Encyclopedia Muneerica

Abdelrahman Zeitoun is a Syrian American businessman who spent the days after Katrina paddling around New Orleans in a canoe, saving elderly people and feeding stranded pets. His efforts were brought to a halt when he was detained by the Bush administration on suspicion of being a terrorist.

Here is an earlier story about Zeitoun’s exploits. Zeitoun also wrote about his experiences during Katrina and about being detained.

You can see Zeitoun talking about his ordeal here. Eggers, like with his last book, has set up a foundation in Zeitoun’s name where the profits from the book will go to help Katrina’s victims.