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rebeccazh's review against another edition
Not the kind of book I'm in the mood for.
booksbydorothea's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of "THE GIFT OF OUR WOUNDS" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Arno Michaelis/Pardeep Singh Kaleka for the opportunity to read this book.
This book is exceedingly timely with all of the violence that we have happening in the United States currently. This book shows that if a racist skinhead and a Sikh can become brothers than we all can become ONE! The simple beauty of the book and the organization that they are involved with "Serve 2 Unite" is about EMPATHY. I love this!!
This was a very easy book to read even though it was about difficult subject matter. DEFINITE recommend!.
This book is exceedingly timely with all of the violence that we have happening in the United States currently. This book shows that if a racist skinhead and a Sikh can become brothers than we all can become ONE! The simple beauty of the book and the organization that they are involved with "Serve 2 Unite" is about EMPATHY. I love this!!
This was a very easy book to read even though it was about difficult subject matter. DEFINITE recommend!.
doelita's review against another edition
3.0
I’m sorry but I can never and never will understand the hatred that could lead to someone becoming a vindictive person who has it out for an entire community, of course radicalization is easy and what not - but to actually dedicate your entire life to hatred because you feel spited and ignored by society? A good effort. Would love if it explored more on the Sikh faith - it’s one of the most beautiful ways of life.
readingsusan's review against another edition
5.0
This is an outstanding memoir. It is told from the points of view of a former white supremacist and a man whose father was killed in the Sikh temple shooting in 2012. It is a story of their path to friendship. It is heartbreaking, moving, scary and hopeful. I found the racist rhetoric that Arno learned to be very chilling. It also reminded me again of how dangerous the country is now with people like Stephen Miller in the White House.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
wwrawson's review against another edition
4.0
This was at times hard to listen to, but so worth it in the end. I was fortunate to see Pardeep speak last week and was impressed with his aptitude for forgiveness and rising above. Will be doing some research into Sikhism for sure.
krotella's review against another edition
4.0
there was a little bit too much of Arno's back story without enough of his evolution to balance it out. that said, I think this story is important to share and I'm glad I read it.
uddrchaos's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps this is better read by someone who needs more of a primer or entry into these topics but this was such a let down.
1. I learned way too much about Arno, like way too much. Why is he the main character here?
2. I learned way too little about the people who passed and too much about the shooter himself.
3. The way Arnos writing sometimes reveled in the debauchery, violence, and hate sometimes comes off as romanticizing
4. I wanted way more about the work post hate then this book delivered
5. Occasionally the framing of how could this happen to a peaceful Sikh community instead of the Muslim terrorist they thought we were inadvertently reads as well they would have deserved it more because their religion is actually violent. I don’t believe this was intentional but it is there.
6. The glossing over of Arnos removal from his previous non-profit work felt strange.
7. Arno pats himself on the back wayyyyyyy too much for my taste. (Like the bumper sticker sidebar?)
I don’t know it’s not bad necessarily, but it’s also not saying anything new or revolutionary either.
1. I learned way too much about Arno, like way too much. Why is he the main character here?
2. I learned way too little about the people who passed and too much about the shooter himself.
3. The way Arnos writing sometimes reveled in the debauchery, violence, and hate sometimes comes off as romanticizing
4. I wanted way more about the work post hate then this book delivered
5. Occasionally the framing of how could this happen to a peaceful Sikh community instead of the Muslim terrorist they thought we were inadvertently reads as well they would have deserved it more because their religion is actually violent. I don’t believe this was intentional but it is there.
6. The glossing over of Arnos removal from his previous non-profit work felt strange.
7. Arno pats himself on the back wayyyyyyy too much for my taste. (Like the bumper sticker sidebar?)
I don’t know it’s not bad necessarily, but it’s also not saying anything new or revolutionary either.
theeclecticreview's review against another edition
5.0
"What does hate look like? Hate looks like the bullet hole in the door frame leading into the prayer room at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin—a vestige of the carnage that took place there on August 5, 2012, when a troubled man with a distorted view of what America should look like executed peaceful people inside."
