Wow! What a book! What an amazing very personal true story about one Muslim and one Texan. This should be required reading for all Americans prior to expressing their views left or right on religion, immigration, terrorism, racism.

But, that's not why I read it. I read it to be inspired! I read it to re-learn, by emphatic example, the meaning of the word Forgiveness.

If you're reading this review, no doubt, you already know the synopsis: Texan shoots random Muslim in retaliation for 911 deaths, Texan gets the death sentence, Muslim survives the shooting and pleas for the Texan's life to be spared.

It's a powerful headline, however, you might not think a book would be required to fill in the blanks. You'd be wrong. Fortunately, Anand Giridharadas took the time to carefully and thoroughly research this story. It's positively non-fiction, complete without flowery language, but powerfully descriptive and very literary in a way which brings the readers to the characters in a close up, focused way. Very very readable. Very very powerful.

In our lives, we spend so much time on mindless entertainment (I'm not bashing it -- I love it too), but let's make sure we get some heart/head-growing substance with our media. This book is a great start.

See also WorldWithoutHate.org

Read more Book Reviews by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony.