Publisher: New Degree Press
Release date: September 1, 2021
Formats: Paperback, E-book
Length: 394 pages
Language: English
Cover photographs: Sabri Benalycherif
Interior photographs: Andrew G. Farrand
Map of Algeria: Amina Wafaa Berrais
The Algerian Dream: Youth and the Quest for Dignity
by Andrew G. Farrand
Few outsiders have had the privilege to get to know Algeria and its youth so intimately—or to observe firsthand this pivotal chapter in the nation’s history. It’s a story that reveals much about the relationship between citizens and leaders, about the sanctity of human dignity, and about the power of dreams and the courage to pursue them.
Nearly two-thirds of Algeria's population is under the age of 35. Growing up during or soon after the violent conflict that wracked Algeria during the 1990s, and amid the powerful influences of global online culture, this generation views the world much differently than their parents or grandparents do.
The Algerian Dream invites readers to discover this generation, their hopes for the future and, most significantly, the frustrations that have brought them into the streets en masse since 2019, peacefully challenging a long-established order. After seven years living and working alongside these young people across Algeria, Andrew G. Farrand shares his insights on what makes the next generation tick in North Africa’s sleeping giant.
Photograph: Sabri Benalycherif
Video Summary
A visual introduction to The Algerian Dream by its author.
(Produced in 2020 by New Degree Press, featuring footage compliments of Allaqta Productions, Just World Books, and Andi Hulm)
About the Author
Andrew G. Farrand is a Nonresident Senior Fellow for North Africa at the Atlantic Council and author of The Algerian Dream (2021). He lived and worked in Algeria from 2013 to 2020, implementing youth development programs across the country alongside a range of creative projects.
“An expert on North Africa” (The New Yorker), he is the translator of Inside the Battle of Algiers (2017) by Zohra Drif, a contributor to Uncommon Alger (2016), and author of numerous articles on Algeria. He is well known in Algeria as a travel writer, photographer, and media personality.
Born and raised in the United States, Andrew is a proficient Algerian Arabic and French speaker. In 2020 he served as host of Andi Hulm (“I Have a Dream”), Algeria’s first entrepreneurship reality television show. He blogs at ibnibnbattuta.com.
Praise for The Algerian Dream
Winner of a 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards silver medal!
“An exceptionally well-rounded, fair-minded, and astute evaluation of Algeria's infuriatingly complex and contradictory character… [and] a must-read for anyone... with an interest in contemporary Algerian politics and society.” - John P. Entelis, Journal of North African Studies
“Essential reading for anyone who wants to have a deep and nuanced understanding of the dynamics driving events in Algeria today.” - Zohra Drif, Algerian independence hero and author of Inside the Battle of Algiers: Memoir of a Woman Freedom Fighter
“No one else could have written this book. Farrand is an astute observer, a talented linguist, and a graceful writer with the skills and personality to win the confidence of people who are often skeptical of outsiders. We should all be grateful for his opening a window into their world.” - William B. Quandt, Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia, and author of Revolution and Political Leadership: Algeria, 1954-1968
“As an Algerian born in the 1980s, I see myself and my generation in this book. The Algerian Dream distills for both Algerians and outside readers the trends and events that are shaping Algeria’s future.” - Ali Belghit, former president, Amnesty International Algeria
“In The Algerian Dream, Farrand has done what so few writers on North Africa have managed successfully: bring people to life on the page with all their heart, personality, courage, dignity, and quirks intact.” - Taylor Luck, Middle East North Africa correspondent, The Christian Science Monitor
“Informative, illuminating and fascinating... a fresh and an extremely timely first-hand account of the Algerian society.... Farrand’s book is a comprehensive introduction to all those who seek to deepen their knowledge of the country of one and a half million martyrs.” - Noureddine Jebnoun, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University
Where to Buy
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Contact the Author
Interested in reviewing the book? Interviewing Andrew or inviting him to speak? Placing a bulk order? Reading the book in your class or book club? Seeing the book on the shelves of your favorite bookstore? Or maybe you just have a question about The Algerian Dream?
E-mail Andrew at ibnibnbattuta@gmail.com.