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In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong Paperback – March 1, 2012

by Amin Maalouf (Author), Barbara Bray (Translator)
4.5 out of 5 stars 140 ratings
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“Makes for compelling reading in America today.”—New York Times Book Review.

“I want to try and understand why so many people commit crimes in the name of identity,” writes Amin Maalouf. Identity is the crucible out of which we come: our background, our race, our gender, our tribal affiliations, our religion (or lack thereof), all go into making up who we are. All too often, however, the notion of identity—personal, religious, ethnic, or national—has given rise to heated passions and even massive crimes.

Moving across the world’s history, faiths, and politics, he argues against an oversimplified and hostile interpretation of the concept. He cogently and persuasively examines identity in the context of the modern world, where it can be viewed as both glory and poison. Evident here are the dangers of using identity as a protective—and therefore aggressive—mechanism, the root of racial, geographical, and colonialist subjugation throughout history.

Maalouf contends that many of us would reject our inherited conceptions of identity, to which we cling through habit, if only we examined them more closely. The future of society depends on accepting all identities, while recognizing our individualism.
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Arcade
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1611453240
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1611453249
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Speaks from the depth of a powerful intellect.” (Times (London))

“Maalouf is a thoughtful, humane and passionate interlocutor.” (The New York Times Book Review)

About the Author

Amin Maalouf has written seven novels, including The Gardens of Light, Leo Africanus, and The Rock of Tanios, which won the Goncourt Prize in 1993. He is the former director of the leading Beirut newspaper an-Nahar. He lives in Paris.

Barbara Bray has twice won the Scott Moncrief Prize for her translations, as well as the French-American Foundation Prize. She has collaborated with Harold Pinter and Joseph Losey on a film adaptation of Proust’s A la recherche du temps perdu. She passed away in 2010.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arcade
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2012
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1611453240
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611453249
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 140 ratings

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Amin Maalouf

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
140 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's pacing positive, with one noting it provides an excellent base for analysis and discussion. The book effectively presents concepts about identity, and one customer mentions it provides insight into human and societal prejudices.

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PacingIdentity
8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, finding it simple and relevant, with one customer describing it as a well-laid out examination that serves as an excellent base for analysis and discussion.

"...This pre-9/11 book remains fresh and important today...." Read more

"...Her family nucleus is complete and coherent after all her trials and tribulation. Shiny example of what ought to be...." Read more

"...Amim Maalouf writes in a simple and clear way and shares his personal experiences on how ethnocentrism has affected his life...." Read more

"A clear and well laid out examination of the human need to establish a group identity, the problems it creates..." Read more

4 customers mention "Identity"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book presents concepts about identity, with one customer noting how it provides insight into human and societal prejudices.

"Maalouf presents concepts about identity that are relevant and ring true...." Read more

"Maalouf provides insight into human and societal prejudices which are born out a singled-out identity of a person. A wonderful read!" Read more

"Ethnocentrism..." Read more

"Identity in the Modern World!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kim Burdick
    5.0 out of 5 stars in the Name of Identity
    Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2011
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    .

    This pre-9/11 book remains fresh and important today. Maalouf, who is Lebanese by birth and French by citizenship, examines the importance of how both individuals and groups identify themselves in the modern world. Maalouf is both Arab and Christian, and his family was Christian long before Christianity made its way to the Western world.

    To pin people in boxes based on their ethnicity or on their religion is both foolish and dangerous. Maalouf captures this thought succinctly, stating: "...it is often the way we look at other people that imprisons them within their own narrower allegiances. And it is also the way we look at them that may set the, free." [pg 22] "People often see themselves in terms of whichever one of their allegiances is most under attack." [pg 26]

    One of the most fascinating points Maalouf makes is that in this world of rapid global communication we are living in an age of both harmony and dissonance. As the peoples of the world become more and more alike, it is a natural human reaction to cling to, and insist upon, those elements of our culture that make us special and unique. "Mistrust," he says, "is undoubtedly one of the keywords of our age."

    He reminds us that "the future is not written down anywhere. The future will be what we make it." [pg 98] His hope for the world, and for his family, is that someday his grandson will marvel that "in his grandfather's day such things still needed to be said." [pg 164].

    This a thoughtful and well-written book that should be required reading in every sociology and World History course, and a top choice among thinking people everywhere.

    Kim Burdick
    Stanton, DE
    6 people found this helpful
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  • George F. Simons
    5.0 out of 5 stars Respect or genocide?
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    How does globalization change our perspective of who we are and what we want? In the words of Amin Maalouf…

    “In fact, we are all infinitely closer to our contemporaries than to our ancestors... I have a lot more in common with a passerby picked from the streets of Prague, Seoul or San Francisco, than I do with my own great-grandfather...in my moral framework, my styles of thinking.”

