Over the summer I made it a priority to read more non-fiction books about people that were making the world a better place. This is certainly one of those books, and a beautiful, powerful read at that.
"I Shall Not Hate" follows the author, Izzeldin Abuelaish, who has lived his entire life in the Gaza Strip. Abuelaish is a medical doctor caught, quite literally and figuratively, in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In January 16th, 2009, his three daughters and a niece were killed by Israeli tank shells, changing his life forever. Rather than respond with anger and fury, however, Abuelaish directs his grief towards working for a better, more peaceful future for these countries.
This was a book I couldn't put down. It was beautifully written, honest, and powerful. If you are looking for a book that will pull at your heartstrings and inspire you to change the world, this is the one to do it. If you have a free moment, please read "I Shall Not Hate"! You can get it on Amazon here, or check it out on Goodreads. Let me know what you think!
As a side note, I was lucky enough to receive several great books for Christmas this year, and I can't wait to share them with you! :) The book I have just started reading is Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, if you'd like to read along!