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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I always feel kind of bad giving these things ratings that aren't top-notch, but there it is. My opinion, for better or worse. Part of it was I did look at Chris Gardner a couple times and just wonder what in the world he was thinking. Which, fine, you're a human, I can forgive that. Except the writing was an expository slog, which I am less forgiving of. So, yeah. Mediocre quality, but one more book I can finally take off my shelves, which I am certainly happy about.
I did not have time to finish it before I had to move on to other books, but until then, I had been enjoying it.
This book is equally as good as the movie. it really takes you through an emotional ride as you learn all the hardships that Chris was left to face. His journey is inspiring as it shows you his lowest and how he ends up at his highest and not giving up, he really defines the pursuit of happyness
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
The book that inspired the movie - Chris grew up poor, black, and fatherless (with a nasty stepfather in exchange), a fact that haunted him. Through life's twists and turns, ups and downs - and some really far downs early on - Chris ends up overcoming the hardships of life to become a multi-million stockbroker.
Chris' early life was TOUGH. I don't envy his circumstances - and sure, while there are way worse out there, his life was not easy. This made up roughly the first half of the book, which was fairly difficult to read. But if you want something to shake up your "first-world problems", this was definitely good for that.
I'd say the main moral I took away from this story is books are so important. Chris' mom showed and told him how important learning was, and how anything you wanted to do could be learned from a book. Chris took this to heart, and I would say that this had a profound impact on him. In whatever work he did, he threw himself in head first and worked hard to gain the knowledge he needed to be successful in that field.
An inspiring story - and especially how the lessons of his stepfather stuck with him in such strong ways of how not to grow up. Chris admits he dabbled in drugs and alcohol, but never much more than that, because he saw the effect alcohol had on his stepfather. He also swore his children would never grow up fatherless, and even during difficult times, he worked hard to create the life he wanted his kids to have.
In some ways, this book also makes you remember all those who don't end up with the right network and the right lucky breaks to get out of bad places - even those who are working their tails off to just provide for basic needs and it isn't enough. I've seen plenty of this through my career, but reading about a glimpse into this life is eye-opening. It reminds me that I should feel lucky every day for having enough money to not have to constantly worry every penny.
I'll go 8 of 10 overall and 3 of 5 for readability. The first half is tough to read, and he spends roughly half the book on roughly the first 18 years of life. But the story picks up after that and it is very true that his early experiences, as all of ours do, shape the direction of our adult lives. I'd recommend, but be prepared to read hard stuff. It's easy when it's fiction. It's rough when you know it's real.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
Chris' early life was TOUGH. I don't envy his circumstances - and sure, while there are way worse out there, his life was not easy. This made up roughly the first half of the book, which was fairly difficult to read. But if you want something to shake up your "first-world problems", this was definitely good for that.
I'd say the main moral I took away from this story is books are so important. Chris' mom showed and told him how important learning was, and how anything you wanted to do could be learned from a book. Chris took this to heart, and I would say that this had a profound impact on him. In whatever work he did, he threw himself in head first and worked hard to gain the knowledge he needed to be successful in that field.
An inspiring story - and especially how the lessons of his stepfather stuck with him in such strong ways of how not to grow up. Chris admits he dabbled in drugs and alcohol, but never much more than that, because he saw the effect alcohol had on his stepfather. He also swore his children would never grow up fatherless, and even during difficult times, he worked hard to create the life he wanted his kids to have.
In some ways, this book also makes you remember all those who don't end up with the right network and the right lucky breaks to get out of bad places - even those who are working their tails off to just provide for basic needs and it isn't enough. I've seen plenty of this through my career, but reading about a glimpse into this life is eye-opening. It reminds me that I should feel lucky every day for having enough money to not have to constantly worry every penny.
I'll go 8 of 10 overall and 3 of 5 for readability. The first half is tough to read, and he spends roughly half the book on roughly the first 18 years of life. But the story picks up after that and it is very true that his early experiences, as all of ours do, shape the direction of our adult lives. I'd recommend, but be prepared to read hard stuff. It's easy when it's fiction. It's rough when you know it's real.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
inspiring
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
I made it 3/4 of the way through this book before giving up. The truth is, the more I read, the less I liked the author. I don’t share many of his values and am unimpressed with his attitude toward money. Since the writing (even with the assistance of a ghost writer) was mediocre at best, I’d rather spend my reading time with something/someone I like better.
Great book that offers a lot more insight that the movie does not give. Great story of struggle and perseverance. I recommend this inspirational story to anyone with big dreams who may be in the thick of their journey and not sure when or how they will achieve their dreams.
Good story. I little grittier than the tv version (what isn't?).
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I can see why Will Smith wanted to make this movie - it's very much like him - someone who worked hard (REALLY hard) to get the success he deserves. But the way the story is told is very similar to the themes in Will Smith's own telling of his memoir where a Black man whose life is stacked against him for the kind of success achieved in life finds himself in front of unusual circumstances over and over again, with each one full of opportunity to create magic.
I wish the author had more respect for women (seemed like he only cared for women in so much as they provided him with a diversity of sexual experiences for him to chase). I loved his devotion to his children. I also admired how he was able to overcome so many odds faced him. I don't know he would have the same success today, if he had to redo it today. The wealth gap between the haves and have nots and between white and Black peoples might be too large to overcome, but if anyone could, it might be him. It requires an enormous amount of personal faith in self to be able to accomplish what he did. I know I don't have that kind of wellspring.
I Googled him after reading the book. No surprise that he's been active in philanthropy, especially given how the book ended. I felt like I was pursuing happyness alongside them (to be more accurate, I was rooting for Chris and his son all along, even though I had watched the movie long ago and already knew how it unfolded).
The movie was also very good. I recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. I watched it with my mom. I recall walking out of the theater, both of us feeling so uplifted and hopeful for the future - as if Chris' prosperity and grit might rub off on us too.
I wish the author had more respect for women (seemed like he only cared for women in so much as they provided him with a diversity of sexual experiences for him to chase). I loved his devotion to his children. I also admired how he was able to overcome so many odds faced him. I don't know he would have the same success today, if he had to redo it today. The wealth gap between the haves and have nots and between white and Black peoples might be too large to overcome, but if anyone could, it might be him. It requires an enormous amount of personal faith in self to be able to accomplish what he did. I know I don't have that kind of wellspring.
I Googled him after reading the book. No surprise that he's been active in philanthropy, especially given how the book ended. I felt like I was pursuing happyness alongside them (to be more accurate, I was rooting for Chris and his son all along, even though I had watched the movie long ago and already knew how it unfolded).
The movie was also very good. I recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. I watched it with my mom. I recall walking out of the theater, both of us feeling so uplifted and hopeful for the future - as if Chris' prosperity and grit might rub off on us too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War