The Urban Shepherd: Chasing the American Dream

Book excerpt: He has come a long way both literally and figuratively from his days as a poor shepherd boy in Tunisia, North Africa, but Ben Amor is a symbol of what can happen when you don't give up and chase the American Dream until it comes true. The successful career man reinvented himself again after a dream in 1983 of children crying because they were dying of starvation. Unable to forget the sound of children crying, he founded Terra-Genesis Inc., a nonprofit agency that began as a way to try to end world hunger through technology. The book tells how a young man's vision and passion lead him to chase the American Dream in spite of many challenges and people calling him "crazy". Ben has his own experience with overcoming the odds, a journey he intimately describes in The Urban Shepherd. He shares his joys-and his sorrows-from humble beginnings working hard to survive in Tunisia, serving in the Tunisian Air Force, and moving to the United States to live. Through sharing his personal journey adjusting to a new culture, toxic relationships, professional and personal setbacks, and balancing school, work, and family life, Ben aims to empower readers to chase and reach the American Dream. Chasing the American Dream...the Story of a Shepherd Boy The Urban Shepherd is a biographical self-help book that shows how a young poor shepherd boy followed his desire to find the American Dream. Staying perseverant in pursuit of a dream can be challenging, especially when one starts out with meager resources, lack of experience, and a continuous barrage of personal and professional setbacks. The Urban Shepherd takes you on an engaging journey through the souks of Tunisia, North Africa, to the bustle of the San Antonio, Texas, with its Alamo and Riverwalk. While the book reads like a mosaic pieced by countless aspects of life, relationships, and professional growth, its purpose is clear-to empower readers to chase and actualize their dreams and find self-fulfillment. The book shows that what is important is not where you start but where you end up. The author was born in Tunisia as a boy of humble stature, raised on farmland. As a Tunisian Muslim, he decided to join the air force and then moved to the United Sates to pursue the American Dream. The dream did not come easily, but eventually, it did come. The author cites bits of advice from notable authors such as T. Harv Eker, Elizabeth Steger, and Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements. Ben's approach is both instructional and personal as he mentions works that he gained inspiration from.