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Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy
A captivating family history that illustrates how small actions can have an outsized political impact.
Small acts of courage matter. Sometimes, they change the world. Our history books are filled with the stories of those who fought for democracy and freedom―for idealism itself―against all odds, from Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. These iconic struggles for social change illustrate the importance of engagement and activism, and offer a template for the battles we are fighting today. But using the right words is often easier than taking action; action can be hard, and costly.
More than a century ago, MSNBC host Ali Velshi’s great-grandfather sent his seven-year-old son to live at Tolstoy Farm, Gandhi’s ashram in South Africa. This difficult decision would change the trajectory of his family history forever. From childhood, Velshi’s grandfather was imbued with an ethos of public service and social justice, and a belief in absolute equality among all people―ideals that his children carried forward as they escaped apartheid, emigrating to Kenya and ultimately Canada and the United States.
In Small Acts of Courage , Velshi taps into 125 years of family history to advocate for social justice as a living, breathing experience―a way of life more than an ideology. With rich detail and vivid prose, he relates the stories of regular people who made a lasting commitment to fight for change, even when success seemed impossible. This heartfelt exploration of how we can breathe new life into the principles of pluralistic democracy is an urgent call to action―for progress to be possible, we must all do whatever we can to make a difference.
Small acts of courage matter. Sometimes, they change the world. Our history books are filled with the stories of those who fought for democracy and freedom―for idealism itself―against all odds, from Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. These iconic struggles for social change illustrate the importance of engagement and activism, and offer a template for the battles we are fighting today. But using the right words is often easier than taking action; action can be hard, and costly.
More than a century ago, MSNBC host Ali Velshi’s great-grandfather sent his seven-year-old son to live at Tolstoy Farm, Gandhi’s ashram in South Africa. This difficult decision would change the trajectory of his family history forever. From childhood, Velshi’s grandfather was imbued with an ethos of public service and social justice, and a belief in absolute equality among all people―ideals that his children carried forward as they escaped apartheid, emigrating to Kenya and ultimately Canada and the United States.
In Small Acts of Courage , Velshi taps into 125 years of family history to advocate for social justice as a living, breathing experience―a way of life more than an ideology. With rich detail and vivid prose, he relates the stories of regular people who made a lasting commitment to fight for change, even when success seemed impossible. This heartfelt exploration of how we can breathe new life into the principles of pluralistic democracy is an urgent call to action―for progress to be possible, we must all do whatever we can to make a difference.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2024
143 people are currently reading
5205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
May 13, 2024
I don’t watch the news; I read it in the six news sources I get via email daily. Before reading this book, I knew who Ali Velshi was, and had a favorable opinion–for his Banned Book Club if nothing else–but I really knew little else.
Ali Velshi kept me captivated with his intergenerational family story while educating me about the struggle for equality in other countries and inspiring me to think hard about my own political voice.
Velshi’s family left colonial India for South Africa. I had no idea how many Indians had moved to Africa, many became indentured servants to get there. Velshi’s family set up a business and found financial success, but life in a racist country with no political voice sent them on to Kenya. There, they had freedoms but suffered financially. Next they immigrated to Canada, whose policy of embracing multiculturalism offered them citizenship and financial security.
Velshi’s career brought him to America, and after being challenged, he became a citizen. It wasn’t until he was covering peaceful protest and shot by a policeman who knew he was a journalist that Velshi “finally understood what it meant to be a citizen of the United States of America”–that citizenship requires having a political voice.
Small acts of courage can make a difference, he knows, for his own family had set the example, working with Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr, and running for political office.
We may think we are powerless and can’t make a difference, but we can help bring change. Velshi’s father ran for political office in Toronto, knowing he couldn’t win. But as a person of color and a Muslim, he helped normalize the idea of a political representative who wasn’t a white Christian.
Citizenship is something you have to practice. It’s a muscle that atrophies if you don’t use it, and if it does, other people will be waiting to take advantage of its weakness. from Small Acts of Courage by Ali Velshi
America is at a critical crossroads. It is not the first time in our history we have swayed from the promise of equality and freedom. As in the past, the only way to preserve democracy is to fight for it. It is not a time to drop out, give up, let someone else worry about it. As a citizen it is not only a privilege and a right, it is imperative that we use our voice and vote.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
Ali Velshi kept me captivated with his intergenerational family story while educating me about the struggle for equality in other countries and inspiring me to think hard about my own political voice.
Velshi’s family left colonial India for South Africa. I had no idea how many Indians had moved to Africa, many became indentured servants to get there. Velshi’s family set up a business and found financial success, but life in a racist country with no political voice sent them on to Kenya. There, they had freedoms but suffered financially. Next they immigrated to Canada, whose policy of embracing multiculturalism offered them citizenship and financial security.
Velshi’s career brought him to America, and after being challenged, he became a citizen. It wasn’t until he was covering peaceful protest and shot by a policeman who knew he was a journalist that Velshi “finally understood what it meant to be a citizen of the United States of America”–that citizenship requires having a political voice.
Small acts of courage can make a difference, he knows, for his own family had set the example, working with Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr, and running for political office.
We may think we are powerless and can’t make a difference, but we can help bring change. Velshi’s father ran for political office in Toronto, knowing he couldn’t win. But as a person of color and a Muslim, he helped normalize the idea of a political representative who wasn’t a white Christian.
Citizenship is something you have to practice. It’s a muscle that atrophies if you don’t use it, and if it does, other people will be waiting to take advantage of its weakness. from Small Acts of Courage by Ali Velshi
America is at a critical crossroads. It is not the first time in our history we have swayed from the promise of equality and freedom. As in the past, the only way to preserve democracy is to fight for it. It is not a time to drop out, give up, let someone else worry about it. As a citizen it is not only a privilege and a right, it is imperative that we use our voice and vote.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
January 23, 2025
This was an unexpected pleasure. I picked up the book (on sale) because Ali Velshi wrote it and I like him. I went in blind, honestly, I thought the book would be a series of essays about people he came across on his journey as a journalist. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was a brilliant family history about Indian diaspora and his family's journey from India through South Africa and Kenya then to Canada and finally America. It didn't occur to me that Indians have been exported around the world as a cheap labor source. Yeah, it's obvious and right in front of our faces, if one pays attention. Velshi noted that the Indians too were lived under apartheid.
4.5 Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Velshi was the perfect choice to tell his story. He is a skilled writer and orator!!
"[sic] didn’t grasp the magnitude or the danger of what my family went through living under Apartheid."This hit me hard as I look at the present-day dynamics between Musk and Ramaswamy. During the journey, Velshi discusses the historical milestones of the period to provide context about how his family viewed their lives and their options. Velshi grew up in privilege. His siblings, and parents and grandparents did not. It took Velshi a while to recognize his privilege and what he views as his obligation to use his microphone to strengthen democracy. Through his family's journey, the readers begin to see how he came to his views.
