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The Abu Dhabi Bar Mitzvah: Fear and Love in the Modern Middle East
Chronically questioning, funny, and bold, a young American explores the majority-Muslim lands that scare him most.
Armed only with college Arabic and restless curiosity, Adam Valen Levinson sets out to “learn about the world 9/11 made us fear.” From a base in globalized and sterilized Abu Dhabi, he sets out to lunch in Taliban territory in Afghanistan, travels under the watchful eye of Syria’s secret police, risks shipwreck en route to Somalia, investigates Yazidi beliefs in a sacred cave, cliff dives in Oman, celebrates New Year’s Eve in Tahrir Square, and, at every turn, discovers a place that matches not at all with its reputation.
Valen Levinson crosses borders with wisecracking humor, erudition, and humanity, seeking common ground with “bros” everywhere, and finding that people who pray differently often laugh the same. And as a young man bar mitzvahed eight years late, he slowly learns how childish it is to live by decisions and distinctions born of fear.
Armed only with college Arabic and restless curiosity, Adam Valen Levinson sets out to “learn about the world 9/11 made us fear.” From a base in globalized and sterilized Abu Dhabi, he sets out to lunch in Taliban territory in Afghanistan, travels under the watchful eye of Syria’s secret police, risks shipwreck en route to Somalia, investigates Yazidi beliefs in a sacred cave, cliff dives in Oman, celebrates New Year’s Eve in Tahrir Square, and, at every turn, discovers a place that matches not at all with its reputation.
Valen Levinson crosses borders with wisecracking humor, erudition, and humanity, seeking common ground with “bros” everywhere, and finding that people who pray differently often laugh the same. And as a young man bar mitzvahed eight years late, he slowly learns how childish it is to live by decisions and distinctions born of fear.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2017
About the author
Adam Valen Levinson
1 book10 followersAdam Valen Levinson is a multimedia backpack journalist and travel writer whose work focuses on human stories in conflict areas. His work has appeared in numerous outlets, including VICE, the Paris Review, Al Jazeera, and Haaretz. He is currently a PhD candidate at Yale University, studying humor as a key to cultural understanding.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 12, 2017
I won a free ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
So Adam Valen Levinson set out to explore the Middle East, as the title promises. He studied Arabic in college, and got a job in Abu Dhabi, from where he set out on periodic expeditions to many of the countries that are reportedly dangerous for Americans: Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Syria ... Politics are for governments; he wanted to meet the people. Just about everywhere he went, he was welcomed. He saw the sights, tried the local food, and found common ground all over the region. His style is a bit restless, jumping from topic to topic with wild abandon, but it makes for heady reading. He does a marvelous job of capturing his travels with good humor and fascinating insight. As a longtime armchair traveller, I enjoyed this book very much. Recommended!
So Adam Valen Levinson set out to explore the Middle East, as the title promises. He studied Arabic in college, and got a job in Abu Dhabi, from where he set out on periodic expeditions to many of the countries that are reportedly dangerous for Americans: Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Syria ... Politics are for governments; he wanted to meet the people. Just about everywhere he went, he was welcomed. He saw the sights, tried the local food, and found common ground all over the region. His style is a bit restless, jumping from topic to topic with wild abandon, but it makes for heady reading. He does a marvelous job of capturing his travels with good humor and fascinating insight. As a longtime armchair traveller, I enjoyed this book very much. Recommended!
September 29, 2017
Well written, funny and introspective. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Yemen and Afghanistan where Levinson meets types of people who most travelers in the region never experience. He is very good at finding the humor and humanity in every day life in places most believe are full of nothing but war and suffering. Definitely a must read for people who care about the region and its people.
October 5, 2017
Brought this book on my recent trip and I have to say it's the absolute perfect book for those with the travel bug! Valen Levinson really has a way with words -- I especially loved the anecdotes from parts of the world I don't know much about, definitely a different take from your standard 'travel' memoir.
