Review of A Dream For Peace

[Selmuq Voruma]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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As a lover of history, it's crucial to explore and read all available information on a particular event or figure to gain a well-rounded and balanced perspective. When we fail to do so, single stories can quickly spread like wildfire, leading to the propagation of false information and creating gaps and nuances in the narrative.

These gaps and nuances, when left unchecked, can lead to a distorted view of people and events. Unfortunately, this can have severe consequences, such as portraying individuals negatively. Prior to reading A Dream for Peace, my perception of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Côte d'Ivoire was based on a single story that had painted him as an average dictator, much like his peers. Thus, it is important to seek multiple perspectives, as it allows us to gain a more accurate view of historical events and people.

A Dream for Peace is a captivating memoir by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah that provides a comprehensive account of his remarkable life story from childhood through adulthood and into his later years. The book is a detailed and engaging narrative showcasing his outstanding achievements in activism, science, and diplomacy. Through his personal account, the reader is given a glimpse into Dr. Berrah's life, including his travails and accomplishments, which are both inspiring and impressive.

Dr. Ghoulem Berrah was born in Aïn Beïda, an Algerian town under French colonial rule at the time of his birth. As a young boy, he witnessed firsthand the ill-treatment that his people faced at the hands of their colonial masters, which sparked a strong resentment toward the oppressors. The discriminatory treatment that he and other Algerian children received in school reinforced his awareness of the need for his people to achieve independence. Determined to further his education, he earned a scholarship to study in France, where he met other young Africans who shared his vision for a liberated Africa. Meeting like-minded individuals fueled his passion for the freedom of his country and other African nations. These experiences influenced his life's trajectory, and he made critical decisions that shaped his career.

The book also details how he became a diplomat and worked with President Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Côte d'Ivoire, one of Africa's most prominent leaders. The memoir is an inspiring read that showcases the incredible impact that a single individual can have in the fight for freedom, peace, and progress.

This book left me in awe of the author's personality. I can confidently say that he was an outlier in every way. One of the things I like about the book is that it is factual. The facts presented in the book were backed up with pictures, memos, letters, and conversations. All these combined give the book credibility. Aside from learning about the author's life, reading this book gave me a more informed perspective on the struggle for independence in some North African countries. The book helped dispel an ill-informed view of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny that I had before. But the author's detailed explanations of the president's personality and some of his legacies changed my opinion of him.

There is nothing that I dislike about the book. I would have complained about the lengthiness of the book, but it is the very of the book that makes most of the incidents and events described in the book believable. As someone who has read longer memoirs, I cannot complain about the long-windedness of A Dream for Peace. Instead, I can only appreciate the author for putting so much effort into adding details to his narrative. It is also worth mentioning that I am impressed with the book's editing. The editing was excellent and thorough. Therefore, there is no justification for me not to rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to individuals who love reading memoirs. Lovers of African history will also find this book enlightening.

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A Dream For Peace
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[Temi Book]

Dr. Berrah is an exceptional man with great dreams that he achieved during his lifetime. I love that he documented everything he went through. It’s a source of inspiration.

[Uche Active]

The reviewer is really well into history. I loved how the reviewer analysized the book, especially how he gave the lesson of seeking information from different source. Amazing review.

[Favour Chiedozie]

From the review, it's very important to keep history and remarkable things, for the sake of memory, as the author did in his outstanding achievements in activism science and diplomacy.

[Ekaete Bruno]

This man is one of those men that are probably only 5 left in the world. You don't get to see people portray courage like this man did.

[Uche Active]

Wow... indeed, one of the downside of history is that they are often mistold or misinterpreted. I love history so I am looking forward to learning from this book. Amazing review.