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nancyinoregon's review against another edition
4.0
How to assign a rating to a memoir like this?
Writing quality? 2 stars--many repetitions of information--reads like he dictated the book in sections and the book was never edited from start to finish.
Memorable stories about individuals in service to our country? 4 stars.
A life purposefully lived? 5 stars.
Effect of the author's actions on the quality of others' lives? 5 stars.
Ability to make tears spring to readers' eyes? 5 stars.
Inspiration to live one's own life more meaningfully? 4 stars.
Likelihood of remembering that I read this book? 5 stars.
I didn't know about Gary Sinise's "other life" of charitable work. He has used his fame to accomplish extraordinary things. While much of Hollywood is busy virtue signaling, Gary has quietly worked for decades to make individual lives tangibly better, his reward being the satisfaction that comes with a life of service and gratitude. Want to change the world and change your own life for the better? You can do it with small acts of kindness.
Writing quality? 2 stars--many repetitions of information--reads like he dictated the book in sections and the book was never edited from start to finish.
Memorable stories about individuals in service to our country? 4 stars.
A life purposefully lived? 5 stars.
Effect of the author's actions on the quality of others' lives? 5 stars.
Ability to make tears spring to readers' eyes? 5 stars.
Inspiration to live one's own life more meaningfully? 4 stars.
Likelihood of remembering that I read this book? 5 stars.
I didn't know about Gary Sinise's "other life" of charitable work. He has used his fame to accomplish extraordinary things. While much of Hollywood is busy virtue signaling, Gary has quietly worked for decades to make individual lives tangibly better, his reward being the satisfaction that comes with a life of service and gratitude. Want to change the world and change your own life for the better? You can do it with small acts of kindness.
hanrochi's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Autobiography. Military Veterans
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
5.0
Even before Sinise was Lieutenant Dan, he already had a passion for supporting our military. He produced and acted in a play about Vietnam vets, performing it with the Steppenwolf Theater.
I needed to read about some gratitude. Even though this memoir has been on the shelf for a couple of years, this fall of 2021 is when I was drawn to it, because of the title. It's uplifting to read about a good, caring, grateful person.
In highschool during the Vietnam draft, he got into theater because the drama teacher reached out to him and his friends. I loved this. He talks about being in West Side Story, and I loved learning about how he started Steppenwolf.
His wife was a cast member of Steppenwolf. It's interesting that she came from a military family, and she became an actor, but was destined to be the wife of an actor who became embraced for his portrayal of a military person.
He is a can-do guy, a man of action. A very cool guy. His foundation builds houses for vets and his band, the Lieutenant Dan Band exclusively plays for military servicemen and women. Makes me grateful that there are people like this in the world.
I needed to read about some gratitude. Even though this memoir has been on the shelf for a couple of years, this fall of 2021 is when I was drawn to it, because of the title. It's uplifting to read about a good, caring, grateful person.
In highschool during the Vietnam draft, he got into theater because the drama teacher reached out to him and his friends. I loved this. He talks about being in West Side Story, and I loved learning about how he started Steppenwolf.
His wife was a cast member of Steppenwolf. It's interesting that she came from a military family, and she became an actor, but was destined to be the wife of an actor who became embraced for his portrayal of a military person.
He is a can-do guy, a man of action. A very cool guy. His foundation builds houses for vets and his band, the Lieutenant Dan Band exclusively plays for military servicemen and women. Makes me grateful that there are people like this in the world.
jasonhintze's review against another edition
5.0
Exceptional account of Gary Sinise and his acts of service to show gratitude towards veterans. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about how a great man carved his own path, and found his true purpose in life.
alf_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
tomaind's review against another edition
5.0
Forrest Gump is an iconic movie that my family and I have watched many times. We've eaten at the Bubba Gump restaurants in San Francisco and NYC many times. Filled with memorable quotes, it is a movie that has touched millions. What this movie and the character Lieutenant Dan has done for Gary Sinise, has helped inspire him to give an enormous amount of his time and efforts making sure the men and women of our armed services and first responders are never forgotten. Gary's love for America and his appreciation and respect to the men & women who fight for our freedom shows how he is a grateful American and made him one of our national treasures.
In his book, Gary takes us with his life growing up in the Chicago area and shows us that he has always had respect for our armed forces. Although Gary struggled through his teen years in school, a teacher that noticed his potential, set him on a path of acting. Gary's commitment to acting has lead him to some memorable roles. Gary is a devout Catholic, committed actor and family man. His love of family and America has made him someone to greatly admire. The amount of time, energy and money he has raised and donated himself, is amazing. The stories he shared in this book of the incredible heroes who have fought for our country and what he has seen in war torn countries around the world, brought me to tears several times. Many people may not remember his name or know him as Gary Sinise, but everyone knows and loves Lieutenant Dan. Thank you Gary Sinise for all that you have done and still do for America and people the world over.
In his book, Gary takes us with his life growing up in the Chicago area and shows us that he has always had respect for our armed forces. Although Gary struggled through his teen years in school, a teacher that noticed his potential, set him on a path of acting. Gary's commitment to acting has lead him to some memorable roles. Gary is a devout Catholic, committed actor and family man. His love of family and America has made him someone to greatly admire. The amount of time, energy and money he has raised and donated himself, is amazing. The stories he shared in this book of the incredible heroes who have fought for our country and what he has seen in war torn countries around the world, brought me to tears several times. Many people may not remember his name or know him as Gary Sinise, but everyone knows and loves Lieutenant Dan. Thank you Gary Sinise for all that you have done and still do for America and people the world over.
skigirl1689's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably one of the best, if not the best, memoir I've read. It's funny, raw, heartbreaking, and just really, really good. I've always loved some of Sinise's roles I grew up with, and I have followed some of the work he has done for veterans and their families.
Having lost a loved one who was a veteran less than a year ago, reading this made me much more emotional than I had expected, but it made me appreciate the time I had with him and his service all the more. We take the freedom's we have far too often for granted, and Sinise's story is a great reminder of what we all should be trying to do for our veterans, service members, and their families.
Having lost a loved one who was a veteran less than a year ago, reading this made me much more emotional than I had expected, but it made me appreciate the time I had with him and his service all the more. We take the freedom's we have far too often for granted, and Sinise's story is a great reminder of what we all should be trying to do for our veterans, service members, and their families.