Wow! This book filled me with so many emotions. I felt horror, anger, grief, disbelief, enlightenment, and hope all at the same time. The story is not just about the horrible incident that happened on August 5, 2012, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but about two unlikely men who came together to find answers, to find forgiveness, and to find ways to prevent this from happening again.
Pardeep Singh Kaleka's father was one of the 6 victims who died at the Sikh Temple that day. As a former policeman and as a teacher of at-risk kids he thought he had seen it all, but he was struggling to understand why someone would want to walk into a temple and gun down innocent men, women, and children. So, to find some answers, Pardeep met with Arno Michaelis, a former white supremacist who was one of the "founders of the same group that Pardeep's father's killer belonged to".
Arno Michaelis had been a "wild child" in his youth and at age 16 he got caught up in the racism that was prevalent in many areas of the U.S. At age 18 "he was the founding member of the largest white power skinhead organization in the world". His turning point was in his mid-twenties....his daughter, Autumn. His life's mission from then on was to practice loving kindness to all and he founded the non-profit organization, Life After Hate with the mission “to inspire compassion and forgiveness for all people”.
From their first several-hour-long meeting in a small Thai restaurant, Arno's and Pardeep's lives changed forever. Shortly after that first meeting, Pardeep asked Arno to speak at his temple where his father was murdered. And now, they work together as brothers "to bring forth the gift of their wounds".
Arno and Pardeep are both very humble and inspiring men and this book has given me hope for my country and for the world. This book is well-written in both Arno's and Pardeep's points of view. The depth of feeling about themselves, about each other, and about their cause is moving and encouraging, and I believe this book is important for everyone to read. The book will make you feel uncomfortable, angry and heartsick, and will force you to reflect on yourself and how you perceive others, but it also shows you kindness and forgiveness which will inspire the most dubious person. I recommend this book wholeheartedly!
Thank you to Mr. Michaelis and Mr. Kaleka for giving me an opportunity to voluntarily review their book provided free through NetGalley.
See more eclectic reviews on my blog at https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/.
Wow! This book filled me with so many emotions. I felt horror, anger, grief, disbelief, enlightenment, and hope all at the same time. The story is not just about the horrible incident that happened on August 5, 2012, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but about two unlikely men who came together to find answers, to find forgiveness, and to find ways to prevent this from happening again.
Pardeep Singh Kaleka's father was one of the 6 victims who died at the Sikh Temple that day. As a former policeman and as a teacher of at-risk kids he thought he had seen it all, but he was struggling to understand why someone would want to walk into a temple and gun down innocent men, women, and children. So, to find some answers, Pardeep met with Arno Michaelis, a former white supremacist who was one of the "founders of the same group that Pardeep's father's killer belonged to".
Arno Michaelis had been a "wild child" in his youth and at age 16 he got caught up in the racism that was prevalent in many areas of the U.S. At age 18 "he was the founding member of the largest white power skinhead organization in the world". His turning point was in his mid-twenties....his daughter, Autumn. His life's mission from then on was to practice loving kindness to all and he founded the non-profit organization, Life After Hate with the mission “to inspire compassion and forgiveness for all people”.
From their first several-hour-long meeting in a small Thai restaurant, Arno's and Pardeep's lives changed forever. Shortly after that first meeting, Pardeep asked Arno to speak at his temple where his father was murdered. And now, they work together as brothers "to bring forth the gift of their wounds".
Arno and Pardeep are both very humble and inspiring men and this book has given me hope for my country and for the world. This book is well-written in both Arno's and Pardeep's points of view. The depth of feeling about themselves, about each other, and about their cause is moving and encouraging, and I believe this book is important for everyone to read. The book will make you feel uncomfortable, angry and heartsick, and will force you to reflect on yourself and how you perceive others, but it also shows you kindness and forgiveness which will inspire the most dubious person. I recommend this book wholeheartedly!
Thank you to Mr. Michaelis and Mr. Kaleka for giving me an opportunity to voluntarily review their book provided free through NetGalley.
See more eclectic reviews on my blog at https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/.
anitasully's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75