Review of A Dream For Peace
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Hlengiwe Dube
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Review of A Dream For Peace
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
Almost all African countries were colonised by other European countries at some point in their history. Britain, France, and Portugal were the most dominant colonisers. That reality wasn’t different for Algeria. It was colonised by France in the early 1800s, and that power generally lasted till the mid-1900s. Needless to say, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was born in a part of the country where the French government still had a strong hold on the existence of Algerians. Algerian citizens were treated differently from their French counterparts. A Dream For Peace begins here to paint us a picture of what inspired Dr. Ghoulem Berrah to become such a fervent politically inclined soul. The book goes through the timeline of his existence, and it tells us the story of how the man eventually became the right-hand man to Côte d'Ivoire's sitting president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
To me, the most impressive aspect of this memoir is its ability to draw the reader into the stories it tells. Many times, I found memoirs to be superficial in their narration style, but this one almost feels like a novel in many parts. It's vivid and intense. I think that that sort of writing is what elevated the book and made it so highly engaging. The author lived quite an extraordinary life, and the writing employed here matched that point. When he wasn’t in the room with the most important people in the world, he was helping Houphouët-Boigny make tough political decisions.
I also loved reading about his romantic conquests. I found the inclusion of such personal stories to be surprising considering that most parts of this book talk about the man in his political and scientific roles. But I enjoyed seeing him in a vulnerable light. The vulnerability is what made him human and relatable. We may not be important politicians, but most of us can relate to heartbreak and romantic love.
This is such a beautiful book. It was written by a man who wanted the best for humanity. It was also edited perfectly. I loved everything I read inside. There's nothing I can highlight as a negative, and that's fitting because I rate this memoir 5 out of 5 stars. I rate it amongst the best memoir I've ever read. It is memorable, too. I think I will remember it for a long time, if not for the rest of my life.
This is the type of memoir that can be enjoyed by people who mainly enjoy politics. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was more than a politician. This book, however, mostly follows his life as a political figure. I also recommend this memoir to people who enjoy memoirs.
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A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Almost all African countries were colonised by other European countries at some point in their history. Britain, France, and Portugal were the most dominant colonisers. That reality wasn’t different for Algeria. It was colonised by France in the early 1800s, and that power generally lasted till the mid-1900s. Needless to say, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was born in a part of the country where the French government still had a strong hold on the existence of Algerians. Algerian citizens were treated differently from their French counterparts. A Dream For Peace begins here to paint us a picture of what inspired Dr. Ghoulem Berrah to become such a fervent politically inclined soul. The book goes through the timeline of his existence, and it tells us the story of how the man eventually became the right-hand man to Côte d'Ivoire's sitting president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
To me, the most impressive aspect of this memoir is its ability to draw the reader into the stories it tells. Many times, I found memoirs to be superficial in their narration style, but this one almost feels like a novel in many parts. It's vivid and intense. I think that that sort of writing is what elevated the book and made it so highly engaging. The author lived quite an extraordinary life, and the writing employed here matched that point. When he wasn’t in the room with the most important people in the world, he was helping Houphouët-Boigny make tough political decisions.
I also loved reading about his romantic conquests. I found the inclusion of such personal stories to be surprising considering that most parts of this book talk about the man in his political and scientific roles. But I enjoyed seeing him in a vulnerable light. The vulnerability is what made him human and relatable. We may not be important politicians, but most of us can relate to heartbreak and romantic love.
This is such a beautiful book. It was written by a man who wanted the best for humanity. It was also edited perfectly. I loved everything I read inside. There's nothing I can highlight as a negative, and that's fitting because I rate this memoir 5 out of 5 stars. I rate it amongst the best memoir I've ever read. It is memorable, too. I think I will remember it for a long time, if not for the rest of my life.
This is the type of memoir that can be enjoyed by people who mainly enjoy politics. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was more than a politician. This book, however, mostly follows his life as a political figure. I also recommend this memoir to people who enjoy memoirs.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K Danenbarger
