No Land's Man
Aasif Mandvi
Nov 2014 · Chronicle Books
4.2star
15 reviewsreport
Ebook
194
Pages
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About this ebook
The actor shares a heartfelt “collection of humorous essays that explore his myriad identities: Indian, Muslim, British, and American” (The Boston Globe).
“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 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.
“Best Comedy Books of 2014” selection by The Washington Post
Praise for No Land’s Man
“I was enthralled . . . . Mandvi writes beautifully and comedically about his life, with wonderful dialogue and revealing detail, reminiscent of David Sedaris.” —Jonathan Ames, author of Wake Up, Sir!
“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
“Aasif is my favorite Indo-Muslim-British-American Daily Show correspondent ever. I loved No Land’s Man!” —Jim Gaffigan, author of Dad Is Fat and Food: A Love Story
“A lighthearted but heartfelt portrait of Mandvi’s childhood and his struggles to come to terms with his rather complicated life.” —The Boston Globe
“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 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.
“Best Comedy Books of 2014” selection by The Washington Post
Praise for No Land’s Man
“I was enthralled . . . . Mandvi writes beautifully and comedically about his life, with wonderful dialogue and revealing detail, reminiscent of David Sedaris.” —Jonathan Ames, author of Wake Up, Sir!
“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
“Aasif is my favorite Indo-Muslim-British-American Daily Show correspondent ever. I loved No Land’s Man!” —Jim Gaffigan, author of Dad Is Fat and Food: A Love Story
“A lighthearted but heartfelt portrait of Mandvi’s childhood and his struggles to come to terms with his rather complicated life.” —The Boston Globe
Ratings and reviews
4.2
15 reviews
Aaron Galbraith
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November 5, 2015
Not every story resonated with me, but the whole of it did. I am very glad I read this book... I think his honesty towards his own beliefs, and his description of both being Muslim AND yet significantly an outsider to his religious heritage is very relatable. I really like his description of accepting a reality that maybe he is being positive force for American Muslims in general, even if he isn't the best Muslim... Perhaps I hope I can be a positive influence for Christianity, even if I'm not the best.
2 people found this review helpful
Gabriel Bateman
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October 28, 2015
Well worth the money and the time!
2 people found this review helpful
Aasif Rashid Khanday
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November 20, 2017
Worth the money and time..very njce
About the author
Actor and writer Aasif Mandvi is a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and one of the stars of HBO's upcoming series, The Brink for which he also serves as writer/producer. He won an OBIE award for his one-man play Sakina's Restaurant which he later adapted into the film Today's Special. He has appeared in numerous theater, film and television productions including The Pulitzer Prize winning play Disgraced at Lincoln Center, and the films Million Dollar Arm and The Internship. He lives in New York City. To learn more about the glamorous life and well informed opinions he pretends to have, follow him on twitter @aasif.
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