The second book by Anıl Sural, a journalist who has worked in the United States for many years, brings together the stories of Turkish people whose achievements have distinguished them in fields ranging from science and business to sport and public service. Turks Who Left Their Mark on America has now been published, and its first signing event drew a large turnout at D&R Kanyon in Istanbul.
Journalist and author Anıl Sural has covered developments at the heart of American politics from Washington for many years, including the White House, the US Department of State, the Pentagon and Congress. He has now brought together in a book the Turkish success stories he witnessed over the years.
Sural's second book, Turks Who Left Their Mark on America, tells the lives, struggles and journeys to success of Turkish people who have achieved distinction in different fields across the United States.
The book features well-known figures including Nobel Prize-winning scientist Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar; Eren Özmen, a co-founder of Sierra Nevada Corporation and one of the leading businesspeople in the United States; NBA star Alperen Şengün; and former Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent. It also presents the stories of other Turkish people who have left their mark in a wide range of fields.
Among those featured are Lieutenant Colonel and attorney Erhan Bedestani, who serves at the Pentagon; Ergün Kırlıkovalı, a prominent long-standing figure in the Turkish-American community; Egemen Aydın of the New York Police Department; Emre Vatansever, a coach in the WNBA; and Ercan Kara, one of the Turkish footballers to have lifted a trophy in the United States.
The foreword was written by Ceyhun “Jay” Karahan, a Turkish-American judge who served in the US legal system for many years and won election four times. His family's story also stands out as one of the remarkable life journeys extending from Türkiye to the United States.
The book's first signing event was held at D&R Kanyon in Istanbul. Long queues formed as readers showed strong interest throughout the event, which lasted around three hours. Recalling that, early in his journalism career, he used to cover reports about famous authors holding signing events at D&R Kanyon, Sural said: “When I was just starting out in the profession, we would see reports about famous authors' signing events at D&R Kanyon. It was a dream for us. Thankfully, long queues formed today at the first event for our second book. I sincerely thank everyone who stayed with us for around three hours. I am so glad they came and that we shared this happiness together.”
A record of the Turkish community in America
Turks Who Left Their Mark on America goes beyond a collection of profiles of successful individuals. It also traces migration from Türkiye to the United States and the transformation of the Turkish-American community over the years.
Bringing together people from different generations—from scientists and entrepreneurs to athletes, legal professionals and public servants—the book aims to pass the mark left by Turkish people in America on to future generations.