Book and Story

I was six years old the morning a rocket hit my bedroom. I wasn’t in it.

I landed in New York City on September 24, 1983, a six-year-old refugee from Afghanistan. Nearly 120 million people are displaced right now.

Warrior. Builder. From the Graveyard of Empires to the Empire State.

Blackhawks to boardrooms.

Graveyard Empire book cover: a raised hand against a mountain sunrise

Read the words

Graveyard Empire

More Than A Number. More Than My Circumstance.

Out now in hardcover. It took two years to write. Proceeds from the sale of this book sustain the Future Innovators Program (FIP) in partnership with Founder Institute.

For classrooms and reading groups

Bring the book to your class

Faculty and group copies for classrooms and reading groups.

How it works

One short form

Tell us your course or group and when you start. We reply by email.

Feel the words

“Take Me As #IAM”

The song that came out of the book. By Khaled.

Take Me As #IAM, official book theme song, cover art
Dramatization: a gloved hand holding documents on a dirt road at night
Includes AI visualization

Live the words · #IAM Studios

Human-made. AI-enhanced.

A docuseries in development. Targeting Aspen Filmfest 2027.

Follow the build: @iamstudioshq

Future Innovators Program

Builders, not a burden

An online incubator for displaced founders around the world, run with the Founder Institute.

Hope

No one wakes up wanting to be a refugee

Whatever your circumstance, always keep hope alive.

Pick up the pen. Write your story. Your narrative, your journey.