Becoming Baba Fatherhood, faith, and finding meaning in America

Review by Booklist Review

Before he was born, Ismail's parents immigrated to the U.S. from Egypt. One of 12 children, his mother came to America to assist her pregnant sister, while Ismail's industrious father found success as a chauffeur. Ismail gave short shrift to his parents' devout Muslim faith as an adolescent. While his older siblings were on the path to successful careers, Aymann acted up at school and adopted the punk persona. He was irked by his parents' decision to move the family from Newark to South Brunswick, New Jersey, even if was done in his best interest. Eventually, Ismail developed a flair for photography that he turned into a career in journalism--working for Slate, among other publications--while getting married and starting a family of his own. Candid, with moments of humor, poignancy, and soul-searching depth, Becoming Baba is an engaging memoir about a man's winding path to maturity, enlightenment, and self-discovery.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Slate staff writer Ismail debuts with a tender autobiography that covers his childhood in New Jersey and his complex relationship with religion. "When I was growing up, the very air in our home contained a hush reverence around the Quran," Ismail writes. He attended elementary school in a mosque in Jersey City, and was raised among fellow practicing Muslims until he was a teenager. After 9/11, Ismail's parents enrolled him in a public school, launching a "tug-of-war" within him "between tradition and self-discovery." Never content to rebel but interested in peeking beyond the strictures of his religious upbringing, he started working in journalism in New York City, first on the photo and video team at an art magazine and then as a political writer for Slate, covering high-profile cases including the murder of George Floyd by police and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Eventually, the book zeroes in on Ismail's relationship with the open-minded Mira, who prompted him to unpack his ideas about family and religion as the pair married and had children. Lucid and openhearted, this inquiry into what makes a good life will resonate with readers of all faiths. Photos. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (July)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A candid, searching memoir about growing up Muslim American and navigating faith, family, and belonging. Ismail, a journalist and podcast host, begins his memoir with his mother cleaning their new apartment after a move from Newark, New Jersey, to the suburbs. From this sensory-rich start, he recounts the vibrant texture of his Egyptian American childhood, where Islamic tradition provides both structure and meaning. His mother emerges as the family's spiritual compass--resourceful, devout, and determined--while his father remains physically present but emotionally distant. Through episodic chapters that move between family history and personal reflection, Ismail explores how Islam shaped his identity alongside American culture, offering him a moral framework even as he questioned certain practices and interpretations. The memoir thoughtfully examines the challenges of preserving faith in a sometimes hostile environment, especially after 9/11, when Muslim Americans faced increased scrutiny. Ismail writes with nuance about his Islamic schooling, which, despite occasional strictness, grounded him in values that would later become meaningful in his adult life. His storytelling balances humor with reflection, showing how his spiritual journey evolved rather than disappeared as he matured. Particularly moving are the passages where Ismail reconnects with Islamic traditions as a father himself, finding renewed purpose in rituals and teachings that connect him to his children and his heritage. As much a celebration of faith's enduring influence as it is an honest account of family dynamics, the memoir concludes with Ismail embracing a more intentional relationship with both fatherhood and Islam, discovering that the two journeys complement and strengthen each other. A warm and insightful exploration of how faith sustains and evolves across generations. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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