Customer Reviews

My Hope for Peace

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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]

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.

I have to be honest: I was not expecting much from this book. Any book whose first book jacket quote is by Jimmy "Defensive Tunnels" Carter (who has made a post-presidential career of being a spokesman for Hamas) is bound to be a one-sided diatribe against Israeli transgressions, right?

I was pleasantly surprised to see that my initial skepticism was unwarranted. Jehan Sadat has written a fascinating, introspective book, examining the Islamic principles as she sees them, and exploring what it means to be a modern Muslim woman. The book is also eminently readable, flowing freely from one topic to the next. I quite enjoyed it, and it gave me a greater insight into a viewpoint that I don't normally hear in the American media.

Unfortunately, Jehan Sadat's hope of peace seems like it will remain just that -- merely a hope. I truly wish this weren't so. But this memoir takes only a cursory look at the problems blocking an Arab-Israeli peace accord, and only ruminates briefly on the various possible "solutions." Frankly, the obstacles she identifies -- settlements, an Arab right to return, and the status of Jerusalem -- are likely to remain obstacles as long as each side remains adamant in their positions.

Then again, as other readers have noted, this memoir is not meant to be a PLAN for peace in the Middle East -- just a discussion of her hopes. As that, the book worked quite well.

In America we frequently only pay attention to the surface story. In the case of the Middle East, that story is, "Jewish democratic state of Israel, always good! Muslim nations and Palestinians, always bad!" Some more balanced views are out there, but you'll seldom find them in the mainstream media. Thankfully this book offers something of a different point of view.

Jehan Sadat, widow of Anwar Sadat, is an excellent and compelling writer. She spends a good portion of the first part of this book detailing the nature of Islam and some of what Muslims do and do not believe in. She then moves onto the history of modern Israel, particularly it's association with Egypt, and then onto what it might take to bring peace to the region.

It's a truly fascinating book and well worth the time to read. She's an excellent writer and comes off as intelligent and informative. No complaints at all! I look forward to reading more of her work.

I remember what the world was like at the time of the Egyptian-Israeli peace accord and how unbelievable it was that it had actually happened. I remember the wars. What made this book interesting to me is that it related familiar events from the viewpoint of an Egyptian Muslim woman - one who had a first-hand view of the events.

I think that for many Americans if you say the word "Egypt" to them, the first thing that pops into their minds in "pyramids". Then probably the next thing is "tourists killed by Islamic extremists", unfortunately. I think we see it as part of a monolithic Islamic culture. Mrs. Sadat sets out to disabuse the reader that assumptions can be made both about her country and about Islam. She clarifies points about the religion that tend to get glossed over or ignored. An interesting point she made had to do with why there seems to be no vocal opposition from Islamic moderates to the terrorists, and it simply has to do with the organizational structure of Islam. It is not that there is no vocal opposition - there is - but there is no one person or voice that speaks for Islam, such as the Pope for Catholics. Because Islam is much more of an internalized, personal religion than Christianity or Judaism, there is no one spokesperson who speaks for them all. There are those who are louder than others, though, and they are the ones who have helped form the Western image of Islam as broadly supporting terrorism.

I think that if you want to gain a different perspective on Islam, this time from a first-person point of view, and especially one from a woman who practices that religion, this is a good place to start. As a historical document, I think that she has buffed up her husband's image a bit, but that is only normal, and I think somewhat fair, since he isn't really getting the credit he deserves in bringing peace to at least a part of that world. I remember my shock and sadness on the day of his assassination, and my anger that someone who had tried to do some good for the world was removed from it by those who only hate.

I, liked Jahan Sadat's "Hope For Peace". We need hope. I think her book is well worth the time spent reading it. But if it is the only book you read about the Mid East, you will have a very small and isolated view of the conflicts resulted in the murder of her husband, and the events of 9/11.

I have a great deal of respect for Dr.Sadat, a self proclaimed moderate Muslim woman. I think that it is not an accident, however, that she lives, works, and writes in the US, where she is welcome. Could she do the same in Egypt her homeland? At a time when our Secretary of State wears a head scarf, Dr. Sadat's book picture is devoid of the covering. Dr. Sadat is perhaps conveniently light on the radicalization of Islam and what that means for women.

