Infidel

Following Theo van Gogh's assassination by an Islamist who vowed to kill her as well, Ayaan Hirsi Ali—one of today's most beloved and contentious political figures—came to the attention of the world. When she lost her citizenship and resigned from the Dutch Parliament, she made headlines once again.

Infidel chronicles the maturation of this illustrious political hero and defender of free speech, as well as the growth of her convictions, unwavering resolve, and incredible passion to combat injustice. Hirsi Ali was raised in a strict Muslim household and endured life in four turbulent, unstable nations dominated mostly by despots, as well as a civil war, female mutilation, severe beatings, and adolescence as a devoted believer amid the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood. After fleeing an enforced marriage, she applied for refuge in the Netherlands, where she studied political science in college, attempted to assist her terribly depressed sister in adjusting to life in the West, and served as a member of Parliament advocating for the rights of Muslim women and the reform of Islam. She is constantly in danger, vilified by politicians and reactionary Islamists, rejected by her father, and banished from her family and clan, but she won't go away.

In the end, Hirsi Ali's story—which is a celebration of victory over hardship—shows how a bright little child changes from being obediently obedient to being a vocal, trailblazing freedom warrior. There is no other book that is more relevant or important right now as Western countries attempt to strike a compromise between religious influences and democratic values.