In 2016, Dr. Byron Conner published his masterfully written memoir about his time in Ethiopia. The book is titled The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia. It is a first-hand account of the infamous tragedy that hit the African nation, claimed thousands of lives, and affected thousands more. The 1983-1985 prompted nations worldwide to send missionary aid, including medical personnel and supplies. Dr. Byron Conner volunteered and spent over three years in various parts of the country. The journey enabled him to see the nation’s fundamental and more profound problems aside from the food crisis. The Face of Hunger is one man’s chronicle of his years in Ethiopia and more. Today, we will present five reasons why Dr. Byron Conner’s The Face of Hunger is more than a remarkable memoir.
It’s a family memoir.
While the book is written from Dr. Byron Conner’s point of view (POV), the book features the whole family. When he decided to fly into the African country to serve as a missionary, Byron Conner took his wife and children along with him. In the book, readers will learn how Mrs. Conner and the kids adapted to their new environment and how they supported Dr. Conner’s work while in Ethiopia. The family spent three meaningful years in the country, and their experiences are equally life-changing. The Face of Hunger is their story in as much as it is Byron Conner’s.
It’s a historical book.
The 1983-1985 Ethiopian Famine is regarded as one of the worst human tragedies. It affected millions of lives not only because of hunger but also sickness, poverty, and small tribal wars all over the country. The three-year food crisis alone had an estimated death toll of 1.2 million people. History books will also remember the tragedy as the coming together of many nations. Countries from all over the world responded and sent aid and people. In Conner’s memoir, readers will realize that it is also a chronicle of an important chapter in its history.
It is about humanity.
The story of the great famine and Dr. Byron Conner’s memoir about the crisis does not only reflect a nation’s history and tragedy. The Face of Hunger is also about the international response, the aid, the emotions that Ethiopians and the rest of the world felt during these moments of death and suffering. It is also the story of the many men and women who chose to leave the comforts of their homes to help a nation in distress. Dr. Byron Conner’s story reflects our humanity and our nature. It is a story that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.
It’s an inspiring read.
Of course, The Face of Hunger is one inspiring tale that should merit our appreciation. Readers will be inspired by one man’s struggle to divide his time providing medical assistance to various locations with limited resources. Readers will be inspired by a small family away from their homeland that has managed to make a country in crisis their home for three years. Lastly, readers will discover the courage, faith, and resolve of the people in Ethiopia and those who came to their aid. The Face of Hunger is an inspiring read for many reasons.
It’s filled with lessons.
The Face of Hunger exposed many problems in Ethiopia. Among the issues featured in the book are political instability (tribal wars and poor governance), food and resources management, state abandonment of basic services such as health and medical services, and corruption. All these issues play a huge factor in what became one of the worst national tragedies in living memory. Hopefully, leaders who will read Dr. Byron Conner’s memoir will be reminded of the dire consequences if social issues are not addressed.
These are just some of the reasons why The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia by Dr. Byron Conner is a relevant read. To know more about the book and the author, you can visit Byron Conner’s author website.
