Not only is Illah Nourbakhsh's Left Turn a crisply written, witty and insightful tale of migration to the United States, it is simultaneously about the possibilities and limits of technology from someone who's curiosity has been as vast as his impact. If the relationship between immigration and technological innovation in America isn't already clear, then let this be the text that renders that relationship canonical.
 

Louis Chude-Sokei
Professor of English, George and Joyce Wein Chair, Boston University
Director of African-American and Black Diaspora Studies

Left Turn is a searching and powerful exploration of what it means to operate in the "in between" spaces of modern America and our changing world. In a memoir that is both deeply personal and accessibly universal, Illah Nourbakhsh describes what it is like to navigate these times as an immigrant, an Iranian-born American, and as a technologist battling the social disequilibrium that his own profession has helped cause. As revealed in this touching account, he is that rare roboticist and computer scientist who is as interested in social dynamics as he is in technology. His exquisite understanding of power, narratives, and what our communities truly thirst for should make this book required reading for anyone trying to bridge the gap between our large institutions and our neighborhoods where community finds its home. If the world feels out of control today, Left Turn offers an unpretentious path through the madness rooted in the simplest and most promising of formulas—seeing and hearing each other in new and more profound ways.
 

Grant Oliphant
CEO, Conrad Prebys Foundation
 

With Iran being a US foe for about 45 years, it is easy to fail to think of the humanity of Iranians. This moving book about an Iranian immigrant to the US reminds the American reader of our shared humanity. Illah Nourbakhsh tells the touching story of a young Iranian boy who immigrated to the US, became a professor of robotics in one of the best computer-science departments in the world, and has decided to dedicate his career not to the betterment of technology, but for the betterment of the world. It is a story that makes me hopeful not only about America but also about the Middle East.
 

Moshe Vardi
University Professor and George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational
Engineering, Rice University

 

I thought I knew and liked Illah, but Left Turn gave me an incredible perspective about what it's like to immigrate to the US, be caught between two cultures, guided by curiosity and an extreme desire to make the world a better place.   Absolutely inspiring!

 

Alan Eustace

 

Turn Left by Illah Nourbakhsh is a heartwarming yet honest reflection on the experience of growing up as a migrant in the United States. Through candid narration, Nourbakhsh shares the complexities of trying to fit into a new culture while striving to preserve his own identity. The book is filled with moments of introspection and decision-making, where the author is driven by the desire to retain his values and create positive outcomes in a world full of challenges. With each "turn left" moment, Nourbakhsh reminds us that we, too, encounter pivotal choices in life, and through perseverance and authenticity, we can overcome obstacles and make meaningful contributions to the world. This beautifully told personal journey serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the impact one can have despite life's difficulties.

 

Prof. Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood

Executive Director

Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University Malaysia

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