I learned more about race and culture, and many challenges that would be perplexing for an adult let alone a young child. As a Mom my heart 💜 went out to the boy,
Our Book's Review
Reviews of Book One (To Have Nothing)
Beverly
I feel God dispatched many Angels 😇 to be vigilant with their watch over him. Despite the hardships, or maybe because he always rose above. Currently reading book 2 (it doesn’t disappoint) and can’t wait to get my hands on book 3. Rush out now!
Sana
This is Adel Ben Harhara who wrote this incredible book “To Have Nothing” where he talks about his exploits growing up in Addis Ababa (and later migrating to Yemen) as a
Hadrami-Ethiopian whose father (a wealthy Hadrami and one of my grandfather’s group of friends) died and left him living on the streets fending for his life.
Adel, who lives in Canada now, contacted me about this while I was in Seattle during the Covid period while he was writing the book, and I was shocked by his crazy tale and the astounding revelations about other things we had in common…
He sent me an early copy of the book – and my grandpa, Salem Bagersh, and his close pal Ahmed Bansser are among the people he dedicates his book too. I read Adel’s book in one spine-tingling session and told him this was straight-up Netflix material!
I think my Yemeni and Ethiopian peeps will love the rich accounts of people, culture, and politics – and everyone will be dazzled by Adel’s harrowing journey of survival.
Cheryl
If you’re looking for a good summertime read, a hiking friend of mine has written a memoir of his life. The first book in the series is called “To Have Nothing – God Bless The Child
Who’s Got His Own”. The book is available on Amazon.
It’s the powerful story of a young boy born into wealth until he was orphaned at the age of 5. Adel tells us his compelling story of survival following the death of his father which shaped the man he has become today. As you read the pages your heart will ache for the young boy that never felt he fit in or belonged. The story is interwoven with the religious and cultural beliefs of a historical time in Ethiopia’s history.
It’s a fascinating read that reminded me of the struggles of many of our new Canadians (some of whom I now call my friends) faced before coming to this country.
Hope you enjoy it.
Irina
Adel Ben Harhara ‘s book “To Have Nothing” made an indelible impression on me. I saw how through the difficult and sometimes simply unbearable life of a small child,
the fate of an entire nation can be traced. The personal qualities of the boy Adel helped him survive in the cruel world in which he found himself and where the destinies and lives of hundreds of people were intertwined, where the current situation in the country, at that time, literally affected everything, but could not affect people’s ability to support, sympathize, believe, hope, love and be friends.
For me, the book was not only exciting but also informative.
After reading this book, you will learn how a little boy, having gone through suffering, pain, and trials, became a worthy person.
Matyas
“To have nothing” is the memoir of Adel Ben Harhara , the father of two daughters, a marathon runner, and a project management professional who investigates the meaning of
his childhood life by writing and sharing his diaries. The book is about the life struggles of a once privileged child who turned out to be abandoned at the age of eight.
The book “To have Nothing” reveals how it feels to have nothing in life, literally nothing!
Reading Adel’s book can make you understand the feeling of losing everything. I can say, Adel’s book could be one of the most inspiring books for all age groups.
The book also tells what/how the social, religious, and political atmosphere of Ethiopia in the late 1960s and 1970s looks like. Reading the book takes you to different emotions depending on what the story tells about. In the beginning, Aunt Emebet was an angel, that made me feel happy. On another day, she makes me feel bad when she pushes the child away from the dining table. I felt happy and overjoyed when Adel met his father’s best friend Mr Bansser. Reading about the moment of the first flight experience was so much fun. 🤣
After reading the book, I have concluded that if anyone has the desire, the passion, and the commitment to succeed in any aspect of life there is nothing that prevents him/her from achieving his/her goal.
I recommend the book for those who think they have a reason for their failure in life, and for those who have excuses for not becoming who they want to be.
Mark
As mentioned many times, running offers me endless opportunities to meet wonderful people all along the journey. The short-term and long-lasting relationships are priceless.
A few years ago, in a shared van going to the Chicago Marathon, I met a wonderful new friend; Adel Ben Harhara. In that short ride, we became instant friends and have stayed in touch since. I’m looking forward to seeing him again at the NY Marathon this fall (the slowest finisher buys dinner–I’ve already surrendered). I was especially humbled and honored to be allowed to read an advanced reading copy (ARC) of his new book ‘To Have Nothing: God Bless the Child Who’s Got His Own’. It’s just been released on Amazon. The book is his first of a three-volume memoir. It is raw and heart-stopping. You’ll be captivated from the get-go. It’s a story of resilience, courage, drive, perseverance, and a mindset well beyond his years. Adel, thanks for sharing this tome from the onset–see you in a couple of months. To my friends and family, please get a copy of this–you’re in for a breathtaking journey!
Mesfin
Reviewing a memoir is tricky because you want to share enough information to allure readers to read the book without giving away too much. With that caveat, To Have Nothing,
the first volume of Adel Ben-Harhara’s three-volume memoir is one of the most captivating memoirs I have ever read. The writer is a perfect bullet-dodger who narrowly escaped from being aborted, forcibly separated from a young mother as a toddler, and went through a very turbulent childhood brought about by the sudden death of his relatively affluent father. He also faced complete abandonment by his guardian relative and later met the death squad at the infamous Derg era torture house – all before hitting age fifteen. The fact that he is mentally strong, more bookish, and erudite than most children his age has helped him overcome this perfect storm that came his way in his formative period.
The memoir’s title reveals the book’s central theme, which you won’t get any clue about until you have read a third of the book when he hits the very bottom and is left with nothing – literally. It is a brutally honest account of growing up in poor, multi-racial, multi-cultural families and societies. Many people who grew up in the same revolutionary period in Ethiopia as I can relate to most of his stories.
Readers can learn from this very inspiring story of endurance that hardened the young boy who once upon a time “had nothing” to gradually become not only a successful world-class professional but also pushed himself to climb mountains and run over multiple Marathons. You can buy the book on Amazon.
lensa
I’m very excited about the Book Launch ‘Hope in the Sky’. I feel like I’ve waited forever for Book 2.
Book 1: “To Have Nothing” is an exceptional read, a story that moved me to my cores with each turning page. This is a story of a young Ethiopian-Yemeni boy who was born into wealth, ended up on the streets, in prison…. I wonder what awaits him in his journey….
meron
To Have Nothing (Book 1 of 3) is a riveting account of Adel Ben Harhara life journey in Ethiopia as an Ethiopian-Yemeni young boy. It was a book that made me laugh and cry at
some times. It shows the strength and determination of a boy that went from riches to the streets of Ethiopia. I can’t wait till I get my hands on his second book, Hope in The Sky. Sunday is not coming soon enough.
million
The book is well written and the story of Adel is similar to most unfortunate street kids in Ethiopia. Every child on the street has some kind of history to tell. I really like the research
put towards writing this book about language, culture and social values in Ethiopia.
Reviews of Book Two (Hope in the Sky)
Heather
Adel captures the reader and takes them on an unbelievable journey in To Have Nothing. He masterfully weaves history, geography & culture into his emotional account of his early
childhood in Ethiopia. I couldn’t put down the Advanced Readers Copy and can’t wait for volume II.
Karim
To Have Nothing is one of the few books I couldn’t put down!
This book is great storytelling about a boy’s resilience to survive from rejection during his formative years. Despite every
curveball thrown at him Adel writes about his strive to survive and look beyond what is In front of him to continue persevering.
Trina
I read the ARC copy of the book and can not say enough about it. It is a captivating page-turner.
The adage, “everyone has a story” applies, however not
everyone has a story like this. Adel’s heartbreaking tale of survival after the passing of his father is inspirational. Definitely, a perfect summer read.
cheryl
It was well written and captured the feelings of a young boy living in a life we cannot even imagine. The attention to detail was so captivating and the emotion was heart-wrenching.