I think it is important to have a less strident voice than those screaming across the air waves and internet. Inside this book you will find a hope for peace, not a plan for it... not even an understanding of how we may find that peace. I recommend Dr, Sadat's book be read along with

* Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi,

* What Went Wrong, Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response by Bernard Lewis,

* Bin Laden The Man Who Declared War on America by Yossef Bodansky, and finally the brilliant

* Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order by Samuel P Huntington.

Dr. Sadat's book gives hope; the others provide understanding. I think we need both.

Jehan Sadat is the widow of Anwar Sadat who was assassinated by religious fanatics for making peace with Israel. A later peacemaker, Rabin, on the Israeli side was later also assassinated. Mrs. Sadat takes hope from the fact that, despite the murder of the peacemakers, the treaty has held, and the two nations, while not friendly, are at peace. They had fought bitter wars before the peace. Yet they were able to come together to create a peace settlement. Mrs. Sadat says the remaining Arab states, the Palestinians, and Israel can do the same.

Much of this book is an explanation of the author's faith. Jehan Sadat has not simply learned to parrot Islamic sayings by rote as so many Moslems we Americans read about do. She understands her religion and is deeply faithful. Her faith helped her through her depression after her husband's murder. The peace that an individual can get from a religion in trying times is the same for practitioners of any religion, and is certainly the same as I hear from Christians and Jews. For those who have little understanding of Islam, this book can help.

I am not sure the book will be a help to those diplomats who are trying to establish peace in the Mideast, but reading the book certainly helps us in understanding the players. Mrs Sadat wants to be sure that religious fanaticism ceases to destroy people.

As an aside, I was startled to discover that one of the reasons Sadat had the political clout at home to be able to bargain for peace is that the Egyptians thought of themselves as having won the Yom Kippur war. Whatever...It worked, and that is good.

This is a rather short (200 page) book which is part personal memoir, part defense of Islam, and part call for peace in the middle east. In it, Jehan Sadat, the widow of Anwar Sadat, lays out her vision for a moderate Islam and a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Her vision is rather basic and hard to disagree with - a commitment to peace by all sides, a conscious decision to work together regardless of the costs, and an attempt to make sure all the related parties are deeply committed to and involved in the process. Beyond that outline she does not go into details. Part of the reason is that she realizes that she's not in a position to dictate specific solutions - the solutions must come from the parties involved. Her book is a call to recommit to peace. In the current environment of cynicism and pessimism it's a much needed call, and I hope that her optimism is infectious, because without a serious effort, we will not have a resolution to the problems in the middle east.

She begins that book by talking about Islam, which she feels gets a bad rap in American media. She defends her faith and shows how the extremists who commit atrocities are out of touch with what she considers to be true Islam. The problem is that after that she completely ignores the issue of extremism, having explained it away early in the book.

She gives a brief recounting of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. She does show a slight propensity to cite Israel as the first actor in all cases, but it's not as bad as the bias I would have expected from the wife of an Egyptian leader. However most importantly she avoids assigning blame, which fits into her theme of needing to be forward looking in order to achieve peace.

She ends with a discussion of her own life, her faith, and another defense of Islam, even showing examples of some of the feminist heroes of Egyptian society. Overall it's not a bad book, and I cannot fault her for anything she's written, I simply don't feel that this book adds much to the discussion on the situation in the middle east.

This is the kind of book that could make the average American, growing up on Israeli propaganda, open his mind a bit. She doesn't hesitate to address Israeli atrocities, most of which the vast majority of Americans are probably totally unfamiliar with. Her very condensed but useful overview of exactly why there has been trouble in the Middle East for so long will lead to a better understanding of the issue and greater sympathy for the plight of Palestinians and the Muslim world in general. To that extent I would encourage some people to buy it. It is a very easy read, most people will learn something from it and her temperament illicits sympathy and makes her likeable. That is why I give it three stars.

However, I completely understand why a Muslim would not regard her, nor her husband, as a friend of Islam or the Arab world. She is clearly unorthodox and not afraid to bend the truths she professes to believe in to appeal to a Western audience. I also regard her dove-like policy towards Israel as absurd. She clearly is an intelligent woman who certainly knows the facts so to be even remotely sympathetic to a people who seek, this very minute, to destroy her people and who constantly thwart any progress made toward peace is just another example of her manipulative pandering to Westerners. Is it justified in this case? Perhaps. As I mentioned above, if the book sells enough copies and those who buy books based on Oprah's recommendations or bestseller lists read it and gain a better understanding of the plight of the Palestinians. But for a reader who knows the issues and Middle Eastern history this book would be a waste of time and money.