I first heard about Khizr and Ghazala Khan in 2016, when they were invited on July 28 to speak at the Democratic Convention by Hillary Clinton. In that occasion their son, Humayun, was celebrated as the first Muslim-American soldier to die in Iraq and as a clear example of how Muslims are well integrated into the American society. I was very surprised to see a man with a determined voice pulling out of its pocket a Constitution and offering it to Donald Trump. During those days, Donald Trump was capturing the attention of his electorate with the Muslim ban that aimed to forbid Muslims from several countries to enter the American soil. So many famous people tried to oppose this opinion by offering their support. In the following days, I remember well how Khizr was accused by Trump of representing a male-dominated Muslim society. He accused Khizr of having dominated the whole two-minute speech because Ghazala didn’t pronounce any word.
Now I had the opportunity to read this book and I had no doubt that it would have been a great one. “An American family” is not only an autobiographical book but it’s also a kind of booklet full of advices and examples given by an experienced man that worked hard during all his life to build his own family. Khizr is a man that came from Pakistan and that worked first in Dubai and then in the United Stated. He graduated from Lahore and then Harvard, because he thought no man is complete until is education is complete. He raised his family according to the values that are so well-written in the American Constitution. He admired the United States as a country where everyone was accepted, where diversity was seen as a matter of strength. He suffered the loss of his son, Humayun that was killed during the Operation Freedom Iraqi but nonetheless he accepted to live in a country that welcomed them as people and not as strangers. Something began to change when Donald Trump’s candidacy became stronger. He was asked by a reporter to give his opinion about Trump’s Muslim Ban. He was aware that among the Muslim Community there was a kind of hidden hatred against America and that it was necessary to eradicate all those enemies that were not only killing innocent people all over the world but also giving a bad impression of all the Muslim community. That made him a clear emblem of a Muslim man that is well integrated in the American society and that loves the values and ideals that are defended and backed by the Constitution. Therefore, I think “An American family” is a great book that deserves to be read and reread in all its details because it finally makes clear that Islam is not equal to terrorism, and that diversity is not something to be eliminated but something to preserved. I definitely think that we can always learn something new from those people that belong to a different culture and religion. That’s the kind of world I would like to live in, a multicultural one.

This aptly subtitled memoir of hope and sacrifice, AN AMERICAN FAMILY by Khizr Khan, certainly fits with the news headlines of the last week or so regarding respect for American service men and women.

Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazal, are Gold Star parents, having lost their son, Humayun Khan, in 2004 during the Iraq War. This memoir tells the story of their early days as students in Pakistan, life in Dubai, and eventual move to America – first Houston, then Boston where Khan earned a law degree from Harvard, and then to Virginia where their son had attended college and joined ROTC.

For me, this elegantly written book should be savored – it is very moving and relates an important immigrant story as well as one of painful sacrifice. The New York Times Book Review said AN AMERICAN FAMILY "can teach all of us what real American patriotism looks like."

You can see and hear Khizr Khan speak about why public service is the root of patriotism at this PBS NewsHour link: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/khizr-khan-on-why-public-service-is-the-root-of-patriotism

I began Khizr Khan's memoir with the image of him holding up the constitution at the DNC Convention in my mind. I ended it with the same image, but this time I understood what it meant to him. The constitution of the United States of America isn't just a political document to Mr. Khan, it's a promise. A promise of new beginnings, opportunities, family, and sacrifice. Reading An American Family made me want to be a more appreciative and generous American. I am honored to share citizenship with amazing immigrants like Khizr Khan and his family.

Being an Immigrant myself, this book echoed a lot of my personal emotions and thoughts. There is a certain degree of pride one has when one is finally an American citizen.

This was a wonderful memoir of Khizr Khan’s journey to becoming a US citizen, and his and his family’s lives as US citizens. I would have liked to have seen this book remain apolitical, and instead use it to teach some history, impart wisdom, inspire others, and remind them of the things that we take for granted. Mr. Khan certainly made me take an introspective look at myself.

That being said, the book becomes very political toward the end. Mr. Khan doesn’t hide his antipathy toward Donald Trump. (No, I am not a Trump supporter. But I do feel that we, as a country, need to come together and stop all this crazy in-fighting.) I was a bit confused about his political stance. Did he feel Hillary Clinton was a good candidate? Did he embrace her ideals, morals, values, judgment? Or was he just using the Democratic Convention for his purpose. Did he ever feel the Democratic Party was using him in return?

The book ended so abruptly, I momentarily thought part of it was missing. I was left with so many questions about what happened in the aftermath of his speech. I wanted to know his motivation behind giving the speech.

This was a great book, and even with the strange ending, it is still a very worthwhile read.

This is the back story of Khizr khan. His is the story of a bright individual educated in Pakistan and sought a better life in the United States. He paints a picture of an America that we all love- welcoming, kind, full of opportunity. He raised his sons Muslim and in the tenets of the religion, to respect others and be mindful and charitable.
His son Humayun was killed in battle and following that is asked to speak at the democratic national convention. He is a compelling author, writes prose with a deft hand and took me on a wonderful and eye opening journey. I fully recommend this amazing piece of work and wish Mr. Khan the best of luck with his writing career.

Mr. Khan has a literary gift of expression that conveys the emotional immediacy of his experiences. As ordinary as the incidents of his past appear to be – related through a Pakistani youth, education, marriage, and immigration to the United States – they contain the seeds of an acute awareness and striving to serve others. In passing these sentiments on to his own family, he demonstrates a richness of character, even though it asks of them the ultimate sacrifice, the death of his middle son Humayun as he served in the U.S. military during the Iraq war. Khan’s book touches on the crippling grief that descends on a family with such a loss, but it is also a guidepost for engaging the awareness and striving that matures from these events to higher ends. This is wisdom teaching at its most inspirational.

Stirring memoir. The rise from the bottom in Pakistan to US citizen, Harvard educated raising a beautiful family is remarkable. It is also a bit sad. It isn't a spoiler to mention the death of his son while serving our country. It definitely colors the life of this man. It should affect us all. Every soldier is one of us. Every loss hurts us all. This family has ideals and I enjoyed Mr. Khans story. A good man, father, lawyer and statesman.

Beautifully written memoir by Gold Star Father, Khizr Kahn. His eloquent writing style is easy to read with not one superfluous word throughout the story. His view of America, our Constitution and Bill of Rights, gave me a renewed sense of patriotism. Slave-holding forefathers aside, what is written in our Constitution and Bill of Rights is what we must live by and stand by. I will recommend this book highly and as often as anyone will listen. A must read!

Sometimes it takes an immigrant to articulate what we as natural born citizens take for granted. From his humble beginnings in Pakistan, Mr Khanna tells the endearing store of his family, their immigration to the United States, his son's ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and finally his powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. A worthwhile read for all Americans. Highly recommended.

This is an exceptional short work by Harvard graduate, immigrant, gold star father Mr. Khizr Khan. Mr. Khan has written a moving and poignant book on his family's trials and tribulations from his humble origins in Pakistan, to his success in the United States. Intermixed with the narrative is an appeal to the ideals of the founders of the United States.

This is largely an apolitical work, in spite of Mr. Khan's speech at the Democratic National Convention. While Pakistani politics are often criticized, the only American politician lambasted is President Trump, and even then only briefly, near the end of the final chapter. Mr. Khan speaks often of his admiration for President Reagan and Senator McCain throughout the work. Secretary Clinton mostly receives passing mention near the end of the book when her campaign contacted Mr. Khan.

The meat of the book is the saga of Mr. Khan: from his humble origins in Pakistan, his struggle to get by at the university and court an his faithful wife. Their journey to Dubai, then Texas. Even after making it to the United States Mr. Khan tells of the great lengths he went to so that he could provide for his family.

The most moving part of the book is when he describes raising his sons, and the death of one of those sons, Captain Humayun Khan, in Iraq. He goes from initial denial and grief, to the measures that the family took to preserve Humayun's legacy.

The final pages of the book describe how he and his family dealt came to the Democratic National Convention, rewriting and rehearsing the speech, and trying to create a concise and moving appeal to the American people.

All in all, Mr. Khan has crafted an excellent work to remind Americans that our hallowed ideals are worth standing up for, fighting for, and, if necessary, dieing for.

Immigrant stories have always appealed to me. My three children are themselves immigrants and every success story which is full of happiness and success brings a lot of happiness to me personally as well as I know it echoes my own wishes for my own children.

This story which propelled one family into prominence through the sad death of their son is no exception. Like most immigrants the Khans were hard working, god fearing, simple folk. The fact that they were Muslim was incidental to the entire issue. That their son was a Muslim who worked in the American forces and was killed in the line of duty is also a fact. That the situation was politicized for someone's gain is shameful.

The title of the book says it all. The Khans brought up their sons the American way, with strong beliefs in the power of justice and equality for all. The parents were strong supportive parents in no way radicalized or partial towards a single group of people. The story of their lives was of huge interest and the way the story unfolds is beautiful.

Mr. Khan Snr spoke up for what he felt was right and he was pilloried and his family was reviled for that. He must be admired that he still believes in what he said and stands up for what is right. From very humble beginnings in Pakistan to Harvard is no easy feat. He and his wife also brought up their children with very ethical and moral understandings and the memoir is a testimony to that.

I loved this book and the story of the Khans.

Goodreads review published on 2/10/2017. Amazon is not permitting reviews as yet. Pubished on my blog on 26/10/2017. Also linked to my FB page.

A beautifully written story about humble beginnings of Khizr Khan, the son of two farmers from Pakistan. A story about the struggles a person goes through to live a better life. Makes one wonder how the things we take for granted can drastically alter someone's life for better. Lovely little book filled with life lessons and words of wisdom. Highly recommended for everyone!

Dr. Khan was taught by her grandfather through simple one sentence stories but the values taught guided his entire life. He overcame poverty through sheer determination and perseverance. He was devoted to his family and worked incredibly hard to give them a home in the America he loved. He raised his sons to have integrity and courage and lost one of his sons who valiantly lived his values. Who should read this book? Anyone needing inspiration to do what it takes to become educated, anyone who tends to criticize and fails to appreciate the bounties this nation provides, and anyone who loves their family and wants the BEST for them.

Khizr Khan is a gifted memoirist and his family's American life is a revelation! Unfortunately, it also illuminates how model minority myths will never keep us safe from white supremacist harm.