What an amazing story to be able to tell. So incredible that he began to write things down at such a young age, almost knowing that he would use those journals to write his story at a later date.
ken
I was able to read the Advance Readers Copy (ARC) and I found myself engrossed with Adel’s journey through his family turmoil, political upheaval, and personal growth. Adel’s story
was so vivid, expansive, and filled with modern history I found myself wanting to see his story told in a movie or short series format. Having seen many other biographical journeys written and explored through this means, Adel’s story is certainly worthy of the same treatment. Well worth reading!
misalee
This beautifully written book about a young man’s journey takes us on a time capsule through one of the most complex periods of Ethiopian history. This is a story of survival and
resilience. I was transported into the pain and hardships I faced as a young person fighting for freedom under one of the most brutal dictatorships my country has ever seen. This book took transported me in ways that I will forever be grateful for. Captivating, intimate, and raw. A recommended read to all!
deborah
This is a very compelling and emotional story of a child’s journey of growing up in Ethiopia while enduring unimaginable hardships. There are many moments of inspiration, shock, and
humour to keep you on the edge of your seat and to pull on your heartstrings for the challenges he had to endure. Although based on his life, there is also an Ethiopian lesson in culture, history, religion, and family dynamics. I can’t wait to read the next two books of this trilogy to follow Adel’s intriguing story.
Reviews of Book Three (My Silver Lining)
Solange A.
In My Silver Lining Adel narrates his challenges immigrating to US and Canada, first as a young student, later as a professional, and a father. Adel accounts in a very engaging and compelling way his journey as he adapts to a totally different culture, and the challenges he faces in his marriage and while raising his daughters.
The book is written with such honesty and openness that it is impossible not to connect to Adel as he shares his struggles, dreams, feelings, and frustrations in his journey to immigrate from Yemen to the US and later on, to Canada.
My Silver Lining is a true testimony of resilience and personal growth.
Ken Ruller
as a runner, I had special interests in the sections regarding six star journey and his hopes to be a 7 continent runner and especially his section on Gerry Miller who I have run and travelled with with many times. I also had to check my Kili Certificate to see where I placed but it appears the numbering system had changed from my time to Adel’s time as I was listed as 558/2001, and did the easier Coca Cola Route, but his description brought me right back to that time. This book and the others before it were enjoyable and amazing. Some part of me thinks that his continued exploits and travels will lend itself to a fourth book in the future.
Carolyn Kildare
two books, “To Have Nothing” and “Hope in the Sky”; this book continues his story as a young adult at university in Idaho and then his adult life in Canada. Adel shares his dreams, frustrations and ultimate success with us as he navigates the adult challenges of education, career, parenthood and personal growth.
If you haven’t read the first two books – don’t let that hold you back from picking up this book! Adel’s struggles as he adapts to North American culture as a young man from Ethiopia and Yemen are relatable for anyone who has ever had to learn how to fit into an unfamiliar and sometimes unwelcoming culture.
An engaging, thought-provoking personal story, “My Silver Lining” shows that success is possible by being a good, honest person and tenaciously overcoming obstacles.
Mommasams
and hope; the sometimes unexpected kindness of strangers in the midst of the sadly expected cruelty most immigrants endure on upon settling in a new country.
The surprising bonus comes in the latter part of the book where Adel chronicles his travel adventures that resulted from picking up certain hobbies and pursuits out of a place of despair. It is very inspirational. I can see many people benefiting from it – being inspired to find activities for themselves that bring peace into their lives.
deb
I found this book to be very informative which helped me to understand a culture and history I knew very little if anything about. Overall, I
found this book an easy read as it flowed well. I wouldn’t normally pick this type of book to read so I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting I found it. It was hard to put down at times. To summarize I found the story to be extremely inspirational and compelling. It revealed that despite all the trauma suffered in his life, he was able to escape and move on in hopes of a better life through perseverance and education. If you are looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend this one!
shelagh
This book is written unevenly and has a slow start. But it does pick up and rewards the reader with a tale that is quite stirring. Family infighting mixed with religious and racial bigotry made
Adele’s life precarious almost from the very start. Living on the streets and then being forced into political detention could have ended his life at any time. However, his innate gifts and some well-timed help from friends and relatives allowed him to come through it all.
The book has English, Amharic (Ethiopian), and Arabic versions and I’m sure the three different audiences will have extremely different reactions to the story. The book discusses mixed marriages, sex between persons of vastly different ages, and the rights -or lack thereof- of women and children. I had a quite different reaction to Adele’s when it came to how his father, mother, and other family members treated him.