Overview

When life is defined and debated through sound bites and social media, who would want to read a story about a boy who traversed multiple cultures, languages, religions, and geographical areas? To Have Nothing, the first volume of Adel Ben-Harhara's three-volume memoir, delves into the voyage of a boy who was separated from his mother as a toddler and was essentially orphaned at the age of five when his father died. With his mother's inability to provide support, the boy was homeless, often left on the streets between the ages of eight and eleven. How did he survive? The boy was born in Addis Ababa to a poverty-stricken, fifteen-year-old Ethiopian mother and a wealthy fifty-year-old businessman, who was a retired British soldier from the Middle East. As a child, the boy received extensive religious teachings in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. As an adolescent Marxist in Ethiopia, he was imprisoned for taking part in a communist party youth movement and barely avoided the death squad's bullets before moving to his ancestors' land: Yemen. This is the story of that boy, an inspiring tale of perseverance and survival.

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9781777600051

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Reviews

..it took me into a part of the world utterly unknown to myself. What I enjoyed most about it was the fact that Adel not only wrote his own story, but supported the insight of the reader with historical and religious facts/knowledge. While Adel's childhood was certainly a turbulent one, one that had him thrown from 'riches to rags', in the end, it was always family and friends/relations of his father who helped him, who feed and clothed and always, always educated him well. This memoir is a must read for the person who is fascinated by the contrast, tensions and collision of different religions, races, genders, ages, cultures, classes, national identities, and political ideologies. Experience how each ingredient in his courses of life experiences and relationships, first in Ethiopia during this first book of his memoir, when mixed together turned out to be his recipe for a positive, resilient and successful life. This is the first in a series. Ben-Harhara faces his past in a man versus himself documentary. He reconnects with his roots, taking us on a detailed passage exploring geography, race, language, culture and religion. He embraces vulnerability and shares his healing journey by documenting what it took for him to not only survive but thrive. Can't wait for the next one to be released! It's as much about the man as it is about the socioeconomic, political, religious, and cultural environment, and the interpersonal connections that he forged along the way. I found it an educational, entertaining, and at times heartbreaking read about Adel's trials and tribulations. Oh, and the title, which I initially found puzzling, is fully explained in the book! I love the way this book is written! It is full of honesty and compassion. The author describes his childhood experiences first through the lens of a child and then each experience is reflected upon with the maturity of age. He perfectly captures the genuine curiosity and logical conclusions that a child of those ages would come to when faced with these extraordinary life events. As a mother myself, I was really drawn into the heartfelt relationships he had with all the adults in his life. It's amazing that a person could go through what he did and still have such a positive outlook on life. An excellent read! I found the book difficult to put down. He uses his education to lift himself up to a better place. The author succeeds in telling a great story, but also in educating the reader in the different local cultures and places within Ethiopia during the 1960's and 70's. Readers of this book will find themselves being educated by a great teacher and patient communicator willing to explain the the fusion and clash of cultures, and the complexity of life with good humor and insight. I was constantly impressed with the choices he made and how he dealt with these experiences. This book is an eye-opening window into Ethiopian society. It was so interesting to gain a deeper understanding of the customs and religions that influence a society which helped me understand life outside of North America. I can't wait to read the next two books!

"""..it took me into a part of the world utterly unknown to myself. What I enjoyed most about it was the fact that Adel not only wrote his own story, but supported the insight of the reader with historical and religious facts/knowledge. While Adel's childhood was certainly a turbulent one, one that had him thrown from 'riches to rags', in the end, it was always family and friends/relations of his father who helped him, who feed and clothed and always, always educated him well."" ""This memoir is a must read for the person who is fascinated by the contrast, tensions and collision of different religions, races, genders, ages, cultures, classes, national identities, and political ideologies. Experience how each ingredient in his courses of life experiences and relationships, first in Ethiopia during this first book of his memoir, when mixed together turned out to be his recipe for a positive, resilient and successful life."" ""This is the first in a series. Ben-Harhara faces his past in a man versus himself documentary. He reconnects with his roots, taking us on a detailed passage exploring geography, race, language, culture and religion. He embraces vulnerability and shares his healing journey by documenting what it took for him to not only survive but thrive. Can't wait for the next one to be released!"" ""It's as much about the man as it is about the socioeconomic, political, religious, and cultural environment, and the interpersonal connections that he forged along the way. I found it an educational, entertaining, and at times heartbreaking read about Adel's trials and tribulations. Oh, and the title, which I initially found puzzling, is fully explained in the book!"" ""I love the way this book is written! It is full of honesty and compassion. The author describes his childhood experiences first through the lens of a child and then each experience is reflected upon with the maturity of age. He perfectly captures the genuine curiosity and logical conclusions that a child of those ages would come to when faced with these extraordinary life events. As a mother myself, I was really drawn into the heartfelt relationships he had with all the adults in his life. It's amazing that a person could go through what he did and still have such a positive outlook on life. An excellent read!"" ""I found the book difficult to put down. He uses his education to lift himself up to a better place. The author succeeds in telling a great story, but also in educating the reader in the different local cultures and places within Ethiopia during the 1960's and 70's. Readers of this book will find themselves being educated by a great teacher and patient communicator willing to explain the the fusion and clash of cultures, and the complexity of life with good humor and insight. "" ""I was constantly impressed with the choices he made and how he dealt with these experiences. This book is an eye-opening window into Ethiopian society. It was so interesting to gain a deeper understanding of the customs and religions that influence a society which helped me understand life outside of North America. I can't wait to read the next two books!"""

Author Information

Adel Ben-Harhara is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He holds a master's degree in business administration (MBA) and an undergraduate degree in information technology. Over the past thirty years, he has worked in multiple industries including technology, health care, engineering, oil and gas, and international aid. He has also taught management courses at a local college. A proud father of two daughters, Adel has run thirty marathons and as an avid hiker, he has conquered countless mountain peaks worldwide including Mount Kilimanjaro. adelbenharhara.com

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