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No Land's Man
"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
"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.
- John Hodgman, author of The Areas of My Expertise and More Information Than You Require
"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.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
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2685 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
October 20, 2014
"No Land's Man" is one of those books that can take you through the emotional gamut but still leave you laughing.
This is such a compelling story for anyone who has ever felt out of place. From his (frankly) disturbing days in a British boarding school to his delightful tenure on the "Daily Show" Mandvi just sort of opens up a vein and bleeds onto the page.
His commentary on race, class, and society is spot on. And there were sections where I literally laughed out loud.
I only meant to read a chapter because I had work to do. A few hours later, I finished the book feeling emotionally wrung out, but still hopefully that we can all find our land in this mess of humanity.
Read this book. Then buy it for your friends.
This is such a compelling story for anyone who has ever felt out of place. From his (frankly) disturbing days in a British boarding school to his delightful tenure on the "Daily Show" Mandvi just sort of opens up a vein and bleeds onto the page.
His commentary on race, class, and society is spot on. And there were sections where I literally laughed out loud.
I only meant to read a chapter because I had work to do. A few hours later, I finished the book feeling emotionally wrung out, but still hopefully that we can all find our land in this mess of humanity.
Read this book. Then buy it for your friends.
December 29, 2014
Anyone who has seen Aasif Mandvi on the Daily Show as "Senior Foreign Looking Correspondent" already has high expectations of this, his first book. Happily, Mandvi does not disappoint. This memoir details his childhood peregrinations (and, to a lesser extent, those of his adult life): from the horrifying racism and cruelty of his years in a British boys' boarding school to the much more relaxed existence his family discovered in Florida where they moved because his father was obsessed with brunch; and back to racism again when Mandvi, now full-grown, discovers that outside of acting classes he can only be cast as a stereotype with a broad Indian-esque accent and an exaggerated head-bob.
From Mandvi's television persona, readers may be expecting an endless succession of belly laughs, and although the book delivers these, it metes them out rather than ladling them on. Certainly an equal proportion of the book, if not the lion's share, deals with the many injustices Mandvi encounters throughout his life as an "Indo-Muslim-British-American actor who has spent more time in bars than mosques," as the jacket copy reads. One veers from chortling aloud to wanting to strangle most of the author's boyhood schoolmates, which is clearly the intent.
This book is an excellent read. An additional treat is that it offers a glimpse of Jon Stewart as employer, and it seems he is thoroughly decent in real life as he appears onscreen. Highly recommended.
From Mandvi's television persona, readers may be expecting an endless succession of belly laughs, and although the book delivers these, it metes them out rather than ladling them on. Certainly an equal proportion of the book, if not the lion's share, deals with the many injustices Mandvi encounters throughout his life as an "Indo-Muslim-British-American actor who has spent more time in bars than mosques," as the jacket copy reads. One veers from chortling aloud to wanting to strangle most of the author's boyhood schoolmates, which is clearly the intent.
This book is an excellent read. An additional treat is that it offers a glimpse of Jon Stewart as employer, and it seems he is thoroughly decent in real life as he appears onscreen. Highly recommended.
December 7, 2014
Hmm.. I'm not quite sure what I thought about this book. It was witty, I got to know Aasif more through his stories. But the stories themselves, and the chronological ordering of the book was jarring to me. Perhaps because I'm such a Daily Show fan I was hoping for more juicy details about the show. However! That's exactly what this book wasn't, Jon Stewart wasn't mentioned until the last few pages. This book was more a "get to know Aasif", including his accomplishments, failures, beatings because he is Muslim, and his journey of self discovery.
Honestly, I got a bit tired of reading about the ridicule he experienced at the hands of others. I'm not sure if that is because I'm "American" or "White" or even "Female" (or whatever else society would label me as for not understanding). Perhaps I am tired of the person getting picked on making general assumptions of the aggressors. Perhaps I wanted to see him fight back. Either way, it colored my impression of this book to be about three things: 1) Acting 2) Self Identity 3) Obtaining women.
Honestly, I got a bit tired of reading about the ridicule he experienced at the hands of others. I'm not sure if that is because I'm "American" or "White" or even "Female" (or whatever else society would label me as for not understanding). Perhaps I am tired of the person getting picked on making general assumptions of the aggressors. Perhaps I wanted to see him fight back. Either way, it colored my impression of this book to be about three things: 1) Acting 2) Self Identity 3) Obtaining women.
August 30, 2015
Aasif Mandvi was best known to me as a correspondent on the Daily Show. He is also the author/star of a well reviewed one-man show about the challenges of being the son of roving Muslim immigrants who passed their family through the UK before striking out for America.
This book is well written, but it was quite different from what I was expecting. Mandvi's writing style here does not mirror the punchy, quick pace of his Daily Show work but instead consists of longer form, personal essays which are flavored with wry humor but not driven by it. Though I found it slow starting, I'm glad I finished it, as his insights about cultural differences between his Muslim origins and both his adopted homes are timely and thoughtful.
This book is well written, but it was quite different from what I was expecting. Mandvi's writing style here does not mirror the punchy, quick pace of his Daily Show work but instead consists of longer form, personal essays which are flavored with wry humor but not driven by it. Though I found it slow starting, I'm glad I finished it, as his insights about cultural differences between his Muslim origins and both his adopted homes are timely and thoughtful.
January 14, 2016
There is a disclaimer at the beginning of this book that says some of the events Mandvi's writing about, while based in truth and on his own life, have been fictionalized. So the whole time I'm reading this, I'm wondering which parts are real and which are fabricated to make the story "better." The distinction matters. Either write a memoir that's telling the reader something relating to the author's authentic life (otherwise, why write at all?) or write fiction based on autobiography and call it fiction.
October 24, 2014
Mandvi is a good storyteller and reasonably funny (the urine-drinking story being the only bit that might make you laugh out loud). He doesn't really set out to be comedian, though, and instead focuses on the alienation he's felt as a Muslim Indian in England, and and Indian Muslim English immigrant in the US. The anecdotes are very entertaining, but also serious without being overly sentimental. Things get a little serious toward the very end, but overall it is a light, enjoyable, and quick read.
*Full disclosure, I read an advance copy (or "ARC") that I won in a Goodreads "first reads" giveaway.*
*Full disclosure, I read an advance copy (or "ARC") that I won in a Goodreads "first reads" giveaway.*
January 13, 2019
This was a terrific (perfect) memoir to read immediately after White Fragility and Braving the Wilderness.
Such a lucky timing and perfect pairing—I would recommend this memoir for any actor trying to make it or anyone who feels “pigeon holed” in their career.
It’s also interesting to hear his parents view on American culture. Aasif is dorky, charming, and hilarious all at the same time. It is not a LOL memoir but you’ll smile with amusement. This book endeared him to me, made me want to seek out more of his work, turn me into a fan, and hold incredible respect and admiration for his work and career journey. (and his more personal stories (confessions) make me wish we were friends) He reminds me why I think slightly awkward nerds 🤓 are sooo sexy.
Great memoir of truth, vulnerability and reality
Such a lucky timing and perfect pairing—I would recommend this memoir for any actor trying to make it or anyone who feels “pigeon holed” in their career.
It’s also interesting to hear his parents view on American culture. Aasif is dorky, charming, and hilarious all at the same time. It is not a LOL memoir but you’ll smile with amusement. This book endeared him to me, made me want to seek out more of his work, turn me into a fan, and hold incredible respect and admiration for his work and career journey. (and his more personal stories (confessions) make me wish we were friends) He reminds me why I think slightly awkward nerds 🤓 are sooo sexy.
Great memoir of truth, vulnerability and reality
November 12, 2018
Aside Mandvi’s memoir details his immigrant experience in the both the UK and his family’s later move to Tampa, Florida as a teenager. I know Mandvi primarily through his work on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show; my salvation during the Bush 2 years. Mandvi, always charming and quick-witted, demonstrates a greater depth in his memoir and I’m glad I picked up this Audible edition. It flew by.
January 26, 2015
[Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography (cclapcenter.com). I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.]
