In the Name of Identity Book Summary - In the Name of Identity Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

In the Name of Identity summary

Amin Maalouf

Violence and the Need to Belong

3.6 (16 ratings)
12 mins
Table of Contents

    In the Name of Identity
    summarized in 5 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 5

    “Identity” is a deceptive and loaded word that requires close examination.

    How do you define your identity? Do you define yourself by your gender, your nationality, your sexuality, or all three?

    The truth is that it’s no easy question to answer. Identity is a complex concept formed from the various affiliations that make us each unique, such as our religion, job, race, nationality, the people we admire, our hobbies, sexual preferences, etc.

    But such allegiances aren’t fixed, despite what we may think. Over time, we identify more with some and less with others. These changes can happen over years or from one moment to the next when one aspect of our identity comes to the forefront. For example, a wealthy person from a low socioeconomic class might feel a strong working class pride when mingling at a party of people who inherited their wealth.

    While many people’s identities vary from moment to moment, others have much more fixed conceptions about who they are. They might exclusively identify with one affiliation, be it their nation, religion or class, and consider the rest secondary.

    However, creating rigid hierarchies about who we are can be problematic. One danger is demanding that others identify themselves in hierarchies as well, even when things aren’t that simple.

    The author has experienced this imposition first hand. He’s a Lebanese novelist who immigrated to France when he was 27. His first language is Arabic, but he writes in French, and France has now been his home country for 22 years. And, although his roots are Islamic, he is a Christian.

    Often when he has explained his atypical background to someone he is asked, “So deep inside, what do you feel like: French or Lebanese?” The author finds such questions misguided, because a person’s identity isn’t divisible into halves or quarters, or any fractions at all. A person isn’t more one thing than the other, nor does she have many different identities. Rather, identity is the collection of all our characteristics combined together.

    Want to see all full key ideas from In the Name of Identity?

    Key ideas in In the Name of Identity

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is In the Name of Identity about?

    In the Name of Identity (1998) explores the fallacies surrounding the idea of identity. The author uncovers the link between oversimplified, one-dimensional understandings of identity to violent cultural and sociopolitical clashes in the past and present, while arguing that identity and a global community of humankind are both compatible and desirable.

    Best quote from In the Name of Identity

    I am not of their religion, but I too am a man, and I ought to be treated humanely. Mohammed Ali

    —Amin Maalouf
    example alt text

    Who should read In the Name of Identity?

    • Adolescents who feel their identity is not easily categorizable
    • People who feel anxious about the homogenization of culture
    • Any individual who wants to better understand the modern clash of civilizations

    About the Author

    Amin Maalouf is a French-Lebanese novelist who has written seven books, including The Gardens of Light, Leo Africanus and The Rock of Tanios, which was awarded the Goncourt Prize. He was the director of An-Nahar, the leading newspaper in Beirut, and lives in Paris.

    Categories with In the Name of Identity

    Books like In the Name of Identity

    People ❤️ Blinkist
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked

    Start growing with Blinkist now
    26 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    91%
    Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
    *Based on survey data from Blinkist customers
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 5,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial