My Hope for Peace [Hardcover]

Jehan Sadat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2009

From the former First Lady of Egypt, best-selling author, crusader for women's rights, and widow of the slain Nobel Peace Prize winner Anwar Sadat, comes a timely, clear-eyed examination of the defining issues of the Middle East. Drawing on their life together and her first-hand knowledge of the recent history the Middle East - history she played no small role in shaping - she distils the lessons that Sadat's peace can provide. Along the way, she outlines the origins of modern Islamic terrorism, something she has confronted both politically and personally; addresses the attendant misconceptions about her faith; and debunks many of the myths of Muslim womanhood, not least by displaying the straight-talking passion and political acumen that have earned her both admiration and enmity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Widow of the assassinated Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, Jehan Sadat (A Woman of Egypt) fashions a gracious plea for better understanding between the East and West, especially in terms of the fundamentals of Islam and the derailed Middle East peace process. Sadat is avowedly feminist, having established programs for women's literacy and empowerment during her husband's presidency (he served from 1970 until his assassination in 1981), attained her own advanced degrees in her 40s and indeed was a visible Muslim first lady who accompanied her husband around the world. In these eight elegant, evenhanded essays, she delineates Sadat's principles for peace, put in motion when he signed the Camp David Accords with leaders Carter and Begin in 1978, by addressing the misconceptions about Islam (exacerbated since 9/11), specifically that all Muslims are extremists, against democracy and bent on subjugating their women. She sketches briefly the sticking points to the peace process, namely Israeli intransigence and the Arab-Israeli tit-for-tat in escalating violence, and stresses firsthand the senselessness of assassinations and terrorism. Her essay On Being a Muslim Woman gently rebuffs the Western notion that Muslim women need to be liberated from Islam, offering examples of famous Egyptian feminists as well as employing her own notable achievements. Sadat provides an important, insistent voice for continued advancement in peace and social justice. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

Sadat, widow of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981, offers a passionate appeal for peace. A scholar, feminist, and activist, Sadat approaches peace from the perspective of a woman wanting to reexamine the legacy of her husband, who won a joint Nobel Peace Prize with Menachem Begin for their work on the Egypt-Israeli peace treaty; a closer examination of Islamic faith and misconceptions that link the faith to violence; and, finally, a personal reflection on inner peace after 9/11. She debunks the notion that Islam is antithetical to feminism and peace, offering personal observations of life as a Muslim woman. Drawing on principles her husband espoused during the peace process with Israel, Sadat offers practical approaches for achieving peace, appealing to governments and international organizations to compromise and negotiate treaties. On an individual level, she counsels faith and forgiveness. On the thirtieth anniversary of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, this is a thoughtful, impassioned appeal by a woman who has witnessed violence and peace and come to personal terms with both. --Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; First Printing edition (March 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416592199
• ISBN-13: 978-1416592198
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice thumbnail sketch with a dash of whitewash, April 2, 2009

By 

Matthew Smith "Roger Mexico" (TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Hope for Peace (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

I really hope this book will appeal to a wide audience, and bring in some readers who may not be very familiar with Muslims, Islam and Middle East history because I think this has an appeal that might get people interested in learning about these crucial topics. The style is intimate which really gives the book an emotional appeal and helps drive the reading.

What I really like about this book is that it gives readers an introduction into moderate Islam. I think this is where the strength of this book lies. So often in US media all we get to see of Islam is bin Laden and his radical cohorts preaching violence and hate, or pictures of men in ski masks firing their Kalashnikovs or rockets, but with this book we get to hear the voice of the other billion Muslims who are not violent or hate filled. This is very important, and this author's appealing voice will help give readers a window into just what that, very seldom heard from, majority really think. Also I was glad to see that she offered readers the much needed female perspective of Islam as well. It was nice to see that the author points out that just because some Muslim societies may be patriarchal that doesn't mean that Islam itself is a sexist religion.

For those unfamiliar with Egyptian and this regions history, the author provides a very nice thumbnail sketch of the recent history. This sketch is even handed in its proportioning of blame for failure and its lauding of success. The author provides an adequate timeline of major events in this area that provides the reader with the major points they need to know to better understand this area.

Now for a few criticisms; this book suffers the same problems every other book written by those involved in the events they are writing about does and that is a tendency to whitewash a little bit of that history. Readers should be aware that the history in this book is just a thumbnail sketch, and that the deeper history is infinitely complex and opened to numerous interpretations. Readers should resist the urge to start quoting from this book, and they should use this book as a starting point to further their own exploration of this history.

With that said this is a very well written and very personal book that will help develop a better understanding of this history and the Muslim people. Those familiar with this history might find much of the book rehash, but I still think you might find some valuable information in here anyway. As I said before the personal nature of this book will make this a valuable and entertaining read for even the expert. I recommend this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, it *could* happen (in our lifetime) ..., April 20, 2009

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: My Hope for Peace (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Dr. Jehan Sadat writes with first hand knowledge of the peace process and her hopes that remain alive for this to happen in our lifetime, in the Middle East, between Israel and the Palestinians. The book is partly an autobiography, partly modern day Middle Eastern history, and partly a revelation of Mrs. Sadat's personal faith in her Muslim religion. She discusses her ideas with clarity and precision. Her husband, President Anwar Sadat, was the first leader of a predominantly Muslim country, in fact, a neighboring country to Israel, who dared to take the courageous step of recognizing Israel's right to exist. He paid dearly for the peace initiative he proposed in 1979 between Egypt and Israel. Mrs. Sadat writes that President Sadat did the unthinkable, he visited Israel and addressied the Knesset, the legislative body of Israel proving his sincerity toward achieving a lasting peace with his former enemy. He knew the risks and boldly stood up for what he believed ...