"We talk far too much about citizenship as the acquisition of rights when we ought to be talking about it as the assumption of responsibilities."Velshi is a good storyteller, and he laces his story with tons of history and cultural insight. Excellent memoir! Highly recommended!!
4.5 Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Velshi was the perfect choice to tell his story. He is a skilled writer and orator!!
June 8, 2024
I was curious, but not a huge fan of journalist and MSNBC host Ali Velshi when I decided to read this book. But I’m a big fan now. The guy had things easy, compared to most of his family, and he’s honest about it. Small Acts of Courage is both an homage to his past and a kind of heralding of his fairly recent understanding of his place as a citizen of both the world and now the USA.
This book is mostly a history and political lesson. Through Velshi’s political-activist family’s story, you learn the history and politics of the British colonial movement, India, South Africa, Kenya, and Canada.
I appreciate the education. I feel smarter for having read Small Acts of Courage. But until near the end, this book was more a head journey than an emotional one. And then came a paragraph about Velshi’s older sister, Ishrath. She’d been eight when the family had left her birthplace, South Africa, and so, for most of her life, she’d been homesick for a place where she’d experienced “Whites Only” signs and being kicked out of a line for free pony rides. After Apartheid ends, she goes back for a visit as an adult.
We never seem to learn. I feel like crying.
This book is mostly a history and political lesson. Through Velshi’s political-activist family’s story, you learn the history and politics of the British colonial movement, India, South Africa, Kenya, and Canada.
I appreciate the education. I feel smarter for having read Small Acts of Courage. But until near the end, this book was more a head journey than an emotional one. And then came a paragraph about Velshi’s older sister, Ishrath. She’d been eight when the family had left her birthplace, South Africa, and so, for most of her life, she’d been homesick for a place where she’d experienced “Whites Only” signs and being kicked out of a line for free pony rides. After Apartheid ends, she goes back for a visit as an adult.
She found she still harbored an incredible amount of anger . . .
Those feelings weren’t about the horse ride, obviously. They were about loss. To her, South Africa was the place that should have been home. It was the place that could have been home, easily. Not letting a little girl have a pony ride is beyond petty and ridiculous. Apartheid was so senseless and unnecessary and cruel. None of it had to happen. None of it was inevitable. It was a result of human beings, out of their own weakness and fear, making terrible choices when they could have made good choices. And in an alternate universe of better choices, ABC Bakery [the family business in South Africa] never had to close, my parents never had to leave, and my sister never had to live this nomadic existence of never being able to belong. (218)
We never seem to learn. I feel like crying.
February 10, 2024
"Citizenship is something you have to practice," Ali Veshi writes in this family history which takes the reader from the India of Velshi's great grandfather, through immigration to South Africa, Kenya, Canada and ultimately the United States. Velshi, a well-known television journalist, explores the concept of what it actually means to be a citizen, exploring the ways the nations where his family lived have understood that term and the extent to which nations have allowed residents to take active, engaged roles in society. It is an intriguing narrative which holds lessons for Americans and people world wide.
By the end of the British Raj, many poor Indian communities could offer little except stagnation to people in rural societies. Many young men were lured by work opportunities in South Africa, where they might be able to set up shops and hope for a better life. Velshi's great grandfather made such a trip, even swimming in shark-infested waters to reach Pretoria and the family members who had already made the trip. I suppose that "act of courage" ( no small act, actually) provides a significant symbolic moment for Velshi, standing as an emblem of the courage, determination, and adaptability that would be important for people who gave up one way of life to start another in a very different environment. South Africa allowed these "brown-skinned" immigrants to open shops and open houses of worship ( Velshi is of Ismaili Muslim background), although any other "rights' were severely restricted. The development of South Africa's Apartheid system after the Boer war, imposed many restrictions, and Velshi drives home the effects of these practices on people trying engage in business and fit in with the society around them. As he shows, it was increasingly difficult to do so. As a part of the family's story, we learn of Gandhi's time in South Africa, the growth of his belief in "non-violent" political action ("satyagraha), and his establishing Tolstoy Farm, a place where he could put the practice and discipline of his beliefs into practice.
Velshi's grandfather was trained there, and that training marked his life, and to some extent, the lives of his descendants.
Kenya seemed at first a better alternative to freedom and independence; that country seemed welcoming and non-restrictive to people of Southeast Asian background. However, ultra-nationalist movements in both Kenya and Uganda resulted in hardships ( and sometimes expulsion) for the Indian community. It was ultimately Canada which not only welcomed immigration, but which also gave new citizens the power to vote and to participate actively in the political life of the nation. Of course, the Canadian society he describes seems to have been somewhat less complex than the American society of the time, at least in the way elections were handled, and his view was that there was little if any opposition to immigrants. I think Velshi was aware that individuals might have been lukewarm about giving power to people with unfamiliar-sounding names, but he does not find the kind of deep-seated racist practices that have been part of American experience. Is his view of Canada incomplete, or just that of an inexperienced youth? It's hard to know. Velshi himself ultimately entered the field of journalism and moved to the United States.
His knowledge of the paths his family had taken allows him to comment directly on qualities which have enabled immigrants to form productive lives in different environments, but also to comment on the different approaches to freedom and citizenship shown by those different nations.
Velshi takes a generous view of multicultural societies. He does not see them as "poisoning the blood" of a nation as some in our country would maintain, but he also sees the need for adaptation, for immigrants fitting in to a nation's way of life so as to contribute to that nation, rather than either becoming insular or abandoning essentials of their own culture.
A message Velshi leaves us with is that we will lose both the responsibilities and the rights of citizenship if we don't work to protect them. "Our laws and social norms alone," he writes,"are not going to protect us....Only we will protect us."
This is a timely, informed, and even an inspiring narrative. I just wished for some more detail about some of Velshi's own experiences and ideas, but perhaps those will be the subject of another book.
By the end of the British Raj, many poor Indian communities could offer little except stagnation to people in rural societies. Many young men were lured by work opportunities in South Africa, where they might be able to set up shops and hope for a better life. Velshi's great grandfather made such a trip, even swimming in shark-infested waters to reach Pretoria and the family members who had already made the trip. I suppose that "act of courage" ( no small act, actually) provides a significant symbolic moment for Velshi, standing as an emblem of the courage, determination, and adaptability that would be important for people who gave up one way of life to start another in a very different environment. South Africa allowed these "brown-skinned" immigrants to open shops and open houses of worship ( Velshi is of Ismaili Muslim background), although any other "rights' were severely restricted. The development of South Africa's Apartheid system after the Boer war, imposed many restrictions, and Velshi drives home the effects of these practices on people trying engage in business and fit in with the society around them. As he shows, it was increasingly difficult to do so. As a part of the family's story, we learn of Gandhi's time in South Africa, the growth of his belief in "non-violent" political action ("satyagraha), and his establishing Tolstoy Farm, a place where he could put the practice and discipline of his beliefs into practice.
Velshi's grandfather was trained there, and that training marked his life, and to some extent, the lives of his descendants.
Kenya seemed at first a better alternative to freedom and independence; that country seemed welcoming and non-restrictive to people of Southeast Asian background. However, ultra-nationalist movements in both Kenya and Uganda resulted in hardships ( and sometimes expulsion) for the Indian community. It was ultimately Canada which not only welcomed immigration, but which also gave new citizens the power to vote and to participate actively in the political life of the nation. Of course, the Canadian society he describes seems to have been somewhat less complex than the American society of the time, at least in the way elections were handled, and his view was that there was little if any opposition to immigrants. I think Velshi was aware that individuals might have been lukewarm about giving power to people with unfamiliar-sounding names, but he does not find the kind of deep-seated racist practices that have been part of American experience. Is his view of Canada incomplete, or just that of an inexperienced youth? It's hard to know. Velshi himself ultimately entered the field of journalism and moved to the United States.
His knowledge of the paths his family had taken allows him to comment directly on qualities which have enabled immigrants to form productive lives in different environments, but also to comment on the different approaches to freedom and citizenship shown by those different nations.
Velshi takes a generous view of multicultural societies. He does not see them as "poisoning the blood" of a nation as some in our country would maintain, but he also sees the need for adaptation, for immigrants fitting in to a nation's way of life so as to contribute to that nation, rather than either becoming insular or abandoning essentials of their own culture.
A message Velshi leaves us with is that we will lose both the responsibilities and the rights of citizenship if we don't work to protect them. "Our laws and social norms alone," he writes,"are not going to protect us....Only we will protect us."
This is a timely, informed, and even an inspiring narrative. I just wished for some more detail about some of Velshi's own experiences and ideas, but perhaps those will be the subject of another book.
May 6, 2024
WHOOSH!!!
There is a lot to unpack in this book and I honestly never expected to feel so much or learn so much or feel like I was a part of the immigration experience again [I traveled to and lived in two foreign countries, and was married to someone who had to do the American immigration, which was awful and exhausting], like I did in reading this book. The story of the authors family, starting in India and ending up with the author getting U.S. Citizenship is nothing short of amazing and at times made it almost impossible for me to put it down. It's engaging, exciting, and had several chapters that made me just weep for what his family suffered.
A weird twist to the story [that also made me weep for 2 whole chapters because SENSITIVE] for me is that once the author and his parents and sister finally got to Canada [via South Africa and Kenya], they settled in Toronto. The you find out that they settled in a city within the GTA called Don Mills, which was the city I lived in for 7+ years [and haven't been back to since 2013 and miss it every day] and hearing what it was like back in the 70's and 80's from someone other than my ex and his family was very, very cool [as well as tear-inducing]. One of the biggest things I learned a lot about was how elections really work in Canada, something I always struggled with when I lived there. The author lays it out in a way that no or else could and it was really great to finally understand that aspect of Canadian life. So even with the tears, it was so good to learn something in the midst of sadness.
Well-written, and told in an upfront and frank manner, this was one of the better history/memoir books I have read this year and will leave you feeling like you an accomplish anything, just Mr. Velshi's family have over the years. I admire and look up to them and all they have gone through, accomplished and are continuing to do. Well done.
I was grateful to have received an audiobook ARC for this book and I am so glad I did; Mr. Velshi narrates and he does that much like he wrote to book; straightforward and frankly, his narration makes the stories come alive and makes them feel even more real for the reader. I highly recommend this audiobook!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ali Velshi, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot to unpack in this book and I honestly never expected to feel so much or learn so much or feel like I was a part of the immigration experience again [I traveled to and lived in two foreign countries, and was married to someone who had to do the American immigration, which was awful and exhausting], like I did in reading this book. The story of the authors family, starting in India and ending up with the author getting U.S. Citizenship is nothing short of amazing and at times made it almost impossible for me to put it down. It's engaging, exciting, and had several chapters that made me just weep for what his family suffered.
A weird twist to the story [that also made me weep for 2 whole chapters because SENSITIVE] for me is that once the author and his parents and sister finally got to Canada [via South Africa and Kenya], they settled in Toronto. The you find out that they settled in a city within the GTA called Don Mills, which was the city I lived in for 7+ years [and haven't been back to since 2013 and miss it every day] and hearing what it was like back in the 70's and 80's from someone other than my ex and his family was very, very cool [as well as tear-inducing]. One of the biggest things I learned a lot about was how elections really work in Canada, something I always struggled with when I lived there. The author lays it out in a way that no or else could and it was really great to finally understand that aspect of Canadian life. So even with the tears, it was so good to learn something in the midst of sadness.
Well-written, and told in an upfront and frank manner, this was one of the better history/memoir books I have read this year and will leave you feeling like you an accomplish anything, just Mr. Velshi's family have over the years. I admire and look up to them and all they have gone through, accomplished and are continuing to do. Well done.
I was grateful to have received an audiobook ARC for this book and I am so glad I did; Mr. Velshi narrates and he does that much like he wrote to book; straightforward and frankly, his narration makes the stories come alive and makes them feel even more real for the reader. I highly recommend this audiobook!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ali Velshi, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2024
Fabulous. I've been a fan of Ali Velshi the tv journalist for years, but now I am a HUGE fan of the man and his family as well. The title refers to the many decisions he and his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents made in their continual struggle to build safer and more rewarding lives for themselves and their families. The book begins with Velshi's reflections on obtaining U.S. citizenship in light of his existing legal and cultural ties to Canada, Kenya, South Africa, and India. His great-grandfather walked with Ghandi in South Africa, and his grandfather was the first Moslem child to enroll in Ghandi's ashram there. Commitment to social and political change carried on through the generations, and Velshi's father eventually became the first Moslem elected to provincial office in Ontario. Velshi now takes his responsibility as an American citizen and journalist seriously, and his commitment to carrying on his family's dedication to political and social progress shines through his prose. I am overjoyed to have listened to an early copy of the audiobook, but I fully intend to purchase a print copy of the book to reread and share. I am grateful to NetGalley for a review audiobook.
April 16, 2024
I received a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. I had not heard of the author before reading this book. The book sounded intriguing. I am a liberal Ashkenazi Jew. I am a similar age to the author. I grew up in Buffalo, NY. I knew so little about Canada's history.
This book was fascinating. I finished it quickly. There was no part of the book that wasn't interesting. The book had so many layers. The book had parts with a lot of history and facts. I was so thankful on being educated. There were parts of the book that was emotional. Other parts of the book was telling really good ( family) stories.
The book taught me so much. I realized I knew so little about Aparteid, Africa, Ghandi, and Canada. I had no idea that this book was going to educate me on so many things. This book has really changed me. That is what a really good book does.
I was fascinated by Ali's family story. He told the stories of his grandparents, parents, his sister, and himself. He, also, told the stories of friends and other family members. I felt like I was at his house learning about everyone.
I loved that this was a book about so much. It was a book about hope, trials, failure, politics, family, community, and love. The author gave the reader hope in our community and country. That we really have an influence what happens to our nation.