There's not a lot to say about Aasif Mandvi's short and sharp memoir No Land's Man, but that doesn't mean it's not worth reading; in fact, I found this one of the more delightful short books I've read in recent months, a disarming and always humorous look at one Indian immigrant's journey from the subcontinent to England and eventually America, informed and influenced by Gen-X pop-culture the entire way. For those who only know Mandvi as one of the smartest contributors to Comedy Central's The Daily Show, they might be surprised to know that he has an equal amount of experience in the arts delving into drama and intellectualism, with his one-man play Sakina's Restaurant eventually turned into the successful indie film Today's Special, and with Mandvi taking various parts over the years in plays by Tom Stoppard, Tony Kushner and more; and both of these sides of this talented writer and performer are on display in this small but engaging new book, a self-deprecating yet earnest look at Mandvi's youth as a picked-on Indian nerd in a working-class British town, before his family's random move to Tampa, Florida and his '80s dreams of American success as defined through bad television. (One of the funniest chapters here is how Mandvi aspired as a youth to become the next Fonzie, insisting that his parents call him "The Monz" until his mother finally revolted, passionately lecturing him on the superior acting skills of Omar Sharif over Henry Winkler.) A fast and entertaining read that should take most people no more than a day or two to finish, this comes strongly recommended to both comedy fans and those interested in first-hand looks at the American immigration experience, as well as anyone else looking for a sweet, funny story about nerdom and outsider culture.
Out of 10: 9.3
There's not a lot to say about Aasif Mandvi's short and sharp memoir No Land's Man, but that doesn't mean it's not worth reading; in fact, I found this one of the more delightful short books I've read in recent months, a disarming and always humorous look at one Indian immigrant's journey from the subcontinent to England and eventually America, informed and influenced by Gen-X pop-culture the entire way. For those who only know Mandvi as one of the smartest contributors to Comedy Central's The Daily Show, they might be surprised to know that he has an equal amount of experience in the arts delving into drama and intellectualism, with his one-man play Sakina's Restaurant eventually turned into the successful indie film Today's Special, and with Mandvi taking various parts over the years in plays by Tom Stoppard, Tony Kushner and more; and both of these sides of this talented writer and performer are on display in this small but engaging new book, a self-deprecating yet earnest look at Mandvi's youth as a picked-on Indian nerd in a working-class British town, before his family's random move to Tampa, Florida and his '80s dreams of American success as defined through bad television. (One of the funniest chapters here is how Mandvi aspired as a youth to become the next Fonzie, insisting that his parents call him "The Monz" until his mother finally revolted, passionately lecturing him on the superior acting skills of Omar Sharif over Henry Winkler.) A fast and entertaining read that should take most people no more than a day or two to finish, this comes strongly recommended to both comedy fans and those interested in first-hand looks at the American immigration experience, as well as anyone else looking for a sweet, funny story about nerdom and outsider culture.
Out of 10: 9.3
November 17, 2014
Mandvi's laugh-out-loud funny introspection on experiencing life through Muslim, British, and American culture is full of heart and humility. I found more affinity in No Land's Man than I had originally anticipated, having grown up as an Asian-American myself, torn between both American and Chinese culture in an all-white community, much like Mandvi grappled with growing up Muslim in an all-boys British boarding school. Like Mandvi, though he could look the part of a Muslim, it only felt like a small fraction of his entire being, much in the same way I can look Chinese but only feel partially like one.
The strong questioning of my own cultural identity propelled me to live in China for a year. That year's experience alone became its own melange of Western ideals, language barriers, and social institutions, and upon its completion, I returned to my tiny Midwestern hometown. It was not unlike the pilgrimage Mandvi himself made by strolling the neighborhood streets of his childhood, seeking to better understand his current self by re-visiting where his past self had been. He humorously compares himself to a turkducken for having grown up Muslim, rolled in Britain, and wrapped up in America.
After a stream of auditioning for the stereotypical acting roles reserved for South Asians, he ultimately composes his own one-man play to portray a more realistic Muslim family with relationship struggles, hopes, and aspirations, not just brown characters relegated toward being snake charmers or screaming cab drivers. Over time this paves the way toward his role as a news correspondent on The Daily Show, whereupon he becomes a beacon for the Muslim people, a representative of the under-represented, and a voice for the less oft-heard.
The strong questioning of my own cultural identity propelled me to live in China for a year. That year's experience alone became its own melange of Western ideals, language barriers, and social institutions, and upon its completion, I returned to my tiny Midwestern hometown. It was not unlike the pilgrimage Mandvi himself made by strolling the neighborhood streets of his childhood, seeking to better understand his current self by re-visiting where his past self had been. He humorously compares himself to a turkducken for having grown up Muslim, rolled in Britain, and wrapped up in America.
After a stream of auditioning for the stereotypical acting roles reserved for South Asians, he ultimately composes his own one-man play to portray a more realistic Muslim family with relationship struggles, hopes, and aspirations, not just brown characters relegated toward being snake charmers or screaming cab drivers. Over time this paves the way toward his role as a news correspondent on The Daily Show, whereupon he becomes a beacon for the Muslim people, a representative of the under-represented, and a voice for the less oft-heard.
January 5, 2017
Unexpectedly lovely. I picked this up thinking I’d be getting a breezy funny-man’s take on life, chock full of laugh-out-loud anecdotes from the Daily Show set. What I got instead was a thoughtful, poignant, multi-dimensional personal memoir that tells Mandvi’s story of growing up as a South Asian in the UK, dreaming of being an actor, pursuing his craft across the Atlantic, finding his way, improbably, to the Daily Show, and creating a space for himself not just in TV, but movies and theatre as well. Mandvi is not just a good storyteller; he’s an excellent writer, sharing his history and his perspective on life in a tone that is not generally uproarious, but always mordantly funny, in the way of the classic tragedy+time calculus of comedy. His stories of the sometimes violent racism he faced as a child in the UK are eye-opening, and at the same time the humor is not lost from them. His insight into the dynamics of racism in both the UK and the US is crystal clear, and he never tries to sugarcoat anything. His own engagement with questions of identity will ring true for many readers who share the immigrant experience of being of two (or more) cultures without being fully one of any of them. I could certainly relate to the experience of feeling totally unremarkable as yourself, and yet feeling that in each of your communities you are simultaneously within and without. That, and the indescribable power of connecting with someone who shares a similar experience as you and has “made it”, against the odds.
Mandvi’s book is an extremely worthwhile read, and I look forward to reading more from him.
December 19, 2018
This book was a recommendation of NPR, and I was interested in reading it because of his appearances on the Daily Show. Yes, I drank the Kool-aid, and as a Muslim, I wasn't looking for perfection, but I was hoping for someone who at least respected the religion. While it was ok that this book was not an inspiring tale of a man that has defeated racism in America, or a book of advise for young "brown" actors, it could have at least been somewhat funny and less bitter. Except for a couple chapter about his father (which were more than a little disrespectful), I found Aasif Mandvi annoyed at the world. Yes, he went through some crappy things. White people are really good at bullying/assumptions/just being jerks, and this book is a great reminder of that, but I feel he carries that around a badge giving him the right to be an a**hole. Also, it seems like he is carrying around a lot of guilt about his relationship with his religion. I would recommend this book for people to read, but don't expect to really like it, expect to feel sad for it's author.
October 31, 2015
I enjoyed the book - it was a quick read that explores Mandvi's childhood and experiences growing up in Britain and the U.S. I've always enjoyed Aasif Mandvi on The Daily Show, which is why I wanted to read this book. The book has Mandvi's dry humor throughout, even (especially?) when experiencing pivotal life moments as a perceived outsider. Mandvi gives insight into the limited opportunities for actors who are not caucasian to portray characters with any depth or substance.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program, which I just discovered and am pretty excited about!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program, which I just discovered and am pretty excited about!
February 21, 2015
I simply loved this book. I have been a huge fan of Aasif since he was on the Daily Show. Although he is an Indian Muslim, and I am an Atheist Latina, I felt as if he was able to express my experience of living in America. It turns out that he has had the typical life of the child of immigrants. His book is part memoir, part theater, and part musings. I enjoyed the funny parts and was touched by the sad parts. I enjoyed this book more than any other comedian written books so far.
March 2, 2016
On the face of it, this is a slight book -- little essays that skip around in time and space, more like a notebook than a memoir. Each small portrait builds up to a greater whole, though, and I enjoyed getting to know Mandvi's mind and family.
(Especially his dad. You've got to admire a man who -- as Mandvi tells it -- moved to America for the concept of Brunch.)
(Especially his dad. You've got to admire a man who -- as Mandvi tells it -- moved to America for the concept of Brunch.)
November 20, 2018
I picked this up as one of Audible.com's "Daily Deals", figuring that $3 for the audiobook was worth the gamble. I'd never heard of Aasif Mandvi before, though apparently he is some kind of celebrity. (OK, I just looked him up on Wikipedia and discovered he's been in several movies I've seen. Some good ones, too.) The first few chapters deal with his childhood and subsequent teenage years at a British boarding school. The anecdotes he relates would make for charming conversation fodder, but I'd hardly call them book-worthy.
I also wonder whether certain things have been exaggerated for comedic effect. For example, back when he was nine years old and idolized Henry Winkler ("the Fonz"), it drove him nuts that everyone around him instead fawned over Omar Shariff. Mr. Mandvi narrates this portion as though barely containing his rage at the mere mention of Shariff's name. But while the idea of a nine-year-old Indian boy wanting to punch Omar Shariff in the face makes for an amusing story, it seems like the sort of incident that gets inflated over time. The same goes with his stories about being bullied at school. I have no doubt it happened, but I can't help wonder how, at age 52, he can perfectly remember the exact number of times another boy hit him with a TV antennae.
Then again, maybe he really DOES remember everything that clearly, and I'm just being a jerk. Entirely possible.
Either way, I didn't find much here to really latch onto. For a book of this stripe, it wasn't as insightful or humorous as I would've liked. Maybe I should have stuck with it long enough to learn more about his acting career, but I quickly wearied of his narration style, which I thought sounded more like venting than it did reading.
I also wonder whether certain things have been exaggerated for comedic effect. For example, back when he was nine years old and idolized Henry Winkler ("the Fonz"), it drove him nuts that everyone around him instead fawned over Omar Shariff. Mr. Mandvi narrates this portion as though barely containing his rage at the mere mention of Shariff's name. But while the idea of a nine-year-old Indian boy wanting to punch Omar Shariff in the face makes for an amusing story, it seems like the sort of incident that gets inflated over time. The same goes with his stories about being bullied at school. I have no doubt it happened, but I can't help wonder how, at age 52, he can perfectly remember the exact number of times another boy hit him with a TV antennae.
Then again, maybe he really DOES remember everything that clearly, and I'm just being a jerk. Entirely possible.
Either way, I didn't find much here to really latch onto. For a book of this stripe, it wasn't as insightful or humorous as I would've liked. Maybe I should have stuck with it long enough to learn more about his acting career, but I quickly wearied of his narration style, which I thought sounded more like venting than it did reading.
December 3, 2019
More Interesting in the Aspiring Actor portions in the last half
Review of the Audible Audio edition (2014) of the original Chronicle Books hardcover (2014)
[3.5]
I first heard of Aasif Mandvi from the recent Audible Original recording of the 2018 revival of his one-man play Sakina's Restaurant (1998). I've also enjoy him as the sceptical myth-buster in the exorcism team of the current TV show Evil (2019-). Audible listed his memoir No Land's Man (2014) as one of its Black Friday Week sales offers and I grabbed it up.
The front half is mostly your stereotypical fish out of water tales, boys at boarding schools, youthful lust stories, etc. The last half was more interesting with Mandvi's stories of his struggling actor days, his breakthrough with the original run of Sakina's Restaurant, being recruited for the lead in Ismail Merchant's film The Mystical Masseur(2001) and his hiring and early years on The Daily Show (which I don't see here in Canada).
Mandvi's own narration was excellent, although a bit over the top in the youthful exploits sections, which he admits in the afterword were partially fictionalized for comedic effect.
Review of the Audible Audio edition (2014) of the original Chronicle Books hardcover (2014)
[3.5]
I first heard of Aasif Mandvi from the recent Audible Original recording of the 2018 revival of his one-man play Sakina's Restaurant (1998). I've also enjoy him as the sceptical myth-buster in the exorcism team of the current TV show Evil (2019-). Audible listed his memoir No Land's Man (2014) as one of its Black Friday Week sales offers and I grabbed it up.
The front half is mostly your stereotypical fish out of water tales, boys at boarding schools, youthful lust stories, etc. The last half was more interesting with Mandvi's stories of his struggling actor days, his breakthrough with the original run of Sakina's Restaurant, being recruited for the lead in Ismail Merchant's film The Mystical Masseur(2001) and his hiring and early years on The Daily Show (which I don't see here in Canada).
Mandvi's own narration was excellent, although a bit over the top in the youthful exploits sections, which he admits in the afterword were partially fictionalized for comedic effect.
May 26, 2025
This book was a breath of fresh air, and not just because the last book I read was about the Holocaust. I really enjoyed the author’s humorous recounting of his youthful adventures, as well as his avoidance of haunting statistics such as the number of Jews killed in Poland alone. I appreciated the clever contrasts he drew between the places he lived (e.g. England vs America) and the people he knew (e.g. South Asians vs white people) in a very thoughtful and uplifting way, as opposed to, say, comparing atrocities perpetrated by various genocidal dictators (e.g. Nazi concentration camps vs Soviet Gulags). I think it could have used more of a unifying theme and sometimes came across as merely a collection of anecdotes, but I loved how none of the anecdotes were heartbreaking stories of neighbors betraying Jews to the Gestapo. Overall, this was a heartfelt memoir of one man with a unique life story and perspective that thankfully never once reminded me of the attempted extermination of an entire race of people.
May 5, 2020
I enjoyed watching Aasif Mandvi on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This is a series of memoir-stories, not told in chronological order. I enjoyed some of them.
November 13, 2018
It's an interesting perspective. I appreciate the honesty.
May 27, 2015
The Humorous Memoir genre is my favorite when it comes to audio books and I have almost universal good luck with them. So, I went into No Land's Man expecting to really enjoy it. After all, it promised to be funny and I've always enjoyed Aasif Mandvi on The Daily Show (for the record, Mandvi was my vote to replace Jon Stewart).
What I didn't expect is how profound this book could be. Yes, there are some purely fun moments and it dips now and then into potty humor (which I am not against!), but there are also essays on identity and belonging and family that are far more deeply written than anything I have ever read in other (more highly-hyped) books in this vein.
This book is not just a collection of funny stories--it is Mandvi's quest to define himself. He doesn't fit into any of the niches we have - he was born in India, but isn't "Indian" as we know it; he was raised in England, but doesn't look English; he was raised Muslim, but doesn't act like any Muslim most Americans would recognize. He battles the expectations put on him by his family and by society and, in the midst of this, blazes his own trail.
This memoir differs from other such memoirs (for example, Yes, Please and Bossypants) because very little of it deals with his life once he "makes it." He doesn't talk about The Daily Show until the last chapter of the book. There are a few chapters talking about his days before making it big, but most of the book is about his experiences growing up as an East Asian immigrant, first in the north of England and then in Tampa, Florida.
I will say this is probably the best written book in this genre that I've read. His essay dealing with profanity is one of the best I've read on the subject (strangely, I have read more than a few essays on profanity). There is also an essay in the middle of the book--because I listened to this book, I can't go back and find the title--that is just beautiful. It talks about his parents coming to Bradford and settling--both with each other and in this new land. If I had any complaints about this book, it would only be that that this particular essay would have been more effective as a closing essay than buried in the middle of the book.
I really can't recommend this book highly enough. I could barely stop listening to it (which meant that I was hitting the gym whenever possible--that alone is pretty impressing) and it made me both laugh and think.
What I didn't expect is how profound this book could be. Yes, there are some purely fun moments and it dips now and then into potty humor (which I am not against!), but there are also essays on identity and belonging and family that are far more deeply written than anything I have ever read in other (more highly-hyped) books in this vein.
This book is not just a collection of funny stories--it is Mandvi's quest to define himself. He doesn't fit into any of the niches we have - he was born in India, but isn't "Indian" as we know it; he was raised in England, but doesn't look English; he was raised Muslim, but doesn't act like any Muslim most Americans would recognize. He battles the expectations put on him by his family and by society and, in the midst of this, blazes his own trail.
This memoir differs from other such memoirs (for example, Yes, Please and Bossypants) because very little of it deals with his life once he "makes it." He doesn't talk about The Daily Show until the last chapter of the book. There are a few chapters talking about his days before making it big, but most of the book is about his experiences growing up as an East Asian immigrant, first in the north of England and then in Tampa, Florida.
I will say this is probably the best written book in this genre that I've read. His essay dealing with profanity is one of the best I've read on the subject (strangely, I have read more than a few essays on profanity). There is also an essay in the middle of the book--because I listened to this book, I can't go back and find the title--that is just beautiful. It talks about his parents coming to Bradford and settling--both with each other and in this new land. If I had any complaints about this book, it would only be that that this particular essay would have been more effective as a closing essay than buried in the middle of the book.
I really can't recommend this book highly enough. I could barely stop listening to it (which meant that I was hitting the gym whenever possible--that alone is pretty impressing) and it made me both laugh and think.
December 3, 2014
Aasif Mandvi is probably most familiar to you as the Senior Muslim Correspondent on the Daily Show. At least that's how he was most familiar to me. In listening to this book, I discovered that he had a very successful career before the Daily Show, including winning an Obie for his one-man show Sakina's Restaurant.
No Land's Man is not a humor book per se. It's a collection of stories from Aasif's life. Some are definitely funny but some are heartbreaking as well, like the one from his time at an English boarding school. He is a very talented writer and is capable of inspiring a wide gamut of emotions from the listener. The boarding school story almost made me cry. I think the story about starring in a film directed by Ismail Merchant frustrated me as much as it did Aasif. And the story about crashing Brooke Shields' party made me laugh out loud.
The title No Land's Man comes from the fact that Aasif was born in India, moved to England as a baby and then immigrated with his family to Florida as a teenager. The overriding theme is about Aasif's search for identity given his wide experience with different cultures. A side note - I was unaware of how much racism brown people experience in England. That part of Aasif's childhood was definitely hard.
Now you are wondering, what about The Daily Show? Does he mention that? Yes, he does. He talks about his path to becoming a regular on The Daily Show and the effect it had on both him and the wider American Muslim community.
Aasif narrates his book himself, a wise choice. It's the same tone he uses on The Daily Show. A little loud and staccato but it works. This is a great book to learn more about Aasif and about what a brown person must go through to become a successful actor in America. At around four and half hours it's a quick listen and definitely worth your time.
No Land's Man is not a humor book per se. It's a collection of stories from Aasif's life. Some are definitely funny but some are heartbreaking as well, like the one from his time at an English boarding school. He is a very talented writer and is capable of inspiring a wide gamut of emotions from the listener. The boarding school story almost made me cry. I think the story about starring in a film directed by Ismail Merchant frustrated me as much as it did Aasif. And the story about crashing Brooke Shields' party made me laugh out loud.
The title No Land's Man comes from the fact that Aasif was born in India, moved to England as a baby and then immigrated with his family to Florida as a teenager. The overriding theme is about Aasif's search for identity given his wide experience with different cultures. A side note - I was unaware of how much racism brown people experience in England. That part of Aasif's childhood was definitely hard.
Now you are wondering, what about The Daily Show? Does he mention that? Yes, he does. He talks about his path to becoming a regular on The Daily Show and the effect it had on both him and the wider American Muslim community.
Aasif narrates his book himself, a wise choice. It's the same tone he uses on The Daily Show. A little loud and staccato but it works. This is a great book to learn more about Aasif and about what a brown person must go through to become a successful actor in America. At around four and half hours it's a quick listen and definitely worth your time.
February 10, 2017
"Remember this," my father continued. "If Jon Stewart asks you any questions or your opinion about Islam, don't you say a word, just have him call your mother, she knows everything."
"Yes, beta," agreed my mom. "Just tell him to call me, because you don't want to say the wrong thing on television and then get your entire family in trouble."
"Don't humiliate your entire family!" continued my dad. "Otherwise we will be a laughingstock from here to Mumbai. By the way, congratulations! This is very exciting. We are very proud of you!"
"Yes, beta," agreed my mom. "Just tell him to call me, because you don't want to say the wrong thing on television and then get your entire family in trouble."
"Don't humiliate your entire family!" continued my dad. "Otherwise we will be a laughingstock from here to Mumbai. By the way, congratulations! This is very exciting. We are very proud of you!"
