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himpersonal 's review for:

The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
4.0
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.
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