To Be Oneself
The Tragicomedy of an Unfinished Life History Volume 2
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This autobiography gives a detailed account of his childhood in a primitive society and the conditions prevailing during the Franco-Algerian conflict and its aftermath. The book describes his search for a place to settle and his quest to find a niche in society and his chosen profession, tracing his philosophical and psychological course through life. It portrays life in the Muslim community in the USA, the author's relationships with people of all walks of life and origins, and his teaching experiences in an international, multicultural context. Widely read in world philosophy and religions, and psychology, Abdallah Nacereddine provides a penetrating insight into human nature the world over, with the accounts of his experiences from philosophical and psychological points of view and his comments on the international events in which he was caught up. His life history is sometimes sad, often funny, but, above all, thought provoking.
About the Author
Born in the remote mountains of Algeria, the author, Abdallah Nacereddine, knew only a regional dialect of Berber until he was thirteen, although he learned the Koran by heart in Arabic. He left home to attend French primary school in the nearest village and subsequently studied Arabic and Islamic jurisprudence in the city of Constantine. After the Algerian War of Independence, during which he was drafted into the Algerian National Liberation Army, he left first for Europe - Germany, Greece, France, and Switzerland - and Egypt, and then for the United States, where he taught himself English. Adopting the world as his homeland, he embarked on years of travel in Asia, especially in Japan, and the Middle East. He finally settled in Switzerland, where he taught Arabic at the United Nations in Geneva for over twenty years.