My Isl@m: How Fundamentalism Stole My Mind-And Doubt Freed My Soul

Nasr, a Sudanese blogger, seamlessly blends memoir with political thought and activism in his book, a distillation of his last few years blogging about Islam and the Muslim world. Nasr, who grew up in Qatar and Malaysia, recounts his early religious education both at home and at school, including the confusion he felt about certain religiously conservative viewpoints. The book smoothly follows his journey out of a simplistic understanding of Islam, through rationalism and semi-atheism, towards a conversion to Sufism, the mystical school of Islam. Personal history—particularly his expatriate childhood—is the book’s strongest aspect, delivered in Nasr’s s casual, conversational tone. The focus on his developing political and religious thought, however, is weaker, as his trajectory is unremarkable. But Nasr’s insight into the world of young Arab bloggers, including many of the activists behind the Arab Spring, makes this a valuable and enjoyable read. Agent: Linda Langton, Langtons International Agency. (June 11)