Review of A Dream For Peace
Posted: 23 Aug 2022, 16:55
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
A Dream for Peace is a 632-page memoir by the exceptional Dr. Ghoulem Berrah. This book records all his political activities, education, activism, and personal life.
His interest in activism was born out of the need to liberate his country, Algeria, from French rule. French colonizers did not allow native Algerians to relax and enjoy the peace of their home and environment. Although Dr. Berrah was a medical student, he still nursed the desire to see an independent Algeria. His activism activities started when he got to the university, and he remained steadfast from then on. He was not just dedicated to the good of Algeria but Africa in general. His activist activities extended to Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, and other places. He met and worked with important and famous people.
Although a Muslim, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah respected the Christian faith without prejudice. He even married a Catholic. His free spirit toward everyone, irrespective of religion or race, is commendable. He is an educationist and a revolutionary. Even with a language barrier, he persevered in his studies and made a notable discovery in science. I admire his fight for a liberated Algeria. His arrest and prison time did not stop him.
One of the things I loved about this book was the information and knowledge I gained from reading it. There were so many things I learned. One is about the effect of China's population control from the citizens' point of view. According to the author, "The Chinese government had instituted a law banning couples from having more than one child. Hence, those who did not use contraceptives found themselves aborting baby girls until a boy was born. " At that point, I felt a lot of pity for these people. Going through several abortions couldn't be easy. However, good things come at a cost. China was already overpopulated; without the ban, life would have been worse for them.
I love the detailed approach in which the author describes things. For example, when he wanted to explain the dressing pattern of women in his town, one could almost see the clothes physically. Yes, his explanatory power was that good. On the other hand, this book was long, and I thought I would get tired of his ordeals. However, that was not the case. The author actually has an interesting, action-filled, and productive life. He is such a selfless man and a hero. For the above reasons, I am rating A Dream for Peace 4 out of 4 stars. The only negative aspect of this book is that it is a long read. It was, however, worth every bit of my time and did not affect my rating at all. I also found a few minor errors that did not affect the rating either.
One will find many historical events in this book, along with many heroes. Because of this, I will recommend this book to history lovers, lovers of politics, and activists. The life of Dr. Berrah is one worthy of study and emulation. Muslim readers would appreciate this book too. The author himself is a Muslim, and he made reference to his religious culture in the book. Therefore, I feel that Muslim readers will relate more to it.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Dream for Peace is a 632-page memoir by the exceptional Dr. Ghoulem Berrah. This book records all his political activities, education, activism, and personal life.
His interest in activism was born out of the need to liberate his country, Algeria, from French rule. French colonizers did not allow native Algerians to relax and enjoy the peace of their home and environment. Although Dr. Berrah was a medical student, he still nursed the desire to see an independent Algeria. His activism activities started when he got to the university, and he remained steadfast from then on. He was not just dedicated to the good of Algeria but Africa in general. His activist activities extended to Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, and other places. He met and worked with important and famous people.
Although a Muslim, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah respected the Christian faith without prejudice. He even married a Catholic. His free spirit toward everyone, irrespective of religion or race, is commendable. He is an educationist and a revolutionary. Even with a language barrier, he persevered in his studies and made a notable discovery in science. I admire his fight for a liberated Algeria. His arrest and prison time did not stop him.
One of the things I loved about this book was the information and knowledge I gained from reading it. There were so many things I learned. One is about the effect of China's population control from the citizens' point of view. According to the author, "The Chinese government had instituted a law banning couples from having more than one child. Hence, those who did not use contraceptives found themselves aborting baby girls until a boy was born. " At that point, I felt a lot of pity for these people. Going through several abortions couldn't be easy. However, good things come at a cost. China was already overpopulated; without the ban, life would have been worse for them.
I love the detailed approach in which the author describes things. For example, when he wanted to explain the dressing pattern of women in his town, one could almost see the clothes physically. Yes, his explanatory power was that good. On the other hand, this book was long, and I thought I would get tired of his ordeals. However, that was not the case. The author actually has an interesting, action-filled, and productive life. He is such a selfless man and a hero. For the above reasons, I am rating A Dream for Peace 4 out of 4 stars. The only negative aspect of this book is that it is a long read. It was, however, worth every bit of my time and did not affect my rating at all. I also found a few minor errors that did not affect the rating either.
One will find many historical events in this book, along with many heroes. Because of this, I will recommend this book to history lovers, lovers of politics, and activists. The life of Dr. Berrah is one worthy of study and emulation. Muslim readers would appreciate this book too. The author himself is a Muslim, and he made reference to his religious culture in the book. Therefore, I feel that Muslim readers will relate more to it.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon