Review of A Dream For Peace
-
LS Daniyal
- Posts: 270
- Joined: 03 Oct 2020, 04:04
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 36
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ls-daniyal.html
- Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
Review of A Dream For Peace
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
Dr. Ghoulem Berrah's autobiography, A Dream For Peace, details his life from birth to death. The values he had been taught and upheld as a child never left him; rather, they developed with him. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was raised by his mother with the utmost significance of education (both Islamic and Western) at the forefront of his life. He was born in Ain Beida, Algeria. In elementary school, he was quick to pick up the discrepancies in the Algerian curriculum. There was almost no information regarding Algerian history, despite French history being taught religiously. This becomes a starting point in his fight for Algeria’s Independence from France. After completing his high school education, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah gets an opportunity to study medicine in France. His exposure to overt prejudice against his fellow Algerians during his time in college led him down the path of political activism. This is the story of a man who was an activist in Algeria and France, a resistance fighter in Morocco, a professor in America, and a special advisor in Cote d’Ivoire. A life such as this is definitely worthy of a memoir.
A Dream For Peace was an eye-opening read. It gave a vivid insight into the background happenings of issues that make the news. It showed how the leaders that make or break a country are just as human as the everyday man. This is something I think people tend to forget. What I liked most about the book, apart from reading about history from an intimate point of view, was how descriptive the author was. His descriptions of his hometown, its natural disposition, the type of people living there, their culture, and motivations were so precise I felt like I was transported there. The author's emotions for the topic of his writings were evident. The way he wrote about them, especially his mother, his wife, and his hometown, showed me how much he loved them. It was clear that he detested racism, colonialism, and dishonesty.
The things I did not enjoy about this book pale in comparison to what I did. I wished the author had been specific about the timeline of events. This made the book a bit complex to comprehend. Although it is a memoir, the length of the book was partly caused by the author's tendency to overly elaborate on his points, which ironically caused me to lose focus.
Having said that, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It seemed exceptionally well-edited, as I found no spelling or grammar errors. It was educative, thought-provoking, and positive. The epilogue, which served as a letter to Africa, completed the book's journey. The book's pleasant ending resulted from the author delegating the youth's task of peace.
I recommend this book to readers looking for a new perspective on history. I believe readers interested in President Houphouet-Boigny (the author’s father-like figure) will benefit from this book. However, there are descriptions of war in this book, as well as a brief description of PTSD. A Dream For Peace proceeds will be donated to the Dr. Ghoulem Berrah Interfaith Center and other charitable causes.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Dr. Ghoulem Berrah's autobiography, A Dream For Peace, details his life from birth to death. The values he had been taught and upheld as a child never left him; rather, they developed with him. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was raised by his mother with the utmost significance of education (both Islamic and Western) at the forefront of his life. He was born in Ain Beida, Algeria. In elementary school, he was quick to pick up the discrepancies in the Algerian curriculum. There was almost no information regarding Algerian history, despite French history being taught religiously. This becomes a starting point in his fight for Algeria’s Independence from France. After completing his high school education, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah gets an opportunity to study medicine in France. His exposure to overt prejudice against his fellow Algerians during his time in college led him down the path of political activism. This is the story of a man who was an activist in Algeria and France, a resistance fighter in Morocco, a professor in America, and a special advisor in Cote d’Ivoire. A life such as this is definitely worthy of a memoir.
A Dream For Peace was an eye-opening read. It gave a vivid insight into the background happenings of issues that make the news. It showed how the leaders that make or break a country are just as human as the everyday man. This is something I think people tend to forget. What I liked most about the book, apart from reading about history from an intimate point of view, was how descriptive the author was. His descriptions of his hometown, its natural disposition, the type of people living there, their culture, and motivations were so precise I felt like I was transported there. The author's emotions for the topic of his writings were evident. The way he wrote about them, especially his mother, his wife, and his hometown, showed me how much he loved them. It was clear that he detested racism, colonialism, and dishonesty.
The things I did not enjoy about this book pale in comparison to what I did. I wished the author had been specific about the timeline of events. This made the book a bit complex to comprehend. Although it is a memoir, the length of the book was partly caused by the author's tendency to overly elaborate on his points, which ironically caused me to lose focus.
Having said that, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It seemed exceptionally well-edited, as I found no spelling or grammar errors. It was educative, thought-provoking, and positive. The epilogue, which served as a letter to Africa, completed the book's journey. The book's pleasant ending resulted from the author delegating the youth's task of peace.
I recommend this book to readers looking for a new perspective on history. I believe readers interested in President Houphouet-Boigny (the author’s father-like figure) will benefit from this book. However, there are descriptions of war in this book, as well as a brief description of PTSD. A Dream For Peace proceeds will be donated to the Dr. Ghoulem Berrah Interfaith Center and other charitable causes.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Today's me is better than yesterday's me.
Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
