[PDF] Download Brick by Brick: Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere by Karen Sherman | Free EBOOK PDF English

Book Details Title: Brick by Brick: Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere Author: Karen Sherman Number of pages: Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (January 8, 2020) Language: English ISBN: 1538130319 Rating: 4,5     13 reviews

Book Description Review This engaging memoir skillfully blends three story lines. The primary narrative is an account of the year Sherman, an advocate for women’s rights, lived in Rwanda with her three teenage sons. Background material details several women’s experiences during the horrific Rwandan ethnic battles of the 1990s, when almost one million Tutsis were murdered by Hutus during a country-wide genocide. The third thread shares Sherman’s personal journey as she examines her roles as wife and mother. This approach leads to everyday domestic scenes (misunderstandings about menus and shopping lists) set against testimonials of unimaginable horror (Rwandan women who witnessed their entire families being slaughtered) mingled with parenting milestones (one son’s request for advice on French kissing). The three narratives mesh, perhaps because all three include elements of hope and healing. Readers will come away impressed with the resilience of Rwandan women as they strive for financial independence through local initiatives including farming and brick-making. This inspiring account folds in aspects of forgiveness and growth: stepping stones to a brighter future., BooklistA moving, fascinating story filled with emotional highs and lows, adventures and setbacks—and a large dose of wisdom. Every woman will relate to aspects of Brick by Brick and be inspired. — Melanne Verveer, former United States ambassador for global women’s issuesKaren Sherman tells her poignant story of being a mother, a successful leader, and an advocate for women worldwide in Brick by Brick. Her empathy for women who have been victims of violence, abuse, and disempowerment is inspirational, and her story truly has the unique power to connect the stories of women everywhere. — Joyce Banda, former president of MalawiKaren Sherman’s personal and inspiring account of her family’s experience living in Rwanda for a year and the many life lessons that came from her work with women survivors is an easy and compelling read for anyone who strives to be a global citizen—and raise global citizens. — Lauren Bush Lauren, founder and CEO of FEEDKaren Sherman tells two powerful stories here, both of them straightforward yet affecting: one about her personal struggles in the first world, overlaid on another about women pushed to the brink during the Rwandan genocide. Along the way, it becomes clear that the ability to triumph is rooted in empathy and shared support. In Brick by Brick’s overlapping worlds, life lessons are where you find them, and heartrending and heartwarming are never far apart. — Alan Huffman, author of Mississippi in Africa and Here I AmBrick by Brick introduces us to the people whose lives form the pieces of the world’s most complex development puzzles. Karen Sherman draws upon her encounters with entrepreneurs and activists around the world and shows us the power of women to change their communities and their country. In sharing the stories of these indomitable women, Sherman illuminates their resilience under the most dire circumstances and shares the powerful political and personal lessons that resilience shares. — Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of Dressmaker of Khair Khana and Ashley’s WarA deeply honest and moving read. Sherman weaves her own search for balance and acceptance with the courageous stories of the women survivors she works with in war-torn countries like Rwanda, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. Finding universal threads of womanhood in their shared experiences, she draws inspiration from their awe-inspiring strength and resilience. — Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International and author of Freedom Is an Inside JobAs a survivor and advocate for those suffering in neglected parts of the world, I was touched on many levels by Karen’s journey. Her grit and courage are a gift to the countless women and girls she’s dedicated her life to lifting up. Her fierce personal honesty will inspire all who read this wonderful book. — Ashley Judd, actor, author, and humanitarianA journey like no other! With unflinching honesty, badass mom and lifelong women’s-rights activist Karen Sherman maps her journey—and the stories of those she’s met along the way—through the highest questions of modern womanhood: beauty, regret, connection, sacrifice, survivorship, and choice. From suburban dinner parties to rapid-fire war zones, long since abandoned adolescent memories to the tallest peak in Africa, this page-turner charts emotional landscapes that connect women everywhere. Sure to leave the reader with her own soul-quaking questions and a tidal wave of bravery to face them down. — Lisa J. Shannon, author of A Thousand Sisters and Mama Koko and the Hundred Gunmen Read more About the Author Karen Sherman is president of Akilah, a college in Rwanda providing accessible and affordable higher education for women. Prior to joining Akilah, she was the COO and led global programs at Women for Women International, an organization that enables women survivors of war to restart their lives. Karen has also served as executive vice president at Counterpart International, a global humanitarian and development organization. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband and their three sons. Read more Customers Review: This a powerful, moving and achingly honest book. Brick by Brick book flows on parallel streams covering Ms Sherman’s private struggles with her marriage, family and her relationship with them as wife and mother, and her relationship with the her work and the women she works with. Ms Sherman tells moving stories of tragedy, selflessnes, heroism and often forgiveness by these women. I was continuingly moved by her stories of the utter devastation of these women’s lives and their climb back through incredible courage and personal growth. The old saying “when women succeed, societies succeed,” is clearly brought out through Ms Sherman’s work in training these women in new and practical skills. After many years of a driven work life, she uses her time in Rwanda with her boys to come to grips with what matters in life. Her journey to bring balance back to her life is a painfully honest one. Every reader will find many a connection with what Ms Sherman struggled through. I found it to be a very difficult book to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed Brick by Brick, I think you will too. I loved this book. The author’s personal story is fiercely honest and relatable on many levels. In addition to loving the author’s story, I was also blown away reading the interspersed personal stories of the courageous women she has met throughout her long career serving women in war-torn countries. A very inspirational read that I highly recommend. Don’t miss the chance to see the author speak if her book tour comes to your area. This was a wonderfully insightful memoir that is so multifaceted. The author is honest and thoughtful about herself and her relationships and I loved the way she wove in the stories of the women she met in her work at Women for Women International. This is an incredible book that beautifully weaves one woman’s personal journey with the narratives of women she works with professionally. It finds common themes for all women no matter their race, socioeconomic status, culture or religion. It speaks to suffering and the hope found in healing. I highly recommend this book. Brick by Brick shows you the common threads of being a woman in todays world- regardless of geography, economy or politics. This is a story of hope. I couldn’t put it down. “Brick by Brick” is an enormously compelling account of one woman’s 30 year career of literally walking alongside women survivors of unspeakable loss and violence around the world as they rebuild their lives. The book seamlessly weaves together their harrowing and yet remarkably hopeful stories with the author’s own reckoning with the real cost this work has had on her marriage and family, as well as facing the truth of her own upbringing in an abusive home. I so appreciated the author’s vulnerability and honesty, particularly her struggles with what it means to be a “good mother” in the US while being so committed to be a change agent for women for whom that thought is a luxury. Several of my friends read it, and we all had the same reaction: let’s recommit to doing whatever we can to build hope in whatever ways we can. A wonderfully moving story about the brave women of Ruwanda. Told by an equally brave and honest Karen Sherman.Sherman gives a heartfelt picture of the resilience of women especially when offered opportunities for education and training.She shares her own stories about marriage; motherhood and careers. The profession of international development and human rights is not well-understood by most people outside the field, and the reality of working in the field, some of the most challenging places on earth even less so. Karen Sherman’s memoir illuminates the particular rewards and difficulties faced by women who are dedicated to this work in a very personal, raw and honest account of a seminal year she and her family spent in Rwanda.