Call Me American: A Memoir by Abdi Nor Iftin

From the war-torn streets of Mogadishu to a new life in America, this remarkable memoir traces one man’s extraordinary journey of survival, hope, and transformation. Abdi Nor Iftin grew up during Somalia’s devastating civil war, finding escape and solace in American action films that flickered on screens in his neighborhood. Those movies became more than entertainment—they were windows into a world of possibility that seemed impossibly distant.

As violence engulfed his homeland, Iftin clung to his dream of reaching America. His path was anything but straightforward: years spent navigating danger, a miraculous visa lottery win, and the courage to leave everything familiar behind. Call Me American is both a gripping survival story and an intimate portrait of what it means to be caught between worlds—to carry the weight of where you’re from while reaching desperately toward where you hope to go.

What makes this memoir particularly powerful is Iftin’s voice: honest, observant, and deeply human. He writes with the clear-eyed perspective of someone who has seen humanity at its worst and its best, never losing sight of the small moments of kindness that sustained him. His story resonates with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, anyone who has ever dared to reimagine their life.

Perfect for readers drawn to immigrant narratives, contemporary memoirs, and stories of resilience, this book offers a deeply personal window into the refugee experience and the complex, beautiful reality of becoming American.