A Hand to Guide Me
by Denzel Washington
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Book Reviews of A Hand to Guide Me
Book Review: Inspiring and Uplifting
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this book before it was released from the publisher. I was not disappointed in any way when I received the book. It provided insight into the character of Denzel Washington that you cannot get from watching him in the movies. Also, the short vignettes about various people were so uplifting! The principal point of the book that I received was that there are a lot of very successful people from the majority culture who never tell their hard luck stories in public. Overcoming adversity is not something that is relegated to ethnic minorites, even though that is all that you see reflected in the media.
I also liked the format of the book because you can basically go down the list and select the people that most interest you in order to find out their background stories. There is really a broad cross section of Americans reflected in the book. I would recommend the book for teens as well as adults to provide the inspiration that you can make it, and your obstacles may be great, but, they are not as insurmountable as you may first think that they are. A beautiful book and one that I would recommend for every library (personal, educational, and public).
Book Review: The Help we all Need once in a While
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book of some 74 notable people who talk about that unique individual in their life that pointed them in the direction they followed to success. As you would expect, it is usually a parent, a teacher, a coach, sometimes a public figure.
The advice given is not usually earth shattering in nature. It's more in the way of a 'hang in there, kid,' nature. But perhaps that validation, when combined with a solid direction already in the mind of the youngster is enough. Leonard Nimoy for instance, trying to be an actor, driving a taxi in LA to make a living picked up Jack Kennedy who told him to keep at it - 'keep in mind, there's always room for one more good one.' And the underlying theme, is that we are not in this alone. There's a person or two out there who will help you up.
Denzel Washington is of course an actor, and you'd wonder why he picked this kind of book to write. He is also a spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. And he knows of the value of helping just one child.
In these days where the news is filled with troubles from snow storms to Iraq, you need to go back down to earth once in a while just to be reminded that underneath it all, the world is moving along pretty well.
Book Review: Props to Denzel Washington
Summary: 5 Stars
I got a chance to sit down&read this Book&I think it is Great how Denzel Washington not only told his story of what lead Him to the path he made it to,but also the path of other individuals who acomplished so much because they had a Mentor or more who saw the light in them. Denzel was helped out from his expereince at the Boys Club&he had other mentors beyond his home that help guide him into what he has become. this Book is a Uplifting book that tells of various people's lives&how they got to where they are now. a Must read&Props to Brother Denzel Washington this is a Book that shows how everybody can truly make a difference.Book Review: Inspiring & uplifting stories of Faith, Hope, & Charity!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a first outing for Denzel Washington as an author. Let me be among the many to congratulate him for a job well done. The central theme of the book is that we, all of us, are standing on the shoulders of others. There are seventy four inspirational, energizing, and motivational examples told to us by people from all walks of life.
Many quotes in the book are poignant, thought-provoking, and stimulating. I especially liked and agreed with the one by James Baldwin: "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
Unfortunately, this is true for many young people who have bad role models as parents. None-the-less, the book gives hope and encouragement by showing others have overcome this obstacle - with the help of influential organizations like The Girls and Boys Club of America.
Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Bob Woodward, James Worthy, and many others give heart-rendering examples of mentors who have helped them.
Page thirty four has a fascinating story from Walter Anderson, Editor in Chief, Parade Magazine (he went to the same Boys Club in Mt. Vernon, NY as Mr. Washington).
He tells an inspiring story of a teacher in his neighborhood who showed him kindness, interest, and devotion. He remembers prophetic words from her that changed his life: "You can do this, Walter. You can do this."
Even when he would fail classes, be suspended from school, or have problems with authorities -she would not give up on him. It is a powerful example of how lives can be influenced not just with money but with support.
Dale Carnegie was right when he said: "Do not criticize, condemn, or complain." Instead - we should applaud, reward, and help others. Buy this empowering book, enjoy the uplifting ride, and give someone the hand of encouragement. We can do this.
Reviewed by Reginald V. Johnson, Upper Saddle River, NJ
Book Review: I Believe in You
Summary: 5 Stars
Denzel Washington, National Spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, shares "Train up a child in the way he should go, and he might get to where he's meant to be headed all along."
And in his compilation of seventy-four stories from some very visible people whose share what and who guided them to where they are today, this book will make a difference in the lives of both children and adults around the country.
