens them in their countries, how their life is put on hold while they wait for asylum and the humiliation they go through during all the interview process... chapeau.

Germany on Aug 11, 2021

Beverly Fitzgibbons: This is such an important book for anyone who might volunteer to help, may come in contact with or wishes to learn more about refugees. I read it on my kindle and now plan to buy a hard copy. I am 81 and years ago ran a refugee resettlement program where I worked with many volunteers. This book could have given us useful insight into not only the hearts and minds of refugees but to the struggles they faced before coming to the U.S. It is a stark look at the suffering of refugees in camps around the world and a reminder to all of us of our many blessings. While the book concentrates mainly on Iranian Christians and those fleeing political persecution, it is a guide to the plight of all refugees. I highly recommend it!

United States on Jun 22, 2021