Review of A Dream For Peace
-
Lara Keir
- Posts: 47
- Joined: 22 Jun 2021, 01:06
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 57
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lara-keir.html
- Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Review of A Dream For Peace
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah is a memoir of the author's activism for Algerian independence as well as finding peace among Arab and African communities, Christians and Muslims, and developed and developing countries. The author begins with his childhood, then moves on to his student days when he studied medicine, and finally to the United States, where he earned his Ph.D. and became a Yale professor.
He became involved in politics as a student in France, and this involvement continued throughout his life. As he emphasizes, his political activism was not by choice but a result of his circumstances. He was particularly affected by mistreatment and racism in France, a country that colonized his people, where he would have problems with the police falsely accusing and spreading hatred. Contrary to the title of the book, many Algerians who sought justice peacefully discovered that it did not improve their situation. They were killed, or, as the author, imprisoned. Later, he worked in diplomacy and attempted to bring peace during the Algerian War of Independence, during which "the French destroyed over 8,000 villages and relocated over 2 million Algerians to concentration camps," and during his own people's civil war.
This book's historical value as the story of one person who survived the regime was appealing to me. I was also struck by the author's values and fight for the "general good of all mankind." His fortitude in the face of adversity was impressive, especially given the injustice he had to endure, in which many of his friends and relatives died. I also learned a lot of interesting facts, such as that South Africa is the world's leading producer of uranium, which is required for the production of the atomic bomb.
Some of the author's points struck me as especially relevant. For example, he may claim that Muslims seeking peace are frequently the targets of terrorist attacks or provide insight into the exploitation of developing countries, stating that "prosperous nations need raw materials from developing nations, and developing nations need technological innovations in return. Logic should prompt the wealthier nations to embrace cooperation rather than turn to exploitation." (Paraphrased from page 607.)
On the negative side, this is a lengthy book that focuses heavily on politics, which can be a dry subject. I wish some sections had been summarized. Additionally, there was little to no personal opinion or in-depth examination of the author's experiences, making it difficult for the reader to relate to the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the history and how to improve current relations in times of conflict. There were only a few typos, and the book was well edited overall. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because of its important message and relevance for contemporary times.
In addition, I couldn't resist including some of my favorite quotes:
“The noble nature of the army is to defend and provide security to the nation; the military must not hamper progress in the daily life of the citizen.” (page 578)
”It seems as if the entire world has descended into the depths of materialism, becoming worshippers of matter. This brings a great risk of losing our spirituality and turning our backs on the true meaning of happiness.” (page 620)
“Peace will come on the day when all humans embrace wisdom and learn to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and do unto others as one would do unto oneself.” (Paraphrased from page 611)
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah is a memoir of the author's activism for Algerian independence as well as finding peace among Arab and African communities, Christians and Muslims, and developed and developing countries. The author begins with his childhood, then moves on to his student days when he studied medicine, and finally to the United States, where he earned his Ph.D. and became a Yale professor.
He became involved in politics as a student in France, and this involvement continued throughout his life. As he emphasizes, his political activism was not by choice but a result of his circumstances. He was particularly affected by mistreatment and racism in France, a country that colonized his people, where he would have problems with the police falsely accusing and spreading hatred. Contrary to the title of the book, many Algerians who sought justice peacefully discovered that it did not improve their situation. They were killed, or, as the author, imprisoned. Later, he worked in diplomacy and attempted to bring peace during the Algerian War of Independence, during which "the French destroyed over 8,000 villages and relocated over 2 million Algerians to concentration camps," and during his own people's civil war.
This book's historical value as the story of one person who survived the regime was appealing to me. I was also struck by the author's values and fight for the "general good of all mankind." His fortitude in the face of adversity was impressive, especially given the injustice he had to endure, in which many of his friends and relatives died. I also learned a lot of interesting facts, such as that South Africa is the world's leading producer of uranium, which is required for the production of the atomic bomb.
Some of the author's points struck me as especially relevant. For example, he may claim that Muslims seeking peace are frequently the targets of terrorist attacks or provide insight into the exploitation of developing countries, stating that "prosperous nations need raw materials from developing nations, and developing nations need technological innovations in return. Logic should prompt the wealthier nations to embrace cooperation rather than turn to exploitation." (Paraphrased from page 607.)
On the negative side, this is a lengthy book that focuses heavily on politics, which can be a dry subject. I wish some sections had been summarized. Additionally, there was little to no personal opinion or in-depth examination of the author's experiences, making it difficult for the reader to relate to the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the history and how to improve current relations in times of conflict. There were only a few typos, and the book was well edited overall. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because of its important message and relevance for contemporary times.
In addition, I couldn't resist including some of my favorite quotes:
“The noble nature of the army is to defend and provide security to the nation; the military must not hamper progress in the daily life of the citizen.” (page 578)
”It seems as if the entire world has descended into the depths of materialism, becoming worshippers of matter. This brings a great risk of losing our spirituality and turning our backs on the true meaning of happiness.” (page 620)
“Peace will come on the day when all humans embrace wisdom and learn to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and do unto others as one would do unto oneself.” (Paraphrased from page 611)
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
