Book Review: Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant

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Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant is about a 1960 emigration and the challenges of leaving a socially privileged life and becoming unknown nobodies.

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​Albert's search for meaning and his determination to improve the human condition make this an inspiration story of one man working his way through hardship to achieve a meaningful place in his adopted nation.

My Review

This is an enjoyable and detailed read. I enjoy a good memoir because they help me learn about others, their experiences and how they embrace, fight, and handle them. One of my first and favorite memoir, non-fiction, reads was The Diary of Anne Frank. As I read Looking West: The Journey of a Labanese-American Immigrant, I thought about reading Anne Frank's diary. The detail of his surroundings and the emotion comes alive and I felt as if I was traveling with him. I've tried to imagine the difficulty of immigrants, especially during this time period, but I will admit, I underestimated the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact it has them, their families, and friends.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when he describes coming into the New York Harbor and seeing the top of the Statue of Liberty and straining to see the rest amidst all the smog. The love for America was immediate. He loved our country before he arrived yet it was Lady Liberty who hooked him. My heart ached for him when he wasn't allowed to tour the city because they had to catch their train to Albany, New York. The detail and love for his new home inspire me and reminded me of the first time I saw the Statue of Liberty, my journey wasn't life changing yet his description and that feeling in the pit of the stomach when you see her for the first time were spot on.

I recommend this book and encourage you to click on the links to read some of the other reviews. Some bloggers interviewed the author too. I enjoy visiting the other blogs after I write mine to learn more about the book and the author because each person who reads a book takes away a different view. Happy reading!!

About the Author
Albert Nasib Badre is an American author born in Beirut, Lebanon. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1960 at the age of fourteen. His family made Albany, N.Y. their first home in America where he attended a private Catholic high school through his Junior year. After three years in Albany, the family moved to Iowa City, Iowa, when his father accepted a professor position at the University of Iowa. He finished his senior year at Iowa City High School, then went on to the University of Iowa where he got a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. After college, he spent a year as a social worker in New York City. Deciding social work was not for him, he went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of Michigan where he got his Ph.D. in 1973.

He spent the next thirty years at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and today he’s Professor Emeritus of Computing. During his tenure at Georgia Tech, he was an international consultant specializing in designing technology to enhance the human experience. Dr. Badre was an early pioneer in the field of human-centric design, with some thirty years of experience in human-computer interaction, learning technologies, and human-centric e-learning. His background combines expertise in the empirical methodologies of the behavioral sciences and the design approaches of the computing sciences. 

Dr. Badre authored numerous technical papers, is co-editor of the book Directions in Human Computer Interaction, and the author of the book, Shaping Web Usability: Interaction Design in Context, which was adopted in several dozen courses worldwide. His memoirs, Looking West, is the story of his coming of age immigration to America and subsequent conversion to the Catholic Church.

Today, Dr. Badre and his wife live in Providence, R.I., near his son and family, where he leads a very active volunteer life, in service to the community. 

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Ways to Follow & Connect Dr. Badre:
Website: https://www.badremusings.com

Twitter: @anbadre

Instagram: @anbadre

Goodreads: Albert_N_Badre
​www.goodreads.com/author/show/197752.Albert_N_Badre

Other Blogs on the Tour:
April 8th @ The Muffin
Albert Nasib Badre launches his tour of Looking West; The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant with an interview and giveaway at the Muffin!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

April 11th @ World of My Imagination with Nicole Pyles
Nicole Pyles shares her review of Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant with readers at World of My Imagination. Don't miss a chance to learn more about this heroic memoir.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

April 12th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto shares a 5 star review or the touching and empowering memoir Looking Westby Albert Nasib Badre.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

April 15th @ Selling Books with Cathy Stucker
Cathy Stucker interview Albert Nasib Badre about his empowering memoir Looking West; The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant. Readers at Selling Books are looking forward to learning more about this touching journey.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

April 16th @ To Write or Not to Write with Sreevarsha Sreejith 
Sreevarsha Sreejith reviews Looking West by Albert Nasib Badre. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Sreevarsha and visit To Write or Not to Write.
http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.com/

April 16th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interview
Don't miss today's empowering and honest interview between Lisa Haselton and Albert Nasib Badre - you will want to learn more about Looking West; The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant in this touching memoir.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

April 17th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Well known book reviewer and fellow memoirist Linda Appleman Shapiro reviews Looking West; The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant by Albert Nasib Badre.
http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/

April 19th @ Memoir Revolution with Jerry Waxler
Jerry Waxler thoroughly enjoyed reader Looking West; The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant by Albert Nasib Badre and shares his thoughts with readers at Memoir Revolution. Don't miss this insightful review of Badre's touching memoir.
https://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/

April 22nd @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina delights readers at his blog as he reviews the moving memoir Looking West by Albert Nasib Badre.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

April 23rd @ Beverley A. Baird
Beverley A. Baird reviews the memoir Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant by Albert Nasib Badre.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

April 25th @ Writing Through Life
Amber interviews Albert Nasib Badre about his moving memoir Looking West - don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the journey of this successful Lebanese-American immigrant.
http://writingthroughlife.com/

April 26th @ Breakeven Books
Today's author spotlight at Breakeven Books is none other than memoirist and immigrant Albert Nasib Badre with his touching story Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about this inspirational coming of age memoir.
https://breakevenbooks.com/

April 29th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews "Looking West" by Albert Nasib Badre - readers at Coffee with Lacey will delight in this beautiful coming of age memoir and one man's journey as a Lebanese-American immigrant. 
https://coffeewithlacey.com/

April 30th @ Choices by Madeline Sharples
Today's guest post titled "The Backstory: Letters, Photos, and Conversations" is penned by Albert Nasib Badre. Don't miss this great post and opportunity to learn about Badre's memoir Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant.
http://madelinesharples.com/

May 7th @ Bring on Lemons with Karen Levy
Israeli-American author Karen Levy reviews Looking West: The Journey of a Lebanese-American Immigrant by Albert Nasib Badre.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/