Conditional Citizens

On Belonging in America

By: Laila Lalami

Narrated by: Laila Lalami

A New York Times Editors' Choice • Best Book of the Year: Time, NPR, Bookpage, L.A. Times

What does it mean to be American? In this starkly illuminating and impassioned book, Pulitzer Prize­­–finalist Laila Lalami recounts her unlikely journey from Moroccan immigrant to U.S. citizen, using it as a starting point for her exploration of American rights, liberties, and protections.

"Sharp, bracingly clear essays."—Entertainment Weekly

Tapping into history, politics, and literature, she elucidates how accidents of birth—such as national origin, race, and gender—that once determined the boundaries of Americanness still cast their shadows today.

Lalami poignantly illustrates how white supremacy survives through adaptation and legislation, with the result that a caste system is maintained that keeps the modern equivalent of white male landowners at the top of the social hierarchy. Conditional citizens, she argues, are all the people with whom America embraces with one arm and pushes away with the other.

Brilliantly argued and deeply personal, Conditional Citizens weaves together Lalami’s own experiences with explorations of the place of nonwhites in the broader American culture.

Nailed it

Very well explained what conditional citizen means. I feel like I have been living underneath a rock. Lalami explains in many ways how races are marginalized historically and present day. She shares personal experiences as well as statistical data. Makes me wonder why we Americans are so self absorbed. Why don’t we do much more to educate ourselves in becoming better humans?
Very thought provoking.

Blew my mind!

Read if you want to learn about citizenship, if you’ve read Lalami’s other work. So good!

All Americans should read this…

It would help everybody understand our immigration process better and how it feels to be an immigrant here, even after you do everything right and even get your citizenship. This was a really well thought out book that touches on many issues around this subject. Ive read it a few times now!

A must read!

Wow this book packed a punch. Filled with so many truths, and driving home the fact that many in the USA do not have equal treatment as citizens. She goes beyond critique and describes what a world would look like with equality for ALL citizens. Truly a must read book for anyone and everyone!

Well researched and cited essays

Well researched and cited essays on issues that impact all Americans. While this book was published in 2020, these subjects remain just as pertinent today. With many relatable scenarios from her personal life and from current events, I found myself nodding along inserting experiences of myself or people I know. A worthwhile read.