People Like Us (book)

People Like Us, published in 2007, is a book authored by Muslim Australian academic, musician and former commercial lawyer Waleed Aly.

Synopsis

The text highlights the egocentricism and the "endless misunderstanding and mutual, cross civilisational ignorance" that - according to the author - pervade contemporary Islam-related attitudes and discourse. In the process it discusses issues including the hijab, jihad, fundamentalism, radicalism, and secularism.

Chapters

1. A Danish snapshot

2. How did we get here?

3. Don't call me a moderate!
4. Save our secular souls

5. Women as a battlefield

6. The war on jihad

7. What's so medieval about al-Qa'ida?

8. Reformists, Reformation and Renaissance

9. Seeking the human

In the media

The book was discussed in detail in Ray Cassin's article Renaissance Man, published in the Age newspaper.

Awards

People Like Us was shortlisted for several awards including the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and Best Newcomer at the 2008 Australian Book Industry Awards.