I want to thank Netgalley and Ali Velshi for this amazing book. I hope to see the author at a book tour. I look forward to reading the next book by Ali.
This book was fascinating. I finished it quickly. There was no part of the book that wasn't interesting. The book had so many layers. The book had parts with a lot of history and facts. I was so thankful on being educated. There were parts of the book that was emotional. Other parts of the book was telling really good ( family) stories.
The book taught me so much. I realized I knew so little about Aparteid, Africa, Ghandi, and Canada. I had no idea that this book was going to educate me on so many things. This book has really changed me. That is what a really good book does.
I was fascinated by Ali's family story. He told the stories of his grandparents, parents, his sister, and himself. He, also, told the stories of friends and other family members. I felt like I was at his house learning about everyone.
I loved that this was a book about so much. It was a book about hope, trials, failure, politics, family, community, and love. The author gave the reader hope in our community and country. That we really have an influence what happens to our nation.
I want to thank Netgalley and Ali Velshi for this amazing book. I hope to see the author at a book tour. I look forward to reading the next book by Ali.
July 26, 2024
Thanks to Net Galley for enticing me to download this book.
I knew I liked Ali Velshi (after all, he has The Velshi Banned Book Club).
I don't think the title really lets potential readers know this is a memoir tracing his family back to its roots in India. His family history is multi-cultural since from India members moved on to South Africa (where Velshi's sister was born) until Apartheid became a major issue so they moved on to Kenya (where Velshi was born) and finally to Toronto, Canada.
He is a type of Muslim that I had not previously heard of and explains the differences among the three divisions.
Most importantly to me, he explains the election system in Canada that has rules I wish could be brought to the U.S. (limited time for campaigns, for instance).
I heard Velshi's voice loud and clear in my head while reading this book as if I was listening to his narration.
This was definitely a learning experience for me that I really appreciated.
2nd time - I just had to listen to Velshi read his own book.
I knew I liked Ali Velshi (after all, he has The Velshi Banned Book Club).
I don't think the title really lets potential readers know this is a memoir tracing his family back to its roots in India. His family history is multi-cultural since from India members moved on to South Africa (where Velshi's sister was born) until Apartheid became a major issue so they moved on to Kenya (where Velshi was born) and finally to Toronto, Canada.
He is a type of Muslim that I had not previously heard of and explains the differences among the three divisions.
Most importantly to me, he explains the election system in Canada that has rules I wish could be brought to the U.S. (limited time for campaigns, for instance).
I heard Velshi's voice loud and clear in my head while reading this book as if I was listening to his narration.
This was definitely a learning experience for me that I really appreciated.
2nd time - I just had to listen to Velshi read his own book.
September 3, 2024
I’m a fan of Ali Velshi’s reporting on MSNBC which is why I read his book. I learned a lot of what I consider vital information about the deep inequities perpetrated on the Indian diaspora in South Africa before and during Apartheid. I also learned about life in Eastern Africa, and what it’s like to be an immigrant in Canada. His personal experience and that of his forebearers absolutely sent home as only personal experience can convey what absolute disgusting horrors brown and black people living during Apartheid endured as a way of life. It’s worth the read.
Velshi also has a lot of wisdom to share about what it means to be a citizen, the enormous responsibility of being a citizen in a democracy - especially a citizen of the United States.
Written in an almost folksy way, in everyday language, the book is down to earth and real.
Velshi also has a lot of wisdom to share about what it means to be a citizen, the enormous responsibility of being a citizen in a democracy - especially a citizen of the United States.
Written in an almost folksy way, in everyday language, the book is down to earth and real.
December 22, 2024
I enjoyed the audiobook read by the author. His family’s history from Gujarat to South Africa to Kenya to Canada to the USA is interesting, and his perspective on race, religion, freedoms, and community is unique.
January 1, 2025
A remarkable family saga.
May 25, 2025
Small Acts of Courage provided a detailed account of the author’s family's journey, to him becoming a person who decided to perform small acts of courage. There were several history lessons connected to the cultural narrative. The Audible book was read to keep the audience attention and it was very informative! However, I wonder what impact did Gandhi, Mandela, Thoreau and Dr. King Jr. had on the author's small acts of courage? Equally important, what role does the justice systems in India, South Africa, Kenya, Canada and the United States play in addressing social injustices?
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May 6, 2024
Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy was a book that I won through Goodreads. Ali Velshi's story of his family through several continents was very thought provoking. I became educated on the Boer War that I had limited knowledge of prior to reading this novel. Mr. Velshi was able to go back 125 years in his family history which was the story of his family's journey to find a place where they were safe and felt a sense of belonging. Kindness is one of the main themes in this book and Mr. Velshi was able to discuss his family's contributions in each country they resided in. The discussion of the author's religious background as well as some of the cultural aspects of the various places his family resided in such as South Africa as well as Indian enlightened me. I enjoyed reading this novel which was an easy read which I could not put down.
May 11, 2024
What a wonderful book! Ali's honesty and clarity are on view here. The stories about his family are compelling and instructive. And his homage to the women in his life melted my heart. I understand him better now, which is to my advantage.
May 8, 2024
A gorgeous, intimate yet sweeping epic. Velshi is deft in drawing the reader in with vulnerable, personal stories about his life and family while never losing sight of the larger historic (and historical!) context. Completely engrossing and ultimately hopeful about how we can all do our part to be the citizens required to heal this broken world.
July 1, 2024
I heard Velshi speak at a Wordfest event. This is a fascinating account of his family’s experience from India to South Africa to Kenya and to Canada. And how and why he became an American citizen. He’s someone I’d love to have at a dinner party.
July 2, 2024
I found this to be 2 books. One fascinating and the other tedious. I learned a lot from reading the first half of this book. I had known very little about the Indian migration to Africa. Intertwining this history with his family's part in it was wonderful to read. However, once the book shifted to Canada my attention began to wane. By the time the political campaign was described, I was skipping pages to get through it. When I had read about ¾ of the book I said enough.
If possible I would have given 5 stars to the first half and 1 ½ to the second.
If possible I would have given 5 stars to the first half and 1 ½ to the second.
March 9, 2024
What an incredible journey this book took me on, I have always admired and loved watching Ali Velshi as he reports on television but this story of his family took me along for the ride.
This was history I had never heard (or if I had, it was just the outlines of it). I had no idea there was a significant Indian population in Africa. But to see how his family navigated living in a country where they were not wanted was eye opening. Even the Canadian history was something I really wasn't much aware of. To say this was a highly educational read is an understatement, I feel like my world has been expanded since reading this.
Velshi ties his family history together with current events and the American fight to maintain our democracy. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves history and memoirs and political events (past and present).
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and all opinions are my own.
This was history I had never heard (or if I had, it was just the outlines of it). I had no idea there was a significant Indian population in Africa. But to see how his family navigated living in a country where they were not wanted was eye opening. Even the Canadian history was something I really wasn't much aware of. To say this was a highly educational read is an understatement, I feel like my world has been expanded since reading this.