Also if you liked Alain de Botton's "Art of Travel," this is an excellent companion piece. The author is funny and super geniune, which means a lot in this age of the 'sponsored' travel and lifestyle blogger. Can't wait to see where he travels to next!
Also if you liked Alain de Botton's "Art of Travel," this is an excellent companion piece. The author is funny and super geniune, which means a lot in this age of the 'sponsored' travel and lifestyle blogger. Can't wait to see where he travels to next!
November 7, 2017
Oh my god! It's just such beautiful writing. Never would have expected in a "travel" book. Learned a lot, felt a lot more. Really, really got into this. Can't wait to see what else this guy writes.
January 24, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, having lived in Abu Dhabi for 12 years. I was also fascinated with the idea of a Jewish guy, let alone, rabbis, openly existing in the UAE, since this would not have happened when I lived there in the 80s and 90s. I have to admit that I had to put it down halfway through, but at that point, he still had not acknowledged how far the UAE had come in tolerating this faith, which I found shocking (not giving this perspective, I mean). I could not relate at all to the risks he took in places where he could have easily landed in jail without an easy exit. The writing was disjointed and I found I was reading but not absorbing the words. This guy spends too much time in his head and does not give enough detail about his surroundings. I get that the personal connections he makes during his travels is the key to the book, but there are whole chunks of text where I just couldn't tell exactly what was going on due to the convoluted sentences. Very disappointing.
December 8, 2017
Propaganda dehumanizes our enemy to provide justification and motivation for war. Monstrous things happen in war. War can turn decent human beings into killing machines, and groups will commit horrid acts in war that the individuals would never have considered in peacetime. The enemy becomes the object of all our hate and fear.
The question is, who is our enemy? Is every citizen in a hostile country to be considered dangerous? Can we face our fear and find a commonality?
The Abu Dhabu Bar Mitzvah by Adam Valen Levinson appeared in my mailbox courtesy of W. W. Norton & Company. I have been reading it for some time now. It is sometimes funny and always interesting.
Levinson, a young man of Jewish heritage, reacts to 9-11 by-- according to most,--risking his life by visiting countries considered dangerous to Americans. What he discovers is that people are people everywhere. He encounters hospitality in places considered hostile to Americans.
As a mother, I am appalled that the author disregards personal safety in search of knowledge; as an American citizen I appreciate his pulling back the curtain to show real faces of those we fear.
Early on, Levinson realizes everyone he meets was 'performing,' considering how to act and talk. Anyone could be a spy, an informer. He assumes an identity that he hopes will pass off as Lebanese, keeping his mouth shut and head down when on dangerous roads.
Levinson obtained work at a university in Abu Dhabi and from that home base traveled across the Middle East. So far I have read about his trips to Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran. Coming up is Egypt, Yemen and Somalia. He includes actual names and dialog and draws from his recordings and notes taken on the road.
I read about camel races with robots jockeys, Levinson's belated Bar Mitzvah in Abu Dhabi, strangers who show him the sights, and his visits to ancient places decaying with time.
Photographs from the book can be found at Levinson's website.
*****
Who is our enemy? Are our fears justified? What risks are we willing to take?
My weekly quilting and craft group held a potluck. I was sitting with the two vegetarians, women from India. One was dressed in an ornate sari and dripped in her finest gold; the other wore Western clothing. I asked about their roots in India and learned about their immigrant experience.
Both are married to men with PhDs and are mothers to successful and highly educated adult children. One attended an Indian school taught in English, and the other taught herself the language watching soap operas after her immigration to America.
I heard about a child encountering prejudice in school when a classmate complained they would not be on a team with 'that child' while the mother, through her silence, showed tacit approval of he son's racism. I heard about a bright child's needs ignored because the teacher 'had' to treat all children the same. A change in schools gave the child the advanced coursework he needed.
And I heard about a honeymoon trip to the mountains of Kashmir. I was told that in India newlyweds seek out the cooler, moderate climate of the mountains for their honeymoon. (Relatives in India can not believe she now lives "in Kashmir" all the time!)
On the way to their destination their bus encountered a bridge which was closed. The couple had to either cross the bridge, return to their last hotel, or move on to the next town. All choices included a long walk with all their suitcases.
A van load of young Sikhs from a military base on a day's frolic were also stopped by the closed bridge. They offered the newlyweds a ride back to the town where they had been the night before.
It was explained to me that the Sikhs were considered terrorists. The Sikhs also make up the bulk of the Indian military force. And yet the bridegroom accepted their offer, and in great fear, his young wife climbed into the van.
Four large young men, one willowy groom, and one young woman. She feared rape.
The Sikhs chattered among themselves, and the bride could just make out some words, knowing a little Punjabi. Then, a Sikh turned and asked the groom, "Why did you come with us?" And he answered, "If I can trust the protection of my country to you, I can trust you will protect my wife."
They were stunned and thanked him. And the young wife feels goosebumps go up her arm to this very day recalling his words.
*****
I will continue to read Levinson's journey into hostile territory, learning about places and people I will never see, an armchair voyager in an easy chair with a cup of tea at my side, cuddled under a hand made quilt, grateful that someone else's son risked everything to face his fears.
I received a free book from the publisher.
The question is, who is our enemy? Is every citizen in a hostile country to be considered dangerous? Can we face our fear and find a commonality?
The Abu Dhabu Bar Mitzvah by Adam Valen Levinson appeared in my mailbox courtesy of W. W. Norton & Company. I have been reading it for some time now. It is sometimes funny and always interesting.
Levinson, a young man of Jewish heritage, reacts to 9-11 by-- according to most,--risking his life by visiting countries considered dangerous to Americans. What he discovers is that people are people everywhere. He encounters hospitality in places considered hostile to Americans.
As a mother, I am appalled that the author disregards personal safety in search of knowledge; as an American citizen I appreciate his pulling back the curtain to show real faces of those we fear.
Early on, Levinson realizes everyone he meets was 'performing,' considering how to act and talk. Anyone could be a spy, an informer. He assumes an identity that he hopes will pass off as Lebanese, keeping his mouth shut and head down when on dangerous roads.
Levinson obtained work at a university in Abu Dhabi and from that home base traveled across the Middle East. So far I have read about his trips to Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran. Coming up is Egypt, Yemen and Somalia. He includes actual names and dialog and draws from his recordings and notes taken on the road.
I read about camel races with robots jockeys, Levinson's belated Bar Mitzvah in Abu Dhabi, strangers who show him the sights, and his visits to ancient places decaying with time.
Photographs from the book can be found at Levinson's website.
*****
Who is our enemy? Are our fears justified? What risks are we willing to take?
My weekly quilting and craft group held a potluck. I was sitting with the two vegetarians, women from India. One was dressed in an ornate sari and dripped in her finest gold; the other wore Western clothing. I asked about their roots in India and learned about their immigrant experience.
Both are married to men with PhDs and are mothers to successful and highly educated adult children. One attended an Indian school taught in English, and the other taught herself the language watching soap operas after her immigration to America.
I heard about a child encountering prejudice in school when a classmate complained they would not be on a team with 'that child' while the mother, through her silence, showed tacit approval of he son's racism. I heard about a bright child's needs ignored because the teacher 'had' to treat all children the same. A change in schools gave the child the advanced coursework he needed.
And I heard about a honeymoon trip to the mountains of Kashmir. I was told that in India newlyweds seek out the cooler, moderate climate of the mountains for their honeymoon. (Relatives in India can not believe she now lives "in Kashmir" all the time!)
On the way to their destination their bus encountered a bridge which was closed. The couple had to either cross the bridge, return to their last hotel, or move on to the next town. All choices included a long walk with all their suitcases.
A van load of young Sikhs from a military base on a day's frolic were also stopped by the closed bridge. They offered the newlyweds a ride back to the town where they had been the night before.
