Title: Road to Freedom
Subtitle: My Life and Journey from a 3rd World Country
Author: Edward Nieto
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-9845-3122-3
Pages: 232
Genre: Memoir/Autobiography
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Pacific Book Review
Road to Freedom is the heartwarming memoir of a Colombian man’s journey to becoming an American citizen. Road to Freedom is a memoir which will inspire readers.
The book tells the story of Nieto’s immigration to America from Colombia in the 1960’s. Nieto escapes the political unrest of Colombia and finds steady work as an engineer for petroleum companies. He travels the world as an oil company representative with his wife and children. As he travels around the world and experiences the challenges of other nations, Nieto realizes how fortunate he is to have found a home in America where he can worship and think as he pleases.
Road to Freedom is a mixture of memoir and political opinion that blend well together. As Nieto explains his conservative views on religion and politics, his views dovetail with his belief in freedom of religion and his deep Catholic faith. Nieto has witnessed the suppression of differing opinions in his native Colombia and doesn’t want America to suffer the same fate.
Though Nieto is an immigrant who ironically supports President Trump and his controversial immigration policies, he makes a cogent commentary about native-born and new Americans needing to unite to help America. Road to Freedom offers a unique perspective on life as a conservative Latino man in America. Nieto presents his views in such a thoughtful and nuanced way, readers of all political leanings can gain insight from Road to Freedom.
Nieto’s writing is conversational and relatable on many levels. When he writes about his family and friends, many readers feel they know Nieto on a personal level. The pictures of his family at the end the book also add to the familiar tone Nieto establishes with his readers. Road to Freedom also has helpful highlights of Nieto’s life in bullet points at the beginning of the book to guide readers. Nieto’s detailed descriptions of the nations he visited will make many readers feel they are in the deserts of Libya or the mountains of Peru.
Road to Freedom would be best for readers who want to read books about the immigrant experience, like Colombian Memoirs by Paul Lopez. The book would also be best for readers who want to read a book about a conservative approach to immigration, like Alberto Gonzales’ A Conservative and Compassionate Approach to Immigration Reform. Edward Nieto has written a book that will restore readers’ faith in the American Dream.