Here are twelve examples of what especially impressed me from "A Hand to Guide Me":
1. Muhammad Ali who shares, "Many of the great influences in my life have come to me as an adult, and if I had to choose just one I would say Nelson Mandela... became for me a symbol of what it means to sacrifice one's life for a cause as great as freedom... more than anyone in the world, he embodies the hopes and dreams of a true, lasting justice and equality, not just for South Africans but for all people."
2. Walter Anderson, Chairman and CEO of "Parade Magazine." He shares that because his father was often a violent drunk, he was often safer on the streets than in his bed at home.
With that type of beginning, it's amazing that he has managed to go so far as to be the head of what I think is the most popular magazine in the world.
3. Yogi Berra, 1972 Hall of Fame inductee: His mentor told him in the late 40s',"The catcher is doing most of the thinking for the most important guy in the game: the pitcher." Another message that his mentor told him was, "Catching is the best job in baseball."
4. Danny Glover: Here is a very successful actor who to this day has trouble reading, because he is dyslexic. His mentor during his formative years, Miss Lumber, encouraged him to focus upon what he excelled at, which was math.
During times where he must read the teleprompter, Mr. Glover uses humor on himself to accept his dyslexia as part of himself, not his entire identify, which of course takes the focus away from limitations.
5. Whoopi Goldberg: Her great lesson was learned when she was in elementary school. One day, it was so important for her to be included amongst the popular kids, that she left out her best friend.
Later, her mother asked her the questions to guide her to learn the lessons about consideration, kindness, and inclusiveness - from this experience.
6. Mario Lopez: He's originally from Chula Vista, California - minutes away from Mexico, in San Diego County.
His role model was his wrestling coach, Bill Virchis, who taught him to believe, "... if you're a successful wrestler, you'll be successful in life, because the attributes you need to be a successful wrestler ar the same you'll need to be successful in whatever it is you do."
7. Toni Morrison's strong influence to her great writing comes from her father's messages, in response to her having complained at age 12 or 13 about her employer's attitude towards her. He told her, "You don't live there. You live here." And, in that message, Ms. Morrison was guided to be committed to doing a first-rate job, knowing that she could not be defined by the work she did.
Another message which was given to Ms. Morrison, through her dad's example, was when she reacted to his having shared that at his welding job he had made a perfect seam with his initials. Her reaction was, "Well, nobody's going to see it." And he said, "Yes, but I know it's there.
In this message her father's hand had guided her to take pride in whatever endeavors that she pursues.
8. Bonnie Raitt: If I were limited to 3 music artists who touch the depths of my soul, get me dancing my hiney off, and make me think greater thoughts at the same time, it would be Bonnie Raitt along Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin, because their music requires full attention, with the intent to rise to greater greatness.
In "A Hand to Guide Me," Ms. Raitt shares that how her mother guided her interest in what she does so well, "One of her greatest gifts to me was not making me take music lessons,just letting me come to it by her example. She made it so appealinig, so natural and joyful that I wanted to get to the point where I could enjoy playing for myself, as she did for hours."
9. Bernard Shaw: He shares how his intent to meet Walter Cronkite, while Shaw was in the Marines, stationed in Hawaii, led him to realizing his dreams as a journalist at CBS, and to further make a difference.
During his forty-minute meeting with Mr. Cronkite, the then corporal Shaw asked, "What is the most important thing I need to do to prepare myself?" To which, Cronkite said, "read, read, read."
10. Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, California: He came a long way from rage to belief in his power to influence greatness, because in the face of his heading to big trouble, his mother directly told him, "You don't believe in you, but I believe in you."
He describes his mother's belief in him as the "motor that drives me, the catalyst for my growth as a person over the years."
And look at how far he has travelled on the hand that has guided him.
11. John Wooden: He has been guided by his father's statement "You're as good as anybody, but you're no better than anybody." This message reminded him, and those he taught to be more concerned about their character than about their external image.
12. Bob Woodward: Early in his career, at age 28, while working at the "Washington Post," and on the Watergate Scandal, Mr. Woodward was invited to lunch by the publisher, Catherine Graham.
In this lunch, Woodward learned from Ms. Graham, to always get to the bottom of things, believe in your goals and dreams, knowing that the truth will reveal its self in time.
As I read all seventy-four stories in this book, I kept thinking back at who has guided me, and what guides me now to live my life's mission.