September 25, 2015
I will preface this by saying I am unfamiliar with Aasif Mandvi and for the most part, the Daily Show (I have seen rarely seen bits of it on YouTube, never a full show).
While Aasif is a fantastic storyteller, and he narrated the hell out of his book (I think this would be the only way to consume this book, don't bother with print) I don't think I would like him personally. He seemed pretty hypocritical when in one story he completely reinforces American stereotypes to be rude, overconsuming, fat, ignorant, etc etc then in a later chapter he gets very angry about the stereotypes against brown, South-Asian people. While I respect his background and I'm sure he has definitely dealt with plenty of rude asshole racists, it's disingenuous and unfair to turn around to do the same thing when it suits you.
The stories in the book were a bit scattered but nearly always entertaining and usually pretty funny. He has a pretty interesting history, having moved to quite different places through his life. Through this he definitely has a lot of stories to tell. I think most people would enjoy this short book.
While Aasif is a fantastic storyteller, and he narrated the hell out of his book (I think this would be the only way to consume this book, don't bother with print) I don't think I would like him personally. He seemed pretty hypocritical when in one story he completely reinforces American stereotypes to be rude, overconsuming, fat, ignorant, etc etc then in a later chapter he gets very angry about the stereotypes against brown, South-Asian people. While I respect his background and I'm sure he has definitely dealt with plenty of rude asshole racists, it's disingenuous and unfair to turn around to do the same thing when it suits you.
The stories in the book were a bit scattered but nearly always entertaining and usually pretty funny. He has a pretty interesting history, having moved to quite different places through his life. Through this he definitely has a lot of stories to tell. I think most people would enjoy this short book.
September 24, 2017
Funny, easy read.
November 13, 2014
This audio was a lot of fun to listen to. I always enjoy actors and tv personalities that narrate their own audio books. It only seems right that they should be telling their story. Aasif narrates with a high energy and fast talking manner that you think he is hopped up on coffee (or perhaps that brownie he mentions along the way…).
Honesty, I did not know much about Aasif going into the read, but after listening to this book I have a whole new appreciation for the talent of this man who never stopped doing what he loved and made his way to who he is today.
Highly enjoyable! Fans of Aasif are not going to want to miss out on this up close and personal look of his life.
For more on this book: http://bookjourney.net/2014/11/10/no-...
Honesty, I did not know much about Aasif going into the read, but after listening to this book I have a whole new appreciation for the talent of this man who never stopped doing what he loved and made his way to who he is today.
Highly enjoyable! Fans of Aasif are not going to want to miss out on this up close and personal look of his life.
For more on this book: http://bookjourney.net/2014/11/10/no-...
February 1, 2017
Even though this book is short, it made me laugh several times! Mandvi's whole family is entertaining, and the best scene in the book is a gross-yet-hilarious prank that his parents pull on his sister. I'm not going to spoil it, but it deserved to become a family legend.
There are also a lot of serious parts. The one that touched me the most was when Mandvi said, "My story would never be lived on a wholly familiar plot of land". He grew up on three different continents, and he did not have many friends from any of them. It gave me a completely different perspective on his life.
Also, I want to check out more of his films now. I only knew him for a couple of small roles, but he mentioned some films where he played the lead. I know what I want to look up on Netflix next time!
There are also a lot of serious parts. The one that touched me the most was when Mandvi said, "My story would never be lived on a wholly familiar plot of land". He grew up on three different continents, and he did not have many friends from any of them. It gave me a completely different perspective on his life.
Also, I want to check out more of his films now. I only knew him for a couple of small roles, but he mentioned some films where he played the lead. I know what I want to look up on Netflix next time!
February 4, 2017
As a Muslim South Asian who grew up in three different countries, this book resonated with me. So much of the loss and confusion with identity the book presents, albeit through humor, represented my own experiences growing up. I wish that the book talked more about his experiences on the Daily Show and about being a spokesperson for Muslim Americans more, but overall a really nice read.
January 19, 2015
Listened to this as an audiobook. Some of the chapters really hit the mark, a couple chapters not so much. But overall, a really funny, insightful book that talks about race, entertainment, and growing up as an immigrant.
March 29, 2015
I loved this--I found myself reading sections of it out loud to my husband, who is Indian-American. Hysterically funny, highly recommended
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