Review of A Dream For Peace

[Christabel Uzoamaka]

[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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A Dream for Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah is a detailed memoir that gives readers an inside view into the author’s life. Growing up in Algeria, Berrah always knew that he wanted to impact the world. After studying medicine, he decided that his higher calling was to pick up diplomacy. But that was not all there was to Berrah’s life of service. Other feats include serving Ivory Coast in a diplomatic capacity and leading the freedom movement in Algeria. All of Berrah’s adventures, and even some of his misadventures, are chronicled in this book, A Dream for Peace.

One way to describe Dr. Berrah is “well-rounded.” It is no doubt that readers will be inspired by following the writer’s journey over time. By keeping and honoring friends from different backgrounds than his own, Dr. Berrah gained an insightful view of the world. His wife is a Catholic Christian, even though he is a devout Muslim. He also had friends from other religious backgrounds. This holistic open-mindedness that was so evidently part of Berrah’s life found its way into the pages of this book. Berrah used his words in a manner that showed authority and an awareness that he wields power as a leader. I found his style of writing perfectly suited to the inspirational events that had happened to him thus far in life.

However, what was even better was that the author also included his tragedies, which brought his human side to light and made him more relatable. For instance, I found out that the author was once chased by the police for allegedly leading a revolutionist movement against the government of France, where he was studying to be a medical doctor. There were times the author had to be on the run, and there were times he erred as a human being. Seeing such vulnerable sides of the writer made his wins seem even bigger and made me want to celebrate him more for his accomplishments, no matter how little they were.

Another aspect of this book that I appreciated was that the author, because of his diplomatic position and having a front-row seat to several political events, also shared some political inside stories that readers would not have known otherwise. His political tips were priceless and delightfully detailed, and the book received exceptional editing. The photos and documents he included made my reading experience much better. For almost every significant memory he shared, there was a photo to drive the event home.

However, even though the central theme of this book was about maintaining peace, unity, and respect for all people, regardless of political or religious background, I detected an exclusivist tone towards the USSR, which the author incorrectly referred to as Russia (the USSR, now defunct, was made up of other countries than Russia). Nevertheless, my rating is still 5 out of 5 because what I noted is merely subjective. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy memoirs about influential and inspirational people.

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A Dream For Peace
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[Hakeem nuel]

This is a well written review. I learned about the independence of Algeria.

[Cesyao]

Dr. Berrah Ghoulem's storytelling prowess shines in A Dream for Peace, painting a vivid picture of a world yearning for harmony.

[Elvischukwu]

A Dream for Peace challenges conventional thinking and offers a fresh perspective on the interconnectedness of global peace.

[Kelvin Modilim]

Through meticulous research and engaging prose, the book offers a comprehensive account of the events leading up to Algeria's independence, providing valuable insights into the colonial era.

[Adewakun Akinwalere]

This book taught me about Algerians independence and colonialism. it was a worthwhile experience.