BECOMING BABA

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.