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criticalmiss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
This is book is a story about perseverance, love, hope and terrible tragedy. Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish is a man who even after his home is destroyed when he was a boy, being constantly detained at checkpoints delaying him fo doing his job at the hospital and then his three daughters and niece are killed horrifically in a bombing of his home later by the IDF , he still holds on to hope, that Israelis and Palestinians can find a way to live side by side. He is asked how can you not hate the Israelis? He responds “which Israelis am I supposed to hate? The doctors and nurses I work with? The ones who are trying to save Ghaida’s life and Shatha’s eyesight? (Niece & daughter) the babies I have delivered? Families like the Madmoonys, who gave me work and shelter when I was a kid?”
I have read the history books that outline what has happened in Palestine, but it is these memoirs that really identify and humanize everything that has happened.
I have read the history books that outline what has happened in Palestine, but it is these memoirs that really identify and humanize everything that has happened.
kayy1994's review
4.0
Abuelaish's resilience in the face of unimaginable loss is truly inspiring. Despite the tragedies he has endured, he remains unwavering in his beliefs and maintains a hopeful outlook on life. His commitment to his principles serves as a guiding light, offering hope in even the darkest of times.
One of the most compelling aspects of Abuelaish's story is his perspective on medicine as a bridge for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His famous quote, "I am alive, and they are dead. I shall not hate," captures his belief in the healing power of empathy and understanding. Instead of dwelling on hatred and resentment, Abuelaish advocates for compassion and dialogue as paths towards reconciliation.
Throughout the book, Abuelaish emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and empathy, even towards those who have caused him immense pain. His ability to forgive serves as a powerful example of the transformative nature of compassion, inspiring readers to adopt a similar approach in their own lives.
"I Shall Not Hate" is a profoundly moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Abuelaish's story reminds us of the importance of compassion, understanding, and the pursuit of peace in a region marked by turmoil and strife.
This was easily one of my favourite biographies to date, the minute I picked up the book I was unable to put it down whilst on holiday, working abroad, at the airport, in the car, and it was the last thing I’d read before bed. This book has served as motivation for me to stay positive during my own personal struggles lately, as well as refreshed the passion I had for learning.
I’d highly recommend this book, I definitely will be sharing it with my kids one day.
One of the most compelling aspects of Abuelaish's story is his perspective on medicine as a bridge for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His famous quote, "I am alive, and they are dead. I shall not hate," captures his belief in the healing power of empathy and understanding. Instead of dwelling on hatred and resentment, Abuelaish advocates for compassion and dialogue as paths towards reconciliation.
Throughout the book, Abuelaish emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and empathy, even towards those who have caused him immense pain. His ability to forgive serves as a powerful example of the transformative nature of compassion, inspiring readers to adopt a similar approach in their own lives.
"I Shall Not Hate" is a profoundly moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Abuelaish's story reminds us of the importance of compassion, understanding, and the pursuit of peace in a region marked by turmoil and strife.
This was easily one of my favourite biographies to date, the minute I picked up the book I was unable to put it down whilst on holiday, working abroad, at the airport, in the car, and it was the last thing I’d read before bed. This book has served as motivation for me to stay positive during my own personal struggles lately, as well as refreshed the passion I had for learning.
I’d highly recommend this book, I definitely will be sharing it with my kids one day.
natalie_zander's review against another edition
5.0
a career of learning how to strike a balance between a familial life in palestine and a professional one in israel clearly taught izzeldin abuelaish how to write a story that is perfectly divided between personal reflection and historical reportage. abuelaish will go down in history as a life-changing doctor, phenomenal writer, visionary feminist (!!!), and loving father, uncle, husband.
may bessan, mayar, aya, noor, and nadia rest in peace.
may bessan, mayar, aya, noor, and nadia rest in peace.
arrianamohrr's review
5.0
Dr. Izzeldin Abueslaish is yet another example of someone who embodies resilience. He is a shining light in a conflict filled with cyclical violence. In the most recent stint of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he has lost even more family. I cannot imagine the strength it takes to continue being a pillar of hope. Dr. Abuelaish's story is a harrowing one, but one thing he does is fill his book with hopeful writing. In my mind, his writing made the sad parts easier to stomach. I read this book for a 3000-level history class, so a discussion over the reading was a must. One thing that was brought up was Dr. Abuelaish learning Hebrew. Language helps so much in relationship building, which was obvious in his time as a doctor in Israel but also in the phone call that put him in the spotlight. Certain meanings are lost in translation from one language to another, and yet he spoke in Hebrew in one of the scariest times of his life. Would his phone call live on air have been as impactful had he been speaking in Arabic and needed a translator? We may never know, but it is interesting to think about.
My one critique of this book would be to remember that Dr. Abuelaish does not speak for all of the Palestinians and it is important to recognize his privileges when reading. He has the ability and connections to get through the border checkpoints smoothly and on the regular, to supposedly call off a tank aimed at his house, to get his family members transported out of Gaza on multiple occasions to be treated, and to leave the Gaza Strip and move his family to Canada. Many Palestinians do not have these opportunities. I think it is much easier to have hope for the future when you have these opportunities, but most people in Gaza will not have these opportunities. So yes, his story is important and his messaging is important but it is easy to forget that his life is not the norm. Maybe that is a critique aimed at the reader and less at the writer himself, but still one that needs to be said.
TLDR: It was a good read, reasonably short, emotional yet encouraging, and a good insight into the life of one Palestinian man but also into what daily life in Gaza is like.
My one critique of this book would be to remember that Dr. Abuelaish does not speak for all of the Palestinians and it is important to recognize his privileges when reading. He has the ability and connections to get through the border checkpoints smoothly and on the regular, to supposedly call off a tank aimed at his house, to get his family members transported out of Gaza on multiple occasions to be treated, and to leave the Gaza Strip and move his family to Canada. Many Palestinians do not have these opportunities. I think it is much easier to have hope for the future when you have these opportunities, but most people in Gaza will not have these opportunities. So yes, his story is important and his messaging is important but it is easy to forget that his life is not the norm. Maybe that is a critique aimed at the reader and less at the writer himself, but still one that needs to be said.
TLDR: It was a good read, reasonably short, emotional yet encouraging, and a good insight into the life of one Palestinian man but also into what daily life in Gaza is like.
cheryllovesbooks's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
It is hard for me to rate this book. I am glad I read it, as I learned a lot about Gaza and I also learned about the power of remaining hopeful. It is a sad story and I admire the author and his courage.
whatchareadingheather's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book made me so emotional with everything that is currently going on in Palestine, and it’s the one of the books that I really urge people to read regardless on your stance. This is not only a greatly detailed personal account of the everyday life of a Palestinian, but his overt focus on wanting to find solutions for coexistence and an end to violence is everything that we as a modern society should be striving for.