Infidel

By: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Narrated by: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

This New York Times best-seller is the astonishing life story of award-winning humanitarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A deeply respected advocate for free speech and women's rights, Hirsi Ali also lives under armed protection because of her outspoken criticism of the Islamic faith in which she was raised.

©2007 Ayaan Hirsi Ali (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Crammed with harrowing details, Hirsi Ali's account is a significant contribution to our times." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"A clearly written and fascinating account of exceptional courage." ( Library Journal)
" Infidel is a unique book, Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a unique writer, and both deserve to go far." ( The Washington Post)

Too long, and I love it

This book takes too long to make points, and repeats them too many times. And I loved every moment of it! A gripping and sweeping autobiography, and the author was only 35 when she wrote it. An incredibly hard and incredibly accomplished life. Tissue warning - there are a few parts that will rip your heart out, if you have one.

A reality check story

There have been people of history that leave a monumental mark on society. Ayaan is one of those individuals. It reminds us to evaluate issues of true importance.

Enlightening

This woman’s story is important for all to hear. Islam needs to move forward into the 21st century and learn how to get along with the rest of us.

Required Reading/ Listening

Civil war. Refugees. Black Hawk Down. Do you remember President Bush and President Clinton sending aid to Somalia? This somehow ended in the brutal murder of US Marines. Cable news broadcasted the endless swarms of people walking in a daze out of Somalia fleeing civil war during this time. This is the story of a person who lived through these horrific events and the decades before them. Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s life has been filled with adventure even though she does not seem to notice this. This book helps explain the social reasons for these horrific events. Ayaan’s story is exciting, horrifying, poignant, and thought-provoking.

In Ayaan’s own beautiful voice and in her own fascinating story, we hear the voices of tens of millions of women whose bodies are abused and minds are enslaved to cruel ideologies that are neither God honoring nor reasonable. Unlike Ayaan, I see no conflict between Reason and Faith in God, but my Christian concept of God is irrevocably tied to Jesus who was a very different kind of person and religious leader than Mohammed. Ayaan’s story touched me deeply on a personal level, but her insights also speak to intellectual truths about the human condition which. The story touches both the heart and mind. All people would benefit from hearing what Ayaan has to say.

Informative

What a great way to get insight into a religion as well as a culture. Once the author freed herself by running away, I couldn't put the book down. I now understand Islamic women better and feel so much for them. I will never again not wonder what's or who is under the veil. I feel for their struggle and pray to the one true God for their deliverance. Thank you for sharing this story.

Truely Heroic and Inspirational

Ayaan's message is one that we must hear and pass on. We in the West must understand what we are up against. We must get involved, if not our apathy and ignorance will be our own undoing. By ignorance, I mean hearing and seeing news about these religiously sanctioned abuses in our own country and then actively ignoring them. I find it impossoible to fathom that this is our contemporary history. These things are happening under our watch, while we live and breathe and do nothing. In my opinion she has earned a special place in the history of the human race. She is almost like a time traveler in that she has come from a culture locked in the past with a message that will alter our future. Thank you Ayaan keep up the fight.

Spellbinding.....Highly recommended

Fascinating story...extraordinary writing...spoken from the heart by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Provides a great understanding of Muslim fanaticism.

A fascinating chronicle a woman's coming of age and the realization that her belief system as she was taught it had corrupted by men not for religious purposes but their own. A must read for those who want to understand how things in a religion can move so far from the truth.

A Very Gripping and Honest Autobiography

Would you consider the audio edition of Infidel to be better than the print version?

I can't speak for the printed version, but I thought the Audio version was excellent overall. The author narrates her own story very clearly and compellingly.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the open honesty that the author has when she shares her experience and her perspective. She doesn't come across as a hero or victim, just a person who wants a decent life for herself and others. I would also say that part of the author's experiences growing up in a religious household and ultimately making the choice to embrace rationalism give me much to think about. I realize that I am not as rational as I thought I was, and I want to change that.

Have you listened to any of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had not even heard of Ayaan Hirsi Ali before Audible recommended this book to me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I could hardly put it down

Any additional comments?

My only complaint is the lack of audio pauses between chapters. It was a bit jarring to listen to a chapter end, then abruptly begin the next one. I thought my audio player was malfunctioning until I realized it was part of the recording. I wish the audio engineers would have screened for this.

opened my eyes

What made the experience of listening to Infidel the most enjoyable?

the background the author presented about herself and her experiences helped to make me more aware of other cultures, so much more than the public media ever offers.

What did you like best about this story?

true story