My Name Is Not Harry - by Haroon Siddiqui (Paperback)

About the Book

Haroon Siddiqui, veteran Toronto Star editor, recounts his years on the front lines of reporting on global war and local politics, a period that parallels the rise of racist xenophobia and Islamophobia.

Book Synopsis

"A distinctive and insightful perspective on being Muslim in the post-9/11 world." -- Charles Taylor

Veteran Toronto Star editor Haroon Siddiqui, brown and Muslim, has spent a life on the media front lines, covering conflicts both global and local, and tracked rising xenophobia.

Canada has no official culture. It follows that there's no standard way of being Canadian, beyond obeying the law. Toronto Star editor Haroon Siddiqui shows how Canada let him succeed on his own terms.

Coming from India in 1967, he didn't do in Rome as some Romans expected him to. He refused to forget his past. He didn't change his name, didn't dilute his dignity, didn't compromise his conscience or his dissident views. Championed immigration and multiculturalism when that was not popular. Upbraided media colleagues for being white-centric, Orientalist. Pioneered cross-cultural journalism, bridging divided communities. Insisted it was un-Canadian to use free speech as a licence for hate speech. Opposed the limitless American war on terror, the invasion of Iraq, the long war on Afghanistan. Exposed how liberals could also be narrow-minded and nasty.

Here he shares such journalistic forays into the corridors of power, war zones, and cultural minefields. He also takes the reader along his personal journey from British colonial India to the evolution of Canada as the only Western nation where skin colour is no longer a fault line.

From the Back Cover

Canada has no official culture. It follows that there's no standard way of being Canadian, beyond obeying the law. Toronto Star editor Haroon Siddiqui shows how Canada let him succeed on his own terms.

Coming from India in 1967, he didn't do in Rome as some Romans expected him to. He refused to forget his past. He didn't change his name, didn't dilute his dignity, didn't compromise his conscience or his dissident views. Championed immigration and multiculturalism when that was not popular. Upbraided media colleagues for being white-centric, Orientalist. Pioneered cross-cultural journalism, bridging divided communities. Insisted it was un-Canadian to use free speech as a licence for hate speech. Opposed the limitless American war on terror, the invasion of Iraq, the long war on Afghanistan. Exposed how liberals could also be narrow-minded and nasty.

Here he shares such journalistic forays into the corridors of power, war zones, and cultural minefields. He also takes the reader along his personal journey from British colonial India to the evolution of Canada as the only Western nation where skin colour is no longer a fault line.

Review Quotes

Haroon's is a true Canadian story, from salesperson at Simpson's to Editorial Page Editor of Canada's largest newspaper. His memoir is a thoughtful and balanced review of contemporary Canada. Haroon brings us closer to the truth - and to the fundamental values enshrined in our Charter of Rights.-- "Paul Cavalluzzo, constitutional lawyer and lead counsel to the Maher Arar Commission (2004-06)"

This is a series of books within a book. You begin on any page, and it will draw you in more and more deeply. It turns cliches on their heads. It challenges widely held assumptions. It sparks substantive conversations on Canadian values, ideals and our dynamic, rather than fixed, culture. A rich and candid read from one of our country's most esteemed journalists.-- "Nurjehan Mawani, former chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board, commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada, and His Highness the Aga Khan's diplomatic representative in Afghanistan"

My Name is Not Harry is not your typical immigrant story, and Canadian journalism (and Canada) will forever owe a debt of gratitude to one of Hyderabad, India's, favourite sons.-- "Michael Dan, philanthropist and former neurosurgeon"

The gift of honesty is precious: it radiates through this book. A rich and wonderful read.

-- "Nathalie DesRosiers, principal, Massey College, University of Toronto"

A thoroughly engaging, frank, and insightful memoir by one of the major international journalists of our time.-- "John L. Esposito, distinguished professor, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University"

An outstanding memoir, beautifully written.-- "Dennis O'Connor, former chief justice of Ontario"

Canada is an oasis of multicultural harmony in an increasingly fractious world where the liberal order is in disarray, and isolationism and majoritarianism are ascendant. This book shows how and why Canada is so splendidly different. Haroon Siddiqui is a uniquely Canadian talent. His memoir is as wide-ranging and cross-cultural as his journalism has been -- at once local, national, international-- "Sir Christopher Ondaatje"

Haroon Siddiqui has written a beautiful memoir. It is, of course, his story and a rich, fascinating one at that. But as always with Haroon, when he writes, we learn about ourselves as human beings and as Canadians.-- "Kathleen Wynne, Former Premier of Ontario"

Haroon Siddiqui is among our keenest observers of world politics, not only because of his critical acumen and searing honesty but because he is a global thinker with a cosmopolitan vision.-- "Juan Cole, professor and director, Arab and Muslim American studies, University of Michigan"

This is a love letter to the new Canada that allows its citizens, whether a Harry or a Haroon, to be what they are and what they want to be. Intelligent, controversial, and often brilliant reflections on Canada.-- "John English, professor emeritus and chair of the Canadian International Council"

This is an account of a life of conviction and courage, and a passionate determination to leverage the power and responsibility of journalism to push us to see our faults and encourage us to build a better world.-- "Alex Neves, former secretary general of Amnesty International Canada"

This witty, informative, and unapologetic book is a splendid outcome of his many years of challenging set ways of thinking.-- "Karim H. Karim, chancellor's professor of journalism and communication, Carleton University"

A distinctive and insightful perspective on being Muslim in the post-9/11 world.-- "Charles Taylor, professor emeritus, McGill University"

Witty, informative, and unapologetic.-- "Karim H. Karim, professor, Carleton University"

About the Author

Haroon Siddiqui is editorial page editor emeritus of the Toronto Star, Canada's largest paper, and a senior fellow at Massey College. A member of the Order of Canada, he has covered or supervised coverage of Canada for fifty years through ten prime ministers, and also reported from fifty nations, including his native India. He lives in Toronto.