Book Review One More Mountain Fleeing Iran for America

This inspirational heartwarming memoir is a testimonial to the value and importance of freedom, a basic human right. Dr. Mansur Nurdel and Jeannette Moninger's well-written story is told with compassion and conveys a sense of gratitude for what he has achieved for himself and his family over the years. 

The story begins with Dr. Nurdel's formative years growing up in Iran. It's a place where his family and other followers of the Bahá’í Faith, a religion founded in Iran nearly 200 years ago, were continually marginalized, abused, and persecuted. As a teenager, Dr. Nurdel and his two friends fled their homeland in search of religious freedom. They wanted a place where they could safely practice their Bahá’í Faith and freely further their education. Their perilous journey of over 14  days took them over treacherous mountains led by smugglers to the other side of the mountains into Turkey, a safe haven. The young men were forced to rely on their instincts, sharp intellect, and faith as they navigated the unknown dealing with frigid temperatures, hidden dangers, dehydration, and frostbite. The story becomes a mesmerizing page-turner. Once in Turkey, they became a part of the relocation process and ultimately Dr. Nurdel made his way to America settling in Wisconsin and later in Colorado. 

Nurdel's realization that education is the key to success became his impetus to obtain several degrees, ultimately becoming a successful optometrist. He remains humble and thankful for all he has achieved in America, vowing to help those less fortunate whenever possible. Indeed this is also a story of triumph, as Nurdel has overcome insurmountable obstacles to achieve personal and business success. More important is his perseverance and unwavering dedication to the Bahá’í Faith and to his family and extended family's welfare. 

A profound memoir that's such an inspiring read deserves to be in the hands of many readers. It would be a great discussion tool for high school English and social studies classes, writing classes using it as a resource on how to develop a memoir, and a recommended book read for an adult book club. His collaboration with freelance journalist Jeannette Moninger in developing his story is impressive.

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. Nurdel is a board-certified optometrist with offices throughout the Denver Metro Area. In addition to his time spent as a doctor, he is a Real Estate investor. He currently resides in Castle Pines, Colorado, with his wife and two boys.

Jeannette R. Moninger is a freelance journalist with more than 20 years of experience writing for national magazines, including Family Circle, Parents, Women’s Health, Cure, and Redbook. Her work has won numerous awards, including multiple National Health Information Awards, the Folio Editorial Excellence Award, the Planned Parenthood Maggie Award for Media Excellence, and the Meredith Corporation Creative Excellence Award. Born, raised, and educated in West Virginia, Jeannette now lives in Colorado with her husband, twin sons, and two cats.

For more information about the book and events check out Dr. Nurdal's website. https://onemoremountain.com/