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To be honest, I haven't heard of Dr.Ghoulem Berrah before reading this book. So after reading I did my own research on him and found that the outline of his story is very true. He has been a remarkable person in various fields and have been a great asset to the world. But when reading his autobiography, at some occasions I feel that some facts are too good to be true. One such occasion is secretly disturbing a speech of Fidel Castro to prevent the harmful results that might have occurred due to it. This is my very own opinion, and I don't mean any disrespect to the renowned diplomat. But for the sake of discussion, did you get the same feeling when you read this? Do you think that all those things have happened exactly as described?

That's a great point, and good for you for doing some research. I think the memoir is likely based on truth, but I am sure some parts are made up or embellished to make for a more interesting or controversial story. Perhaps in regards to the disruption of Fidel's speech, the author may have added this in or exaggerated parts. If all of the events happened exactly like the author described them, I think we'd be able to find this information with research.

Overall I believe the book. Dr. Berrah's accomplishments were impressive, yet I do believe some were embellished versions. It was as if he had the 'Midas touch' where everything he did was successful (turned to gold)!

Stephanie Elizabeth wrote: ↑02 Feb 2021, 07:04 That's a great point, and good for you for doing some research. I think the memoir is likely based on truth, but I am sure some parts are made up or embellished to make for a more interesting or controversial story. Perhaps in regards to the disruption of Fidel's speech, the author may have added this in or exaggerated parts. If all of the events happened exactly like the author described them, I think we'd be able to find this information with research.

I agree. He was a renowned ambassador, so definitely his diplomatic missions were of higher scale which are enough to be noteworthy. But how he came out from each and every situation by either his own skill or own luck is, as I think, quite an exaggeration of the truth. Maybe he gave a bit of a fictional touch to his memoir

B Creech wrote: ↑02 Feb 2021, 08:09 Overall I believe the book. Dr. Berrah's accomplishments were impressive, yet I do believe some were embellished versions. It was as if he had the 'Midas touch' where everything he did was successful (turned to gold)!

Exactly what I thought. It is quite unusual that everything he got involved, he could complete in a successful manner. We don't know maybe that was the way that actually things happened. But it is quite hard to believe without any other background information or confirmation from a third party

I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased. Therefore, I think it is likely that the author didn't describe everything exactly like the events that occurred and I agree with you when you said that Dr. Berrah might have altered some things when writing this book.

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 13:51 I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased. Therefore, I think it is likely that the author didn't describe everything exactly like the events that occurred and I agree with you when you said that Dr. Berrah might have altered some things when writing this book.

Yea, we become the hero of our own story when we tell it. So, we are tend to either add some exaggeration or make the story more dramatic. Apparently that is what has happened here. But I think that the summary of the story is more or less correct

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 13:51 I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased.

That's what I was thinking as well. Sometimes when we are biased towards something, it becomes very easy to only look at the positive sides of that, and it is not necessarily that we do it on purpose, but that's just how the human brain is wired. I think that's what happened in this case - due to the author's bias, he probably just remembers things in a more exaggerated manner than how they actually happened. I don't think he is hiding things or lying on purpose, but that it is truly the way he remembers those events. Why would he risk lying and then being called out on it?
Also, some people are naturally lucky; just because some events he lived through sound improbable, doesn't mean they are impossible.

Arimart99 wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 22:26

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 13:51 I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased.

That's what I was thinking as well. Sometimes when we are biased towards something, it becomes very easy to only look at the positive sides of that, and it is not necessarily that we do it on purpose, but that's just how the human brain is wired. I think that's what happened in this case - due to the author's bias, he probably just remembers things in a more exaggerated manner than how they actually happened. I don't think he is hiding things or lying on purpose, but that it is truly the way he remembers those events. Why would he risk lying and then being called out on it?
Also, some people are naturally lucky; just because some events he lived through sound improbable, doesn't mean they are impossible.

I agree. Given the nature of his background and the value of his position, he won't lie. But on the other hand, no one will go to the extent of cross checking what he says as well. Maybe what has happened is he becoming the hero of his own story. Or else, he wanted to make this book more inspirational and included only the good and lucky things that happened. I think that there are many side details that are not included in this book although theyr are relevant

I completely agree with this idea that the story is mostly true but some of it may be glamorized. A single story will often have a few differences depending of who is telling the story.

Jenniferg_1105 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2021, 11:54 I completely agree with this idea that the story is mostly true but some of it may be glamorized. A single story will often have a few differences depending of who is telling the story.

Yes. But usually autobiographies are written with the truth, since many authors want to tell their story accurately. This one might have been deviated from that practice either due to the idea of gaining money for the foundation, so the book had to be more appealing, or that the author wanted to inspire people from his book and so he might have removed all the negative parts

There are probably some biased bits, but overall I get the sense that this book is very much true to its word. The ambassador does not strike me as the kind of person to lie about his accomplishments or over exaggerate them.

Maddie Atkinson wrote: ↑05 Feb 2021, 12:22 There are probably some biased bits, but overall I get the sense that this book is very much true to its word. The ambassador does not strike me as the kind of person to lie about his accomplishments or over exaggerate them.

That is quite correct. Given his character qualities and his beliefs, he is not a cheater. That is why I think that there must be some reason for him to write this book including only the good things and succeeded things that happened. At the same time there is the possibility that he was an extremely lucky guy. How can we know for sure? It is his story and maybe each and every word about is true

Sushan wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 21:48

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 13:51 I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased. Therefore, I think it is likely that the author didn't describe everything exactly like the events that occurred and I agree with you when you said that Dr. Berrah might have altered some things when writing this book.

Yea, we become the hero of our own story when we tell it. So, we are tend to either add some exaggeration or make the story more dramatic. Apparently that is what has happened here. But I think that the summary of the story is more or less correct

Exactly my thoughts. We tend to tell our own stories with some embellishments which is what the author has done. Who wouldn't. He was successful so it wouldn't be difficult adding some salt like we say it in my place.

Laurina_Olowo wrote: ↑06 Feb 2021, 02:58

Sushan wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 21:48

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑04 Feb 2021, 13:51 I think that even though we try to write a book that only brings true events and/or phrases, it's inevitable to be biased. Therefore, I think it is likely that the author didn't describe everything exactly like the events that occurred and I agree with you when you said that Dr. Berrah might have altered some things when writing this book.

Yea, we become the hero of our own story when we tell it. So, we are tend to either add some exaggeration or make the story more dramatic. Apparently that is what has happened here. But I think that the summary of the story is more or less correct

Exactly my thoughts. We tend to tell our own stories with some embellishments which is what the author has done. Who wouldn't. He was successful so it wouldn't be difficult adding some salt like we say it in my place.

Yes he was successful. That is why he says his story. But I think it will be more inspirational if he included his hardships and failures as well. That will teach the reader how to prevail in distress. Unless the reader will get a false picture that success is something that is achieved by luck rather than by hard work and sustainability.