The Terminal Man: Sir Alfred Mehran

Sir Alfred and belongings at Charles de Gaulle.

I recently finished The Terminal Man, an autobiography by Sir Alfred Mehran also known as Mehran Karimi Nasseri. In case you're not familiar with the name, Alfred is perhaps the most famous homeless man in history. He lived in Terminal One of Charles De Gaulle airport for approximately sixteen years, starting in 1988.

The autobiography itself was unique in the way that language was used. Alfred has a nack for using repetition for emphasis and for explaining some things in more detail than would otherwise be required.

Of all the homeless people I have met in my lifetime, it was encouraging to read this autobiography. For once, someone wasn't asking for money. In fact, on multiple occasions, people offered to send him money to help but he refused - he wasn't taking money from anyone. Food, on the other hand, was the only exception. Food and paper, that is. He kept a journal every day for his stay at Charles de Gaulle in France. The autobiography hardly contains a fraction of those entries.

Learning the background of this man and how he came to be stuck in the airport is a story you yourself should discover. Though this isn't as fast-paced as you might like, read it with respect remembering that the author lived sixteen years on a bench and then brought this perspective to you. You'll be as fascinated as I was to learn how Alfred's home went from nothing to becoming a bench at an airport.

It is my understanding that Steven Spielberg has never officially announced that The Terminal was based on Alfred's life but he did, in fact, pay Alfred $300,000 for rights to Alfred's life story prior to production of The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Therefore, it is my opinion after having read the autobiography and having seen the film that The Terminal is based on the situation of Sir Alfred Mehran.

If you've seen the movie and want to learn more about where the idea came from, read this book. You're sure to finish the last page with a new perspective on government, life and appreciation for the simple things.