    This is but one of many short paragraphs in a book that forcefully challenges our thinking about how we decide who we are as individuals and groups and why we behave toward each other as we do. What is the relationship of our cultural specialness to what we have in common? The book is full of cultural street sense which foster embracing diversity, engendering respect and helping us face our fears about it, for example, Maalouf points out that,

    “The more an immigrant feels his culture of origin respected, the more he will open himself to the culture that has received him.”

    How do we respect our cultures and their legitimate aspirations and find the balance between culturally diverse richness that is spread by today’s mobility and globalization and the banal sameness that our media and thin thinking seem to engender instead? There is not an easy answer, but In the Name of Identity makes it possible for us to see and work with the dilemma in ourselves and in our society.

    Amin Maalouf is certainly a seer. After 9/11 it is hard to believe that this book was written before those events. The author asserts that, “In each of us there exists a Mr Hyde, and our most important task is to prevent those conditions from coming together that bring the monster out.” Unfortunately they have come together and we are now faced with its terror on a day-to-day basis. Mr Hyde is now on the loose like never before. This author’s wisdom about how we use our identities to define ourselves against each other in deadly ways may lead us to insights to help contain the monster of our own reactions to the unfamiliar in each other as well as make wise choices about diversity in our organizations and public policies.

    I would have to rank In the Name of Identity in the top five books that I have read in the last decade. It is also available as:

    Les Identités meurtrières , Le livre de poche, Paris

    Mörderische Identitäten, Taschenbuch, Suhrkamp.

    Les identitats que maten. Per una mundialització que respecti la diversitat. Barcelona: Edicions La Campana

    Identitades asesinas. Alianza Editorial, Madrid

    As identidades assassinas, Lisboa, Ed. Difel, 2000

    L'identità, Ed. Bompiani, Cortina (Torino)
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Kofi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Dr. Morgan was able to weave her story effectively without the dense shibboleth of her scholarship.
    Her family nucleus is complete and coherent after all her trials and tribulation. Shiny example of what ought to be.

    I really liked the very first pre introduction page . Like a nice jazz introductory tease , it kept me captivated.

    Navigating her conversational style of penmanship, I will say it was obvious to me she was always cerebral, carries the inherent tools for success in addition to her sense of “true north”. Inspirational read!
    Helpful
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  • Juan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ethnocentrism
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    In The Name Of Identity is a great short book for you if you are interested in learning about ethnocentrism and are into social studies and social psychology. Amim Maalouf writes in a simple and clear way and shares his personal experiences on how ethnocentrism has affected his life. Origins, culture, traditions, and religious believes are part of our identity. In this modern world of ours, these are very often subject to challenge from others. Here is a first hand account on how to understand those challenges, how to feel about them and, moreover, what an appropriate response one can give.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Andorrac
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent examination of the human tendency to violence
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A clear and well laid out examination of the human need to establish a group identity, the problems it creates (using real life modern examples like Yugoslavia and Rwanda), along with encouragement for overcoming the poisonous atmosphere created by "us vs. them" thinking. Very timely all the time, unfortunately, but especially timely as I compose this, the day after the Charleston church massacre.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Belal
    4.0 out of 5 stars Identity in the Modern World!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book was interesting because it delves into how identity plays a critical role in shaping religious, ethnic and sectarian violence in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans.
    This book is a must for people to reconcile their ethnic and religious differences.
    Amin Maalouf having a diverse background linguistically and religiously shows how it affect him as a person.
    Good book that delves into a interesting topic.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Nosheen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on December 12, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Answers many unasked questions about the concept of identity.
    Report
  • walid333
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book that will change your concept of identity.
    Reviewed in France on January 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    so logic, so simple. you even wonder how you did not think of it till now.
    if you are Christian Arab, Jewish Iranian, Cambogian French or fed up of being German or Greek, read it.
    Report
  • MR DAVID G DEAKIN
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I don't think I received this item
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A conclusion found wanting.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The considerations presented in the first part of this short book are thought-provoking. However I did not give the book five stars as the concluding chapter was very weak on its suggested solutions to the problems that face our modern world in the form of a cruel terrorism whose protagonists owe allegiance to neither nation, ethnicity, religion nor even ideology. Clearly what we have in the disappointingly failed Arab Spring especially as it is being played out in Iraq-Syria and Libya does not have a quick fix. The 'International Community' or UNO clearly has a responsibility to the people in the conflict areas but also to those fleeing from them. In both failure is more obvious than success. Strategies must not be based on political expediency but a fundamentally moral/ethical stance that builds on the human and humane qualities present in all nations. That strategy was not developed in any realistic way by Amin Maalouf.
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  • caromawer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Islam more tolerant than Christianity - historically anyway
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great on how fluid history is - and how Islam has more history of tolerance than Christianity does.
    But ways forward seem too idealistic to me.
    And to ignore economic, social and educational inequalities.
    Report