EXTENDED #REVIEW from Tabby reviewed from United States The Dream From Dust: A Memoir of Triumph Against all odds “Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them” The Dream from Dust recounts Achilees' life. Through the many challenges of famine, poverty, disease, alcoholism and war, he emphasises the value of pursuing your dream and always being grateful for what you have and the people around you. Serving as one of my first insights into life in Uganda, this story touched my heart and reminded me to never take life for granted. We progress through the story in chronological order, beginning with the Uganda-Tanzania war. As someone who has never been to Africa, it was eye-opening to read a first-person perspective on life there. From the history of Uganda to the challenges faced by people there, the author provides a dive into Ugandan culture. This alone I feel already makes this book worth the read. It is not often you get such a deep view into another culture. The stories shared by the author include his family life, school life, and experience doing social work. I loved reading through his stories – some left me sorrowful, others angry. Many explore the multifacetedness of people. Additionally, the fiction-like descriptions helped me immerse into the story – it was easy to feel for the author and others. Through these stories, the themes of always fighting for your dreams and being grateful are hammered home. That being said, the matters covered in this book are heavy and may not be suitable for everyone. Topics include the aforementioned famine, poverty, disease, alcoholism and war, as well as HIV/AIDS, trauma, and physical and verbal abuse. With how deeply the author explores most of these topics, I would not recommend if you're to be affected.