Velshi ties his family history together with current events and the American fight to maintain our democracy. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves history and memoirs and political events (past and present).
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and all opinions are my own.
June 28, 2024
By the way, in the 1990s hundreds of thousands of my people were massacred in Chechnya. It was not a decade of peace
March 5, 2024
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book that is both a memoir and look at the world and what is at stake from a person who brings his experiences, knowledge and his upbringing to the fight for democracy and freedom in a country that seems to be getting darker and darker.
The outsiders is always viewed by societys, especially in America as something that is different, and by different a threat. A threat to the values, the religion, the economics, or anything else that causes fear. Outsiders ruin a country, says American citizens, who unless they are indigenous, really shouldn't be saying things like that. We are a country of outsiders who made the brave step of leaving everything we have known for something new, hopefully better. To bring one's family or to make a family biological or chosen. We all want to be free to be who we are, and what we can be. America doesn't seem like that kind of place anymore. Fear rules politics, health, news, even entertainment. Control has always been the tool of government, and for some reason we are allowing this control to grow, over who we love, what we read, and what we do with our bodies. That's why we need the outsiders. Insiders might not see the signs, or even welcome the change. Outsiders do, and those brave enough to say, Hey, are the true citizens of this country. Ali Velshi has been around the world, and seen much. Not only does he have the personal experiences to see what is happening, freedom runs in his blood. In his book Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy, Velshi shares about his life, his family and his ancestors, and his ability to speak to power, and the importance for all of us to do so.
The book begins with Ali Velshi joining that rising demographic in America, people being shot by police. Luckily it was a rubber bullet, one that could still maim, or cause a concussion, but that is what happens when attending protests against police actions. Even more unlucky is that the police knew that they were firing on the media, watching their actions and cared little, knowing that there would be no consequences for their action. Velshi considers this a almost a mark of citizenship, and how becoming an American citizen, after years of living in other countries and working various places was so important to him. Which leads to where Velshi acquired this spirit, this interest in calling out inequality, and this leads far into the past. Velshi discusses his grandfather's time on an ashram in of all places South Africa, where the feelings that Velshi displays so well were first seeded in his family. And of the long course around the world to bring him to America and television.
A book that is more than a memoir, or a look at some fascinating people, but a reminder that what this idea, this America is valuable. Sure there is a lot of dust on it, and it might not look so good in the current light, but the potential and the dream is still there. Velshi has lived a very interesting life, in a lot of varied places, and his worldview offers a look at the current level of politics in this country that is probably much different from many of his fellow journalists. The writing is quite good, with Velshi having a clear narrative idea, and never losing sight of it as he tells his tale, and shares his views. Not just a interesting memoir, but a good reminder of what we can be.
The outsiders is always viewed by societys, especially in America as something that is different, and by different a threat. A threat to the values, the religion, the economics, or anything else that causes fear. Outsiders ruin a country, says American citizens, who unless they are indigenous, really shouldn't be saying things like that. We are a country of outsiders who made the brave step of leaving everything we have known for something new, hopefully better. To bring one's family or to make a family biological or chosen. We all want to be free to be who we are, and what we can be. America doesn't seem like that kind of place anymore. Fear rules politics, health, news, even entertainment. Control has always been the tool of government, and for some reason we are allowing this control to grow, over who we love, what we read, and what we do with our bodies. That's why we need the outsiders. Insiders might not see the signs, or even welcome the change. Outsiders do, and those brave enough to say, Hey, are the true citizens of this country. Ali Velshi has been around the world, and seen much. Not only does he have the personal experiences to see what is happening, freedom runs in his blood. In his book Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy, Velshi shares about his life, his family and his ancestors, and his ability to speak to power, and the importance for all of us to do so.
The book begins with Ali Velshi joining that rising demographic in America, people being shot by police. Luckily it was a rubber bullet, one that could still maim, or cause a concussion, but that is what happens when attending protests against police actions. Even more unlucky is that the police knew that they were firing on the media, watching their actions and cared little, knowing that there would be no consequences for their action. Velshi considers this a almost a mark of citizenship, and how becoming an American citizen, after years of living in other countries and working various places was so important to him. Which leads to where Velshi acquired this spirit, this interest in calling out inequality, and this leads far into the past. Velshi discusses his grandfather's time on an ashram in of all places South Africa, where the feelings that Velshi displays so well were first seeded in his family. And of the long course around the world to bring him to America and television.
A book that is more than a memoir, or a look at some fascinating people, but a reminder that what this idea, this America is valuable. Sure there is a lot of dust on it, and it might not look so good in the current light, but the potential and the dream is still there. Velshi has lived a very interesting life, in a lot of varied places, and his worldview offers a look at the current level of politics in this country that is probably much different from many of his fellow journalists. The writing is quite good, with Velshi having a clear narrative idea, and never losing sight of it as he tells his tale, and shares his views. Not just a interesting memoir, but a good reminder of what we can be.
April 27, 2024
SMALL ACTS OF COURAGE is the latest book from Ali Velshi. I received an ARC of the audiobook, which is narrated by Ali himself.
The book begins with Ari being shot with a rubber bullet while he and his crew were filming a largely peaceful protest. (Later he solidifies what he probably already knew, the police shot him KNOWING that he was a journalist there to cover the event.) He marks this as one of the incidents that marks him as an American citizen. From there Ali relates the lives of his family going all the way back to the late 1800's. Ali's family trekked from India, to South Africa, and then to Canada.
What's fascinating is the racism they found, no matter where they went. I guess some things never change. In spite of the oftentimes dark stories, I did find some hope in this book. Time after time throughout Ali's family history, he finds nuggets of hope and light.
His family has always been hard-working and willing to do whatever needed to be done to survive. They also depended a lot on their faith, (they're Muslim), and their faith paid off in the shape of supportive religious families and groups throughout their travels. Ali's family then, in turn, helped wherever and whenever they could: providing a home for the arrival of new immigrants, until they could get on their feet, and in many other ways. I have to be honest here and say that it was wonderful to hear about such things. It's lovely to hear about a religion where the congregants actually do take good care of each other, and practice what they preach. I doubt his family would have survived without that religious support.
I learned a lot about history, certain wars around the world, apartheid, leaders like Mandela and Gandhi, and the politics of several countries. All of this is related to the reader by Ali and from the viewpoint of his extended family. I must admit that I'm a bit envious of Ali's knowledge of his family history, because I can only trace back to my grandparents.
There are lessons to be learned here about participation in government and working within the system for change. Democracy often requires a bit more than just showing up to vote. Democracy requires work, it requires that people pay attention and it also requires listening to those you disagree with, because after all, this is America and everyone is supposed to have a voice. It's when those voices get violent that the problems start. The opposition will focus on that violence and try to detract from any valid points being made because of it. This is something that leaders like Gandhi and Mandela knew, (MLK as well), and I'm left wondering when the rest of the world will wake up. In light of the protests going on right now, this is a timely book.
