Izzeldin Abuelaish's autobiographical work was written shortly after three of his daughters were killed by Israeli shells during the Gaza War - a tragedy the Palestinian doctor described live on-air for Israeli television audiences. The book, as I noted back in September, goes into significant detail about his life and career leading up to that moment; it is nothing short of an incredible tale, and I Shall Not Hate is worthy of its many accolades. Abuelaish has not written any books since this first publication but he continues to write new chapters in his life story through his work with the Daughters for Life Foundation, which he established in memory of his daughters.
I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish (September 2020)
As mentioned, I felt I Shall Not Hate was a remarkable story but it was in hindsight a little light on the kinds of insights I enjoy highlighting in TOA reading reviews. There are commentaries on anger, forgiveness, poverty, problem-solving, and human nature scattered throughout my book notes, but these do not represent its essence - rather, this work is simply a thorough account of how a life's journey has informed the author's unexpected, inspiring worldview. Abuelaish's perspective is perhaps best summarized in his thought that medicine has a humanitarian role whenever caring is given the same emphasis as curing, or in the insight that healthcare is one tool to improve relations among groups of people for the way ensuring equal access is a swift way to break down barriers.
TOA Rating: Three stethoscopes out of four.
