Reem Borrows’ From the River to the Sea: Humanizing Freedom is part memoir, part historical reckoning, and part call to action. The book weaves her personal story as a Palestinian Christian born in Haifa with broader reflections on leadership, justice, and interconnectedness. Split into two sections, it first unpacks history and politics of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, and then moves into a more philosophical appeal for compassion, unity, and change. From the haunting memories of the Nakba to the powerful imagery of doctors in Haifa declaring, “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies,” Borrows grounds her arguments in lived experience, historical accounts, and spiritual lessons.

What I appreciated most was her ability to keep the writing deeply human. For example, in the introduction she recalls her family’s immigration to Australia, where for the first time they were treated simply as people and not as second-class citizens. That scene with the customs officer in Sydney, who greeted them warmly, stayed with me. It made me feel the sharp contrast she was drawing freedom in one place, prejudice in another. The writing in those moments felt both tender and powerful.

At the same time, there were parts that hit me with a gut-punch. Her retelling of tragedies like the bombing of an eleven-story building in Gaza, or the story of Muhammad al-Durrah and his father shot while seeking cover, is raw and unsettling. She doesn’t let the reader turn away or hide behind easy narratives. I’ll admit, those pages made me angry, not just at the events themselves but at how easily such stories get brushed aside in mainstream discourse. And when she connects this to other historical injustices, slavery, apartheid, colonization of Indigenous peoples, it made me reflect on how recurring patterns of fear and dehumanization shape so much of human history.

The most thought-provoking sections, though, were where Borrows shifts from history to mindset. She leans on her background in leadership and personal development, blending in lessons from Buddhism, Christianity, and even corporate leadership training. At first it felt almost strange reading about Gaza alongside references to Ernest Hemingway or global business programs but over time I saw her point. She’s trying to show that leadership, love, and fearlessness are not just for politics but for how we live and act daily. Her metaphor of “finding the other tigers and lions” instead of arguing with “donkeys” who refuse truth made me laugh, but it also stuck with me as a reminder not to waste energy on futile battles.

In the end, the book is equal parts lament and hope. It’s not just about Palestine and Israel; it’s about humanity’s tendency to repeat its worst mistakes and our stubborn hope that we can learn to do better. I’d recommend From the River to the Sea to anyone who wants to step outside the usual headlines and feel the human dimension of the conflict. It’s also for readers who enjoy books that mix personal story with big, sometimes uncomfortable questions about justice, love, and what it really means to be free. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s one that leaves you with both a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility.

Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0CN42975V