No Land's Man

A Perilous Journey through Romance, Islam, and Brunch

By: Aasif Mandvi

Narrated by: Aasif Mandvi

Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

"My father moved our family to the United States because of a word. It was a word whose meaning fascinated him. It was a singularly American word, a fat word, a word that could only be spoken with decadent pride. That word was . . . Brunch! 'The beauty of America,' he would say, 'is they have so much food, that between breakfast and lunch they have to stop and eat again.'"
—from "International House of Patel"

If you're an Indo-Muslim-British-American actor who has spent more time in bars than mosques over the past few decades, turns out it's a little tough to explain who you are or where you are from. In No Land's Man Aasif Mandvi explores this and other conundrums through stories about his family, ambition, desire, and culture, stories that range from dealing with his brunch-obsessed father, to being a high-school-age Michael Jackson impersonator, to joining a Bible study group in order to seduce a nice Christian girl, to improbably becoming America's favorite Muslim/Indian/Arab/Brown/Doctor correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

This is a book filled with passion, discovery, and humor. Mandvi hilariously and poignantly describes a journey that will resonate with anyone who has had to navigate his or her way in the murky space between lands. Or anyone who really loves brunch.

©2014 Aasif Mandvi (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

"It always bothered me that Aasif was more than merely funny - he's also a great actor. Now I've learned he's an amazing storyteller as well, and I am furious . . . but also grateful. Aasif's movement between cultures and genres is what makes him and his story singularly funny, poignant, and essential." (John Hodgman, author of The Areas of My Expertise and More Information Than You Require)

Fun and fast moving

This an amusing, intelligent, and interesting book about being Aasif Mandvi, well performed by the author.

Funny, Sweet and Poignant

I laughed aloud so many times listening to stories Aasif's life in the UK, Tampa and New York City. His life story also manages to tackle subjects as serious as race, religion and facing the unique loneliness that comes from having no sense of a traditional "home".

Plus there's an anecdote about his parents making his sister drink their father's piss. That alone is worth the credit.

A boring read, but fantastic listen!

I really would not have enjoyed this book, were I to have read it myself. But to hear it read by the author, I often laughed out loud and I can imagine myself coming back to this book again.

Completely engaging! I adore him.

What a joy to read, but even better to listen to Aasif tell it in his own words. He's a fantastic writer, a brilliant comedian and actor. I could listen to him tell stories for days. I was sad that it ended.

Aasif isn't just a beacon for Muslim-Americans (albeit a hilarious beacon), he's a beacon for people like me too: disaffected irreligious irreverent cocktails from all over the world, strangers in their own countries, and foreigners where they call home.

Exceptional Story

Great story about a man that I could relate to, despite different backgrounds. Must read!

SOOO FUNNY!!!

PERSPECTIVE- Unique experiences specific to the writer yet that we've we ALL Had!
(OMG! He worked with OM PURI !!!!!)

Loved it!

Witty, perceptive and a great storyteller! I'm glad that he was the one reading it and someone else. That gave it character!

Pretty good.

some pretty good stories, some laugh out loud moments. not bad but not the greatest, either.

Funny and heart warming!

I hadn't heard of this guy before but now I want to see and hear more of him. He's so funny and honest when talking about his immigration to both UK and USA. I highly recommend this book even if you don't know the author when you start it. #makingculturesfunny #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

How do I know about this guy?

Sedaris-esque stories from the author's personal experience,. They're mostly funny, some poignant, and some make me ashamed of my fellow racist Americans.