One last note about this audiobook: Ali's narration is fabulous, (he's got a great voice!)
Overall, this was an interesting and informative listen and I'm glad I gave it a go!
ARC from publisher: Macmillan Audio. Thank you.
The book begins with Ari being shot with a rubber bullet while he and his crew were filming a largely peaceful protest. (Later he solidifies what he probably already knew, the police shot him KNOWING that he was a journalist there to cover the event.) He marks this as one of the incidents that marks him as an American citizen. From there Ali relates the lives of his family going all the way back to the late 1800's. Ali's family trekked from India, to South Africa, and then to Canada.
What's fascinating is the racism they found, no matter where they went. I guess some things never change. In spite of the oftentimes dark stories, I did find some hope in this book. Time after time throughout Ali's family history, he finds nuggets of hope and light.
His family has always been hard-working and willing to do whatever needed to be done to survive. They also depended a lot on their faith, (they're Muslim), and their faith paid off in the shape of supportive religious families and groups throughout their travels. Ali's family then, in turn, helped wherever and whenever they could: providing a home for the arrival of new immigrants, until they could get on their feet, and in many other ways. I have to be honest here and say that it was wonderful to hear about such things. It's lovely to hear about a religion where the congregants actually do take good care of each other, and practice what they preach. I doubt his family would have survived without that religious support.
I learned a lot about history, certain wars around the world, apartheid, leaders like Mandela and Gandhi, and the politics of several countries. All of this is related to the reader by Ali and from the viewpoint of his extended family. I must admit that I'm a bit envious of Ali's knowledge of his family history, because I can only trace back to my grandparents.
There are lessons to be learned here about participation in government and working within the system for change. Democracy often requires a bit more than just showing up to vote. Democracy requires work, it requires that people pay attention and it also requires listening to those you disagree with, because after all, this is America and everyone is supposed to have a voice. It's when those voices get violent that the problems start. The opposition will focus on that violence and try to detract from any valid points being made because of it. This is something that leaders like Gandhi and Mandela knew, (MLK as well), and I'm left wondering when the rest of the world will wake up. In light of the protests going on right now, this is a timely book.
One last note about this audiobook: Ali's narration is fabulous, (he's got a great voice!)
Overall, this was an interesting and informative listen and I'm glad I gave it a go!
ARC from publisher: Macmillan Audio. Thank you.
May 15, 2024
Ali Velshi starts his extraordinary memoir by describing his coverage of the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, where he was shot with a rubber bullet by local police (coverage of which always hits me hard, since my son was then living a few blocks away). He circles this story in to his experience becoming an American citizen, which he took rather casually until he realized during this event that citizenship was not just a privilege, but a duty. Citizens owe it to their country to vote, serve jury duty, work to improve their communities and their country. We soon learn that service is a through-story in Velshi’s family.
One of the fascinating aspects of this unusual story is that Velshi tracks his family through several generations of people who migrate from place to place due to conditions that continue to inform current events. His family history begins in the Gujarat region of West India, where his great-grandfather was forced to leave due to the oppressive reign of the British. They immigrated to South Africa (a process which included a dangerous swim across a shark infested channel), but the growing white nationalism there eventually led to their move to Kenya. Eventually, Velshi’s parents ended up in Toronto, where Ali ended up accepting a journalism job that led to his American citizenship.
If this seems like a spoiler alert, it really is not - the beauty of the story is Velshi’s ability to place his family’s history in the context of local events, and to thus give the reader a real sense of how these historic events affected ordinary people. Velshi’s family’s affiliation with a minority Muslim sect means that they are discriminated against from pretty much all sides. This makes for a story that few can tell, and Velshi tells it admirably with his considerable skills as a journalist and storyteller. But across the generations, the call to service is clear. Velshi’s ancestors (including his parents!) stand against oppression, run for office, build community, and pass their values to their decedents. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose, but the ethical morality of their beliefs remains strong.
I learned so much from this book. It stands head and shoulders above other books by journalists and politicians. I highly recommend it, and I am very grateful to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Ali Velshi for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
One of the fascinating aspects of this unusual story is that Velshi tracks his family through several generations of people who migrate from place to place due to conditions that continue to inform current events. His family history begins in the Gujarat region of West India, where his great-grandfather was forced to leave due to the oppressive reign of the British. They immigrated to South Africa (a process which included a dangerous swim across a shark infested channel), but the growing white nationalism there eventually led to their move to Kenya. Eventually, Velshi’s parents ended up in Toronto, where Ali ended up accepting a journalism job that led to his American citizenship.
If this seems like a spoiler alert, it really is not - the beauty of the story is Velshi’s ability to place his family’s history in the context of local events, and to thus give the reader a real sense of how these historic events affected ordinary people. Velshi’s family’s affiliation with a minority Muslim sect means that they are discriminated against from pretty much all sides. This makes for a story that few can tell, and Velshi tells it admirably with his considerable skills as a journalist and storyteller. But across the generations, the call to service is clear. Velshi’s ancestors (including his parents!) stand against oppression, run for office, build community, and pass their values to their decedents. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose, but the ethical morality of their beliefs remains strong.
I learned so much from this book. It stands head and shoulders above other books by journalists and politicians. I highly recommend it, and I am very grateful to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Ali Velshi for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
October 10, 2024
As Ali Velshi's family searched for freedom, they became part of history on several continents--India, South Africa, Kenya, Canada and America. Velshi's book tells the story of how and why his ancestors originally left India 100 years before he was born. They emigrated to South Africa and established a successful bakery until political and governmental unrest found them again and to escape apartheid, they moved to Kenya where Ali was born and joined his older sibling Ishrath. By then his mother had gone into the travel business and eventually Ali's father joined her. The family finally listened to those who encouraged them to move to Canada. They moved there just before the crackdown that put Nelson Mandela in jail. Ali grew up in Toronto at the time Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau decided to assimilate immigrants from everywhere. This story is fascinating in itself as Ali describes his parents welcoming newcomers to stay on the couch at their house, hosting parties for those from many countries to help them settle in Canada.
As Velshi becomes an adult he becomes a prime-time anchor for a new station, ROBTV. He becomes more aware of the U.S. and people at CNN become more aware of him as a popular broadcaster. They offer him a job in April, 2001 and he is to start in September. He rents a place right next to CNN and returns to Canada to pack and take care of problems with his paperwork. He awakes in Toront0 on Sept. 11 to news of the burning of the Twin Towers in NYC but is expected to report. He rides a small city bike he had stored in his parents' garage all the way to New York, crosses the border at Niagara Falls at night with no traffic and enters the U. S. forty-eight hours after the worst terrorist attack on American soil riding his 750cc Honda Hawk.
This is an amazing journey of a man who is as familiar with several continents as some are with states or towns. As a news reporter and economist, Velshi brings a vast amount of experience to his job, something few others can match.