This is an important book by an influential Muslim woman leader who has built a new life for herself since the assassination of her husband. She speaks with experience, knowledge and authority. She dares to address difficult and complex issues related to achieving peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. She demonstrates how both of them are accountable for decisions and actions that have hindered the peace process in the past. While some may criticize that the book is overly simplistic in that it does not address the long standing hatred between the two parties, the historical realities and consequences of the various recent wars, current terrorist tactics and daily clashes, and the economic and logistic realities in creating a Palestinian state/country, nevertheless, the book is relevant and brings to focus that the peace process is a viable reality in our lifetime. Now, getting the two parties to agree to the details ... that is the major factor on which this whole matter hinges. This book is most highly recommended for anyone interested in achieving peace in this region of the world. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An eloquent and engaging book about Jehan Sadat's hopes for the Middle East, March 30, 2009

By 

Jojoleb "jojoleb" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Hope for Peace (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Having just read Jimmy Carter's latest book, We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work, I thought that Jehan Sadat's book would be written in a similar vein. I was wrong. The books do make intriguing bookends in the search for Middle Eastern peace, but approach this goal in very different ways.

Whether you believe Carter's plan would work or not, his book was more focused on the Arab-Israeli conflict. He explores the history of this conflict and explores what he feels is a viable solution.

Jehan Sadat's book, however, is more of a collection of essays on a variety of topics. As she states late in the book, these are more her overall hopes for the Middle East, rather than simply her hopes for peace. Even so, her essays contain topics that are germane to the Arab-Israeli conflict, but also explore the general misunderstandings of Islam that occur in the Western world, decry radical approaches to Islam, describe Arab-Arab conflicts, and place particular emphasis on the growing feminist movement in the Islamic world. There is not a specific narrative here, but Sadat moves easily from topic to topic and always has insights to share along the way. She places all this within the context of Egyptian history and the bold domestic and foreign policies of Anwar Sadat. Unlike Carter, Jehan Sadat does not suggest a specific plan for peace.

Sadat's essays are eloquent and evince evidence of her personal experience and scholarship. She writes from the perspective of an academic, political reformer in her own right, womens' rights advocate, and former first lady of Egypt. She also writes from the perspective of a woman who was raised in an upper middle class family to an Egyptian, Muslim father and a British, Christian mother.

Her past and panoramic view from the upper echelons of Egyptian society, most certainly cloud some aspects of the essays. She seems to over emphasize the influence of Egypt on other Arab countries and their policies. She underestimates the influence of radical Islamist movements and their effects on the general population (or maybe she over estimates the effect of moderate voices on quelling radicals). She may also over state the gains of feminists in Egypt and other Arab nations as they apply to those in the general population. Her point of view, which has developed from her unique personal history, allows her a certain distance from the general population of Arab countries. This translates into a certain level of objectivity and allows her to think outside the box. However, it doesn't prevent her from seeing things as she believes they should be as opposed to how they truly are.

These caveats aside, there are incredible insights to be found inside this book. The average, Western reader could use a better education about Islam. I agree with Mrs. Sadat that what is seen on TV is a poor representation of what Islam is really about. Local culture is often confused with the tenets of Islam--this misconception occurs both in the West and in Arab countries as well. One has to focus on the tenets of this great religion rather than local customs or the fallibility of the radical Sheiks who twist words for personal and/or political gains.

Most readers probably have forgotten exactly how bold Anwar Sadat had to be to forge a peace agreement with Israel. Had Begin or Carter failed, the Camp David talks would have simply been another in a series of attempts at peace that had failed. For Anwar Sadat, failure at Camp David would not only have been personal, political suicide but would likely have spelled disaster for his country. Even with the success of the peace accords, Egypt suffered many years of derision and ostracism from its fellow Arab nations. This persisted until recent times when conciliation with Israel is considered at very least a possibility.

Few in the West even realize that there is such a thing as an Islamic feminist movement. Very few also understand or realize that Anwar Sadat was instrumental in supporting the feminist movement in Egypt. (As a sad footnote, however, it should be noted that Jehan Sadat, herself, could not achieve all that she wanted to achieve with a career in Egypt. She lives part-time in the United States and has a position and the University of Maryland.)

Jehan Sadat's book is well worth reading to better understand the undercurrents of Middle Eastern politics. She clearly describes the lines that divide Israel from Arab nations, Arab nations from each other, moderate Moslems from radical Islamists, and the West from the Middle East. Until we understand these lines that divide it will be difficult to construct, as Jimmy Carter has suggested, a plan for peace that can really work.