In this book, Mr. Alwi demonstrates the power of one individual's commitment to building bridges between two cultures. His e-mail exchanges with his students show how woefully ignorant young Americans are of Islam, and how much their negative impressions can change through exposure to sympathetic, accessible Muslim intellectuals like Mr. Alwi. Their lack of knowledge suggests that American government should spend at least as much time educating its own population about Islam as it does in public relations efforts directed at Muslim communities abroad.