55 pages • 1 hour read
Laila LalamiConditional Citizens: On Belonging in America
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami is a collection of essays examining the complexities of American citizenship through the lens of immigration, race, gender, and religion, interweaving personal anecdotes with historical and political analysis. Lalami critiques the conditional nature of citizenship for marginalized communities and explores themes of loyalty, assimilation, and systemic inequality, culminating in a hopeful call to action for a more inclusive society. The text includes discussions of discrimination, terrorism, hate crimes, and sexual assault.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Laila Lalami's Conditional Citizens offers a poignant and deeply personal exploration of the complexities of American citizenship, particularly for immigrants and marginalized communities. Critics praise Lalami's eloquent prose and insightful analysis, though some feel the narrative can be overly anecdotal. Overall, it serves as a powerful reflection on identity and belonging.
Who Should Read Conditional Citizens?
Readers who appreciate Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami are typically interested in identity, immigration, and social justice. They likely enjoyed Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates or The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, which explore similar themes of belonging and systemic inequality in America.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Politics / Government
Social Justice
Race / Racism
Identity: Race
Society: Immigration
Society: Politics & Government