It was explained to me that the Sikhs were considered terrorists. The Sikhs also make up the bulk of the Indian military force. And yet the bridegroom accepted their offer, and in great fear, his young wife climbed into the van.
Four large young men, one willowy groom, and one young woman. She feared rape.
The Sikhs chattered among themselves, and the bride could just make out some words, knowing a little Punjabi. Then, a Sikh turned and asked the groom, "Why did you come with us?" And he answered, "If I can trust the protection of my country to you, I can trust you will protect my wife."
They were stunned and thanked him. And the young wife feels goosebumps go up her arm to this very day recalling his words.
*****
I will continue to read Levinson's journey into hostile territory, learning about places and people I will never see, an armchair voyager in an easy chair with a cup of tea at my side, cuddled under a hand made quilt, grateful that someone else's son risked everything to face his fears.
I received a free book from the publisher.
November 9, 2017
Brilliant book. Like reading a novel but seeing so much of the world we've never seen. Tons of research obviously but you don't even really see it so much, not heavy like so many 'smart' travel books and then at the end you're like 'wait, how do I know all these things?'
August 31, 2017
The first two chapters were well done but as the 22 year old recent college grad explored the MidEast, he saw little and learned little. The author spoke some arabic but seemed most interested in visiting lots of countries while supposedly working at NYU's Abu Dhabi site. He did learn how to chew gat.
January 17, 2018
Just a pretentious travelogue of a young man who’s trying very hard to show off with his (apparently not so perfect) knowledge of Arabic and random adventures in the Middle East, and whose constant attempts to sound funny actually make him sound even more pathetic.
November 9, 2017
Love and fear are intertwined, the author says. I want to read this book a hundred times.
January 14, 2018
Jewish American travelogue in post 9/11 Muslim countries
longer review to come
longer review to come
October 14, 2017
This book is right up my alley when it comes to a search for identity across cultures. I'm particularly grateful for the brief explanations of the history and modern relationships between different people, albeit from a certain person's perspective. What got me really excited was the explanations of languages, the linguistic and implied meanings differences, and even the nonverbal communication differences.
This book is like if Tom Sawyer grew up with Jack Kerouac’s mindset in modern San Francisco and decided to pursue a search for...identity, adventure, and to otherwise push one's limits... in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Thoughtful in words.
This book is like if Tom Sawyer grew up with Jack Kerouac’s mindset in modern San Francisco and decided to pursue a search for...identity, adventure, and to otherwise push one's limits... in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Thoughtful in words.
April 26, 2020
I was disappointed; probably should have read the blurb better. The author comes across as immature,reckless, and smart but not wise. In his defense, he was 22 at the time this book took place.
The author’s self-concept is baffling, as he is dark-skinned with a Jewfro (by self-admission) yet continuously refers to himself as a “white American.” This lack of awareness of how he presents to others was odd.
I share Levinson’s fascination with Arabic and the Arabic world, but he indicates that he knows and is not interested in the Jewish world (which he seems to mostly equate with Ashkenazim), but makes a number of factual blunders about Judaism and Jewish History. I wish he would have thought more about this, investigated it more, or tried to frame some of what he saw in terms of Jewish life in the Middle East.
The author’s self-concept is baffling, as he is dark-skinned with a Jewfro (by self-admission) yet continuously refers to himself as a “white American.” This lack of awareness of how he presents to others was odd.
I share Levinson’s fascination with Arabic and the Arabic world, but he indicates that he knows and is not interested in the Jewish world (which he seems to mostly equate with Ashkenazim), but makes a number of factual blunders about Judaism and Jewish History. I wish he would have thought more about this, investigated it more, or tried to frame some of what he saw in terms of Jewish life in the Middle East.
September 13, 2017
I rather reluctantly read to the end of this book.
It is well written, it's the content I was unsure of. Another rich, spoilt American travelling the Middle East in comfort, I thought.
Adam, the 22 year old Jewish author, mostly takes flights, hires cars & taxis, eats in fine restaurants, and stays in good hotels....hardly the back-packing experience I was expecting.
