Review of A Dream For Peace
Posted: 07 May 2022, 03:45
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
Born in Aïn Beïda in 1938, when Algeria was still under the French, Dr. Berrah experienced the slow eradication of his culture through an education system whose goal was to make the learners forget their heritage. His simple dream then was to become the town’s famous acrobatic rider. Little did he know he would be famous but not in his hometown and certainly not by courageously and skillfully riding on horseback; his fame would stem from fighting for independence, self-governance, and a united world. Till then, the journey would be rough and filled with treacherous players.
A Dream For Peace, a memoir authored by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah, details the ambassador’s childhood, studies in France and the United States, his fight for liberation, and work as a personal assistant of the president of Côte d’Ivoire, President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. I enjoyed reading this memoir, as it offers the right balance between a seasoned diplomat, a world changer, and a master storyteller. In addition to admiring his outstanding achievements, I loved the author’s skillful writing; the book proves that he was a wordsmith.
In a rare show of humility, Dr. Berrah chose to walk in the shadow of President Houphouët-Boigny, portraying him as the country’s premier, just as he was; it is not that the president was not equal to the task, but others would have chosen to focus on themselves in their memoirs. Consequently, this trait mesmerized me throughout the book. At some point, I thought he had decided to focus solely on the president’s achievements. Indeed, it was a testament that he had earned the president’s trust, which saw him trotting the globe to represent the Ivorian head of state.
Like the great men and women who have walked the Earth, not all his dreams for peace and a united world have been fulfilled. Luckily, his firm hope in the youth, coupled with the strong foundation he has laid through his works, working towards a unified world is made possible. As he constantly experienced and even reiterated in his book, it will not be easy, but it is achievable. Above all, he shows that the unification of the world must never neglect the pursuit of unity and love in the family. The concluding chapter entails a clarion call with succinct action points and goals from the author.
I rate this memoir four out of four. It is hard to summarize such a book in a short review but anyone interested in the power of diplomacy and the unity of the planet will enjoy poring over it as they gain more information. I disliked absolutely nothing about it, although I would have preferred a more balanced view of the president. I have not read much about him, and hence I do not know his weaknesses, but I feel this aspect was not given much attention. Nonetheless, this is a matter of personal preference. Readers who prefer dialogue to force in resolving conflicts and on the path toward world peace will immensely appreciate the vision and work of Dr. Berrah.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Born in Aïn Beïda in 1938, when Algeria was still under the French, Dr. Berrah experienced the slow eradication of his culture through an education system whose goal was to make the learners forget their heritage. His simple dream then was to become the town’s famous acrobatic rider. Little did he know he would be famous but not in his hometown and certainly not by courageously and skillfully riding on horseback; his fame would stem from fighting for independence, self-governance, and a united world. Till then, the journey would be rough and filled with treacherous players.
A Dream For Peace, a memoir authored by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah, details the ambassador’s childhood, studies in France and the United States, his fight for liberation, and work as a personal assistant of the president of Côte d’Ivoire, President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. I enjoyed reading this memoir, as it offers the right balance between a seasoned diplomat, a world changer, and a master storyteller. In addition to admiring his outstanding achievements, I loved the author’s skillful writing; the book proves that he was a wordsmith.
In a rare show of humility, Dr. Berrah chose to walk in the shadow of President Houphouët-Boigny, portraying him as the country’s premier, just as he was; it is not that the president was not equal to the task, but others would have chosen to focus on themselves in their memoirs. Consequently, this trait mesmerized me throughout the book. At some point, I thought he had decided to focus solely on the president’s achievements. Indeed, it was a testament that he had earned the president’s trust, which saw him trotting the globe to represent the Ivorian head of state.
Like the great men and women who have walked the Earth, not all his dreams for peace and a united world have been fulfilled. Luckily, his firm hope in the youth, coupled with the strong foundation he has laid through his works, working towards a unified world is made possible. As he constantly experienced and even reiterated in his book, it will not be easy, but it is achievable. Above all, he shows that the unification of the world must never neglect the pursuit of unity and love in the family. The concluding chapter entails a clarion call with succinct action points and goals from the author.
I rate this memoir four out of four. It is hard to summarize such a book in a short review but anyone interested in the power of diplomacy and the unity of the planet will enjoy poring over it as they gain more information. I disliked absolutely nothing about it, although I would have preferred a more balanced view of the president. I have not read much about him, and hence I do not know his weaknesses, but I feel this aspect was not given much attention. Nonetheless, this is a matter of personal preference. Readers who prefer dialogue to force in resolving conflicts and on the path toward world peace will immensely appreciate the vision and work of Dr. Berrah.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon