Review of A Dream For Peace

[Mutuma Clare]

[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 one of the most consequential books I have ever read. Coincidentally, I happened to read this book at a time when I was making a career change that almost left me depressed. This book motivated me and, in a way, showed me that it is okay to change and be flexible.

Dr. Berrah is not only an accomplished diplomat but also a man of science, having trained as a medical doctor. He was a professor at Yale and pioneered a theory for the reverse transcriptase enzyme. He was born in Algeria during the struggle for independence. Even after losing his father, Berrah continues with his studies and passes very well. His academic journey takes him to France to get a medical degree, but he is heavily involved in the anti-colonial movement, which puts him at loggerheads with the authorities. 

Dr. Berrah never betrays his beliefs and has to forego his education to focus on the revolutionary activities not only in his native Algeria but also in Morocco. Later on, he served as a diplomat in Cote d'Ivoire, where he played a key role in promoting continental and world peace. Dr. Berrah is truly a son of Africa.

One of the most admirable qualities of this book is its theme of tolerance. Dr. Berrah is a living testimony that people of different creeds can live peacefully. This is especially important in the world we are living in, where intolerance is on the rise. Despite being a devout Muslim, he is married to a Catholic, and he helps build churches for Christians in Cote d'Ivoire while also building mosques for his Muslim brothers. The book is largely the story of Dr. Berrah, but it also offers us a glimpse of the fight for independence in Africa during the post-colonial period and also the peace efforts in the Middle East after the war between the Arabs and the nation of Israel. The language used is also easy to understand, to the benefit of the reader. The editors of this amazing work deserve applause, as the book is exceptionally edited. This added to the overall beauty of the book.

Memoirs can be boring to read, but not this one. To be honest, I can't find anything negative to say about this book. I found the book to be motivating and inspiring, and because of this, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend the book to readers who love memoirs, particularly those interested in finding out more about pre- and post-colonial Africa.

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A Dream For Peace
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[Nisha DSouza]

When I first read this book's description on the review page, I wasn't sure I would like it. After reading your review, I must say it sounds very interesting. Thank you for this wonderfully descriptive analysis.