Most of the Muslim people he meets & engages with while country-hopping are seemingly also wealthy, powerful & well-connected, when Adam did do anything risky it was solely to please himself and he had to be bailed out by friends & family several times.
I admit I found the religious differences, ( and similarities) quite dull & don't think I learnt anything...except how to chew qat.
Thank you Goodreads for my ARC.
It is well written, it's the content I was unsure of. Another rich, spoilt American travelling the Middle East in comfort, I thought.
Adam, the 22 year old Jewish author, mostly takes flights, hires cars & taxis, eats in fine restaurants, and stays in good hotels....hardly the back-packing experience I was expecting.
Most of the Muslim people he meets & engages with while country-hopping are seemingly also wealthy, powerful & well-connected, when Adam did do anything risky it was solely to please himself and he had to be bailed out by friends & family several times.
I admit I found the religious differences, ( and similarities) quite dull & don't think I learnt anything...except how to chew qat.
Thank you Goodreads for my ARC.
January 2, 2018
I really wanted to read this and enjoy it. It just didn’t hold my interest. I’m going to try and pick it up again in the future to give it a second chance.
January 1, 2019
I couldn't make myself finish this book.
January 6, 2019
It was just not all thet interesting. I had to put it down without finishing.
December 27, 2017
SPOILERS AHEAD.....
*I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
First of all the title is like click-bait. The Abu Dhabi Bar Mitzvah takes place around page 50 and has little to no importance or meaning. But, that is the problem with all the travel undertaken by the author - there is little to no meaning for any of it.
It was also a struggle for me to read, just because my lack of understanding of some of the topic covered. I'm not familiar with many of the languages, regions, and religions. Only because of that I found the sections on Kurds and Yazidi more interesting, because it seemed to flow smoothly (Why do the Yazidi think Moses wasn't married?).
Finally, the other major disappointment was a lack of humor, which wouldn't have been an issue but for the three commenters on the cover raving about it.
*I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
First of all the title is like click-bait. The Abu Dhabi Bar Mitzvah takes place around page 50 and has little to no importance or meaning. But, that is the problem with all the travel undertaken by the author - there is little to no meaning for any of it.
It was also a struggle for me to read, just because my lack of understanding of some of the topic covered. I'm not familiar with many of the languages, regions, and religions. Only because of that I found the sections on Kurds and Yazidi more interesting, because it seemed to flow smoothly (Why do the Yazidi think Moses wasn't married?).
Finally, the other major disappointment was a lack of humor, which wouldn't have been an issue but for the three commenters on the cover raving about it.
April 28, 2018
I won the ARC from Goodreads.
This is an impressive travelogue of Middle Eastern countries written by a young American Jew who was curious about these places after the attack of 9-11. He headquarters in Abu Dhabi as a student and proceeds to travel into Egypt, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and many more of the hot spots throughout this part of the world. The introduction to the people, their food and culture, as well as the interesting archeological sites in each of these countries adds to this outstanding book. I am tempted to read it again since it is impossible for me to remember the tremendous amount of information he includes.
This is an impressive travelogue of Middle Eastern countries written by a young American Jew who was curious about these places after the attack of 9-11. He headquarters in Abu Dhabi as a student and proceeds to travel into Egypt, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and many more of the hot spots throughout this part of the world. The introduction to the people, their food and culture, as well as the interesting archeological sites in each of these countries adds to this outstanding book. I am tempted to read it again since it is impossible for me to remember the tremendous amount of information he includes.
August 25, 2021
I learned about different cultures from this book, particularly about ones I've just seen on the news as conflict-torn. That said, I cannot say this was a great book. The author's story is incredible-a Jewish kid who learns Arabic and goes as a tourist Iraq, Afghanistan, and other nations that appear on CNN more often then on anyone's travel blogs, but he squanders the opportunity. Rather then tell about what's it like to be in a strange place, how it feels, the Visa process, etc-he seems to overload the book with analogies, metaphors, etc that rather then draw me in caused me to scratch my head. In addition, he seemed to go on tangents, at various times talking about history, religion, his relationship, etc. Certainly interesting in various parts-but the author seems to think he's a better author then he actually is.