As Velshi becomes an adult he becomes a prime-time anchor for a new station, ROBTV. He becomes more aware of the U.S. and people at CNN become more aware of him as a popular broadcaster. They offer him a job in April, 2001 and he is to start in September. He rents a place right next to CNN and returns to Canada to pack and take care of problems with his paperwork. He awakes in Toront0 on Sept. 11 to news of the burning of the Twin Towers in NYC but is expected to report. He rides a small city bike he had stored in his parents' garage all the way to New York, crosses the border at Niagara Falls at night with no traffic and enters the U. S. forty-eight hours after the worst terrorist attack on American soil riding his 750cc Honda Hawk.
This is an amazing journey of a man who is as familiar with several continents as some are with states or towns. As a news reporter and economist, Velshi brings a vast amount of experience to his job, something few others can match.
April 20, 2025
An excellent book! although not exactly what I expected. Ali Velshi is one of my very favorite MSNBC hosts, and from the title of the book I expected stories about his family or people he has known. And it is, but more than that it is a story of the immigrant experience.
Velshi's family emigrated from India to South Africa to Kenya to Canada, and then he finally moved to the US and later became a citizen. The first several chapters trace his family's history and the difficulties they encountered, not totally belonging because of their race or religion or skin color or all of the above. Yet, they persisted. They developed businesses and careers and established community. Although Ali was not yet born, we learn about his great grandfather's friendship with Gandi, and his influence on the family.
I learned a lot about the immigrant experience (and life) in Africa, as well as about the Ismailis, which I had never heard of. Thanks to fortuitous timing, the Velshi's were welcomed a bit more warmly in Canada, but creating community and feeling they belonged took a little longer.
The book traces Velshi's own life, and certainly the influences on him, but it isn't anything close to an autobiography. The parts about him are about how he became the person he is today, through the experiences of his parents and forbearers. He also pays a beautiful tribute to his sister. The Velshi family is a wonderful example of how immigrants can and do become valued members of the community-- in fact, often they become the community.
This focus on immigration is especially poignant now, as I write this in April 2025, and the US is targeting and deporting immigrants or people who might be immigrants.
I listened to the audiobook, which was excellent. Velshi is a very good writer but also a terrific speaker and narrator. Highly, highly recommended.
Velshi's family emigrated from India to South Africa to Kenya to Canada, and then he finally moved to the US and later became a citizen. The first several chapters trace his family's history and the difficulties they encountered, not totally belonging because of their race or religion or skin color or all of the above. Yet, they persisted. They developed businesses and careers and established community. Although Ali was not yet born, we learn about his great grandfather's friendship with Gandi, and his influence on the family.
I learned a lot about the immigrant experience (and life) in Africa, as well as about the Ismailis, which I had never heard of. Thanks to fortuitous timing, the Velshi's were welcomed a bit more warmly in Canada, but creating community and feeling they belonged took a little longer.
The book traces Velshi's own life, and certainly the influences on him, but it isn't anything close to an autobiography. The parts about him are about how he became the person he is today, through the experiences of his parents and forbearers. He also pays a beautiful tribute to his sister. The Velshi family is a wonderful example of how immigrants can and do become valued members of the community-- in fact, often they become the community.
This focus on immigration is especially poignant now, as I write this in April 2025, and the US is targeting and deporting immigrants or people who might be immigrants.
I listened to the audiobook, which was excellent. Velshi is a very good writer but also a terrific speaker and narrator. Highly, highly recommended.
May 16, 2024
Ali Velshi has written a powerful book about his family's history intertwined with the history of the countries both he and his family lived in and moved from in their immigration journey. There is so much in this book and Mr. Velshi has demonstrated the value of immigration and being open to welcoming new people. This is a must read for everyone who really wants to learn about modern history of places that aren't often written about. And it should be required reading for our nation's leaders who are developing American Immigration Policy and the rest of us who have opinions on this subject.
So in this book you get a two-fer. A compelling personal story of a family's trials and tribulations and a historical education of India, South Africa, Kenya and Canada. I learned so much from this book and I am so glad to have read it. It is a treat when books like this open up their readers to new ideas in addition to entertaining us.
Velshi writes in an easy conversational style, but the book could have easily been a five star book with some organizational hacks. Maybe outlined or more formally organized into a chronological sequence could help the reader absorb all of the wonderful writing better. I will definitely look forward to reading another book by Mr. Velshi. I am grateful to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this inspiring book.
So in this book you get a two-fer. A compelling personal story of a family's trials and tribulations and a historical education of India, South Africa, Kenya and Canada. I learned so much from this book and I am so glad to have read it. It is a treat when books like this open up their readers to new ideas in addition to entertaining us.
Velshi writes in an easy conversational style, but the book could have easily been a five star book with some organizational hacks. Maybe outlined or more formally organized into a chronological sequence could help the reader absorb all of the wonderful writing better. I will definitely look forward to reading another book by Mr. Velshi. I am grateful to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this inspiring book.
July 15, 2024
I've thought Ali Velshi was a good reporter since he first came to MSNBC . Although he spent years as a 'business' reporter, primarily for CNN and Al Jazeera, since MSNBC has been using him in the field to report on stories like Ferguson, Mo., Ukraine and George Floyd, his empathetic manner has shown through when interviewing people undergoing extreme stress and trauma. And let us not forget, this is the journalist responsible for starting The Banned Book Club which continues each week in his time slot.
His book: Small Acts of Courage; A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight For Democracy (2024) is not a quick volume of braggadocio. It truly is a tribute to his family and their community, Ismaili Moslems of Gujarati Indian descent. He starts the narrative with his grandfather's Ali's great uncle worked with Gandhi, and one of the younger family members was sent to Tolstoy Academy, which was founded to teach and promote non violent disobedience. Eventually, the family caused enough good trouble to have to choose between the lose of rights and resources or to leave India.
They decided to go to South Africa, were they were supportive of the nearby black community not only politically but practically, as they initially had more rights and resources. Again, family members worked for freedom. When Gandhi came to SA, he made sure to introduce Ali's uncle to Mandala, to become one of his advisors.
Ali's immediate family eventually lived in two more African countries, then on to Canada, were he grew up. Reveling in in the freedom there, both of his parents entered politics, his father being the first ethnic Indian elected in Ontario.
We don't get to Ali's career until the end. But all the stories are fascinating. I told my friend about something that happened in South Africa, and heard him repeating it to other friends afterwards.
Anyone who likes history and supports the downtrodden should like this book.
His book: Small Acts of Courage; A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight For Democracy (2024) is not a quick volume of braggadocio. It truly is a tribute to his family and their community, Ismaili Moslems of Gujarati Indian descent. He starts the narrative with his grandfather's Ali's great uncle worked with Gandhi, and one of the younger family members was sent to Tolstoy Academy, which was founded to teach and promote non violent disobedience. Eventually, the family caused enough good trouble to have to choose between the lose of rights and resources or to leave India.
They decided to go to South Africa, were they were supportive of the nearby black community not only politically but practically, as they initially had more rights and resources. Again, family members worked for freedom. When Gandhi came to SA, he made sure to introduce Ali's uncle to Mandala, to become one of his advisors.
Ali's immediate family eventually lived in two more African countries, then on to Canada, were he grew up. Reveling in in the freedom there, both of his parents entered politics, his father being the first ethnic Indian elected in Ontario.
We don't get to Ali's career until the end. But all the stories are fascinating. I told my friend about something that happened in South Africa, and heard him repeating it to other friends afterwards.
Anyone who likes history and supports the downtrodden should like this book.
May 21, 2024
Small Acts of Courage by Ali Velshi
Posted on May 21, 2024 by Jack
This was one of those books and you keep talking about while taking breaks from reading. I loved this book but I’m sure my wife was tired of hearing about it. The approval to read the advanced reader came at the last minute. I believe it was just a few days before publication. The book is “Small Acts of Courage: Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy” by Ali Velshi
But since I like Ali Velshi’s reporting, I thought it would be worthwhile but almost certainly I would fail to review it before publication as I usually do, First I need to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read this.
The book starts with a shot to the leg. Certainty something a journalist would not expect. Seemed like open season on journalists. Then Ali Velshi explains how he got to there and to US. And the he goes into a history of how his family migrated from India to South Africa and then Kenya and finally Canada.
A fascinating book about both the journalist as well as an inspirational and interesting family history including insights into the African and Indian independence movements. Highly recommended.
Posted on May 21, 2024 by Jack
This was one of those books and you keep talking about while taking breaks from reading. I loved this book but I’m sure my wife was tired of hearing about it. The approval to read the advanced reader came at the last minute. I believe it was just a few days before publication. The book is “Small Acts of Courage: Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy” by Ali Velshi
But since I like Ali Velshi’s reporting, I thought it would be worthwhile but almost certainly I would fail to review it before publication as I usually do, First I need to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read this.
The book starts with a shot to the leg. Certainty something a journalist would not expect. Seemed like open season on journalists. Then Ali Velshi explains how he got to there and to US. And the he goes into a history of how his family migrated from India to South Africa and then Kenya and finally Canada.
A fascinating book about both the journalist as well as an inspirational and interesting family history including insights into the African and Indian independence movements. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2024
I loved this book
I love Ali Velshi on MSNBC
I saw him speak at Harold Washington Library in Chicago recently with a panel about this book and their "small acts of courage"
I learned so much
This is what I set to a friend who, like Velshi, is an Ismaili Muslim:
"I just wanted to tell you that I am about 2/3 of the way through Ali Velshi's book and I love it. What a beautiful told story of familial striving, commitment and achievement!
I have learned so much (much that I should have already known but didn't)
I had no idea (or recollection) of Pierre Trudeau's brilliant attitude toward immigration and how welcoming Canada was
Canada's election policies are so practical and smart and give me another reason to wish I lived there (maybe)
Ismaili Muslims have such a wonderful life-view and value system. We should all know more about he (I really had NO idea)
And, here is my dumbest one, maybe, I was familiar with all the Aga Khan named things (especially in Kenya: hospital, street etc.) But I thought that Aga Khan was ONE important (historical) person; I had no idea that the Aga Khan was the Imam of Ismaili Muslims. Shame on me
But at least I am learning..and am in great admiration."
I love Ali Velshi on MSNBC
I saw him speak at Harold Washington Library in Chicago recently with a panel about this book and their "small acts of courage"
I learned so much
This is what I set to a friend who, like Velshi, is an Ismaili Muslim:
"I just wanted to tell you that I am about 2/3 of the way through Ali Velshi's book and I love it. What a beautiful told story of familial striving, commitment and achievement!
I have learned so much (much that I should have already known but didn't)
I had no idea (or recollection) of Pierre Trudeau's brilliant attitude toward immigration and how welcoming Canada was
Canada's election policies are so practical and smart and give me another reason to wish I lived there (maybe)
Ismaili Muslims have such a wonderful life-view and value system. We should all know more about he (I really had NO idea)
And, here is my dumbest one, maybe, I was familiar with all the Aga Khan named things (especially in Kenya: hospital, street etc.) But I thought that Aga Khan was ONE important (historical) person; I had no idea that the Aga Khan was the Imam of Ismaili Muslims. Shame on me
But at least I am learning..and am in great admiration."
October 7, 2025
This is a tough one to read right now with the way things are in the US. But so necessary, both for those who are considering relocation to Canada (or elsewhere) and those who are hoping (for now) to stick it out in the hope of a better future. There's no toxic positivity here - "the arc of history bends where you bend it" could also have been the title. The vast majority of the story is Ali's family history of relocation and his ancestors' complex relationships with the countries where they've lived, which is like an extended (and very good) episode of Finding Your Roots. Most of us aren't fully educated about the history of the Indian diaspora in Africa, and while I'm sure this is not intended to be a complete account since it's focused on one family's experience, it's a great introduction. The segue to Ali's own career and experiences is surprisingly smooth - the focus is on living out the legacy of his family history of citizenship, so he touches only briefly on the process of his jumps from CNN to Al Jazeera to MSNBC, so this is not the place to look for behind the scenes gossip about any of that. Obviously his broadcast experience makes him an experienced narrator, so his reading of the audiobook enhances the experience.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
May 13, 2024
A combination of a brief history of racism in the British Empire (it gets less brief when the author hits the late 20th century), one family's escape from it, and one man's emergence as a crusading reporter who knows how to put words together.
Some of the focused historical reports became a tad tedious to me, but the interlacing of his family's involvement, and finally his father's run for public office less that 10 years after arriving in Canada made them all valid fodder for his several arguments.
I heard the author in an interview on Terry Gross's afternoon radio program Fresh Air (WHYY-FM). I found his explanations and (written) demonstrations of how much more advanced Canada is in creating and sustaining a multi-cultural state sad (for an American) but hopeful. His words and his manner are delightfully enthusiastic, almost messianic.
Following is a statement from parts of two of my favorite paragraphs (page 265, bottom):
"Justice isn't justice until it is universal. Equality isn't equality until it is universal. Democracy isn't democracy until it's universal.
Democracy also fails if you fail to work for it......Because in a democracy, we are the system."
Some of the focused historical reports became a tad tedious to me, but the interlacing of his family's involvement, and finally his father's run for public office less that 10 years after arriving in Canada made them all valid fodder for his several arguments.
I heard the author in an interview on Terry Gross's afternoon radio program Fresh Air (WHYY-FM). I found his explanations and (written) demonstrations of how much more advanced Canada is in creating and sustaining a multi-cultural state sad (for an American) but hopeful. His words and his manner are delightfully enthusiastic, almost messianic.
Following is a statement from parts of two of my favorite paragraphs (page 265, bottom):
"Justice isn't justice until it is universal. Equality isn't equality until it is universal. Democracy isn't democracy until it's universal.
Democracy also fails if you fail to work for it......Because in a democracy, we are the system."
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