July 16, 2018
While I don't think I will be visiting Afghanistan any time soon, this was a wonderful and magnificent read. I deeply respect what Levinson has to say about "positive prejudice," that sometimes people only want to see the good in things we have been taught to avoid. But this is impossible - he literally visits places where conditions are terrible. Current refugees are FROM his destinations. The other trait that these places have in common, though, is the kindness of their inhabitants, despite their own numerous personal and cultural prejudices. Distant rulers and nearby insurgents may be messing up their homelands, but the people have remained courteous and friendly. I hope that the world remembers this about us right now.
June 29, 2021
DNF White American Male decides his life is boring so he will use no common sense and travel into dangerous situations and war zones, just to see what's up. He's not traveling as a journalist or part of and aid group, or even as a blogger, he's just a reckless man child. I quit reading after he narrowly missed being killed in Syria's civil war and so decides to take a holiday to Afghanistan, where WE ARE AT WAR. Besides dragging his girlfriend to Abu Dhabi, then abandoning her to take another trip because he's bored, he just seems like an entitled jerk. Maybe I couldn't get into it because of that, or because his rosy experience as a man is so much different than mine would be as a woman, I just couldn't relate at all.
April 1, 2018
There is a similarity between Adam Levinson and Dan Eldon. Though it's in spirit, not in the mode of expression. Adam's Middle East & African forays are made more clear because he writes well, with a breadth of storytelling tools and disarming honesty. His youth is evident as was Eldon's. It works for Adam for the most part. His analysis is entirely his own. His quest is universal for young hearts with old souls.
February 11, 2020
Very interesting book. Travel is the best way to learn, broaden perspective, break stereotypes, and connect with other individual human beings. Levinson is not naive but obviously writes with some prejudice from his love of the Middle East. As a Jewish man, he educates the reader about so much from his travels to places that prove to be far less hostile to him as one might imagine. The actual writing did not impress, but the read was still exceptional.
February 23, 2020
MSA is the official language of two dozen countries and is spoken nowhere. Formal Arabic is the native tongue of only television and the news and print. Everywhere else regional dialect takes over complete with home grown rules of conjugation, syntax, vocabulary and pronunciation.
It was really refreshing to hear how Levinson observes the world. He saw it from an outsider-insider perspective in a partial way.
July 9, 2022
I wanted to like this book. I just couldn't bring myself to care about this selfish, self-destructive person that was trying to justify doing stupid things. While his ability to structure sentences is good, I was constantly confused about where he was and why he was doing it. The bar mitzvah this was titled for was so non-consequential at page 50. If that was meant as a metaphor for his becoming a grownup in Abu Dhabi it fell far short of the mark.
December 10, 2017
Engaging
This account of one person's experiences in the Middle East offers insight into the reasons why that part of the world is so confusing to westerners. The story gives engaging and often exciting first hand accounts of personal interactions with local people. If you want to begin trying to understand the area this book will help.
This account of one person's experiences in the Middle East offers insight into the reasons why that part of the world is so confusing to westerners. The story gives engaging and often exciting first hand accounts of personal interactions with local people. If you want to begin trying to understand the area this book will help.
March 7, 2018
What to say? I wish I hadn't supported this project. Definite moments of good writing, but it lacked direction, needed good editing, and was morally infuriating. Trouble-seeking of this variety shouldn't be rewarded with a book deal.
July 6, 2018
Harrowing stuff.. (not the travel, but the young man's mental contortions.. ergh..) I'm amazed he isn't dead or in a whammo-scalammo in the Middle East..
August 11, 2021
More Millenial navel-gazing than insight, but it does contain some interesting accounts of travel in the Middle East.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews