The Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
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Book Reviews of The Pursuit of Happyness
Book Review: Disappointing!
Summary: 3 Stars
Chris Gardner obviously has a lot of internal motivation and talent, and also is to be commended for overcoming serious abuse problems (step-father vs. both Chris and his mother) as well as his mother being twice jailed (once for welfare fraud, the second for attempting to kill the step-father by burning down the house with him in it). The "good news" is that Chris used his experience to commit to never abandoning his son or abusing him. Later he joined the Navy to see the world, and ended up becoming a talented medic, and later becoming a skilled "surgeon" training medical interns despite lacking even a high-school education.
Ultimately Chris ended up with a son, and the mother left Chris due to dissatisfaction with Chris' earnings. (Part of his original appeal to her was the thought he would become a physician - however, realizing he would need 10 years of education to basically return to the level he already was at, plus being told that HMOs would seriously curtail earning power changed Chris' mind.)
Accidentally meeting a rich stockbroker convinced Chris to move into that area. Then followed several years of being unable to pay his son's day-care expenses plus room & board - instead subsisting on help from a "mission" for those down on their luck, sleeping at the office with his son, etc. Eventually Chris changed employment from a brokerage that focused on obtaining a large number of small accounts to one that focused on a small number of wealthy clients, and finally to becoming a black stockbroker for blacks with wealth (eg. Michael Jordan).
Some mysteries: Why did Chris move into an occupation that initially didn't pay enough to cover basic living costs? Instead, why didn't he better capitalize on his initial medical experience after going into sales? Why didn't he move into medical school at an earlier point, taking advantage of his skills and contacts? Why didn't he stay married?
Bottom Line: This is a disappointing story about an intelligent and skilled individual who made a number of bad career and personal choices, and ultimately overcame them. Reportedly the movied is much better.
Book Review: Man !! True Stories Are Waaaay Better Than Fiction !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's another book I could not put down. Again ! What made the book even better is that is was true. I read this book in two days!! All I can say is Chris Gardner did not give up even after a lot of obstacles that were in his way, he was determined and he got right back on his feet and kept at it. I admired him for that. That's one of the keys to life's mysteries. Never give up especially when you know in your heart and soul there's gonna be a "Rainbow" or should I say a "Rosebush" at the end. I can say I kind of read in between the lines though that Chris, Jr & Jacyntha's Mother was waaaay worse than what was stated in the book. I noticed he didn't talk about her much in the book either. You know the old saying if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all...or should I say If he told too much about her in the book he may have gotten sued by her. Anyways that was one of the main reasons why I purchased the book especially after seeing the movie. In the movie, it didn't really go into detail what happened to the Mom, except that she left. In the book, Chris goes in a little more detail that she would show up maybe once every six months or so at the front door and he got mad with her, cuss her out and would give in and have intimate relations with her, that is how the 2nd child, Chris's daughter came along, which he kind of mentioned that he regretted giving in on his flesh needs. I'm sure Chris ended up paying maaad child support, once the daughter was born. It sounded like to me she(Chris Jr's mom) maybe raised the daughter and Chris raised the son(Chris, Jr.) It still wasn't too clear though. All in all right after getting that job with Dean Witter, Chris became a millionare very quickly and when I say quickly I mean quick !! Chris is truly blessed a thousands times over by God.Book Review: Determined and Driven
Summary: 3 Stars
In his memoir, The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner describes how he went from an impoverished childhood to becoming a wealthy stock broker and entrepreneur, all while being the sole provider and parent to his young son. Gardner spends a lot of time recounting his difficult childhood which included being in foster care, witnessing the constant abuse of his mother by his stepfather, and the mental and emotional abuse he endured from his stepfather. He then takes the reader into his transition to the military and the time he spent working in medicine. The reader is then brought to the point in Gardner's life when he is living in San Francisco. Although he becomes homeless, he remains determined to raise his son while going through the process to become a stock broker, despite having never gone to college.
This reader was emotionally drawn to the determination that Gardner had in wanting to be a constant in his son's life, since that was something he never had as a child. However, the motivation behind his choosing to be a stockbroker (to buy a Ferrari) and the motivation to be an active provider in his child's lives (his troubled childhood) posed a bit of a conflict for the reader because although the two goals are not conflicting; the process it takes to reach both at the same time may cause some tension that Gardner does not touch upon in this memoir.
The memoir was a good enough effort to attract the major motion picture industry because it is surely a notable, feel-good story. At times it seemed that the writing was a little more complicated than was necessary, making the story hard to follow. Notwithstanding, The Pursuit of Happyness was very inspirational and an enjoyable read.
Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub
Book Review: Strong Voice - Honest and Bold
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read a few reviews that where readers preferred the Disneyfied movie to the strong and honest look at a real human life that Chris Gardner exposits in his book. That's a bit sad. I find his honesty refreshing and courageous in a world where many look askance on the rougher edges of our humanness while ignoring the courage it takes to reveal warts.
This book inspired me and is about to change my life. It is the portrait of a man who never succumbed to self pity in spite of many odds stacked against him. He did not give in to bitterness either. He blamed no one for his plight, simply pushed forward and found solutions to each crisis he faced. He has set an example for the many people of all races recovering from abusive childhoods.
It is not so easy to get the demons of low self worth and self pity out of your head when they have been placed there by parental figures and communities either convinced of their own moral superiority or simply exercising their own brand of ignorance over a childhood span of 18 years. It is a struggle, daily, until it is rebuilt and often times depends solely on the kindness of strangers who may or may not be from the polished set.
The fact that he prevailed from sheer dogged determination and a refusal to accept the labels others applied to him is a wondrous and beautiful thing and should spark hope into the hearts of those who know his story all too well from personal experience.
If you prefer the pristine bubble of a Disneyified existence, stick to the movie. If you are not afraid of the grit of human life and are not easily offended, read the book. It is far superior and much more satisfying.
Book Review: Happyness leds to Love
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is very inspriring, it gives out great deatile. Gardner made a differnce to me from the way I view life. Now that I read the book I'm greatful for the things I have in life, because many other childern don't have the same advantage that I have. It's amazing to read about how hard his life was but always reching out for the best. There's a lot of things I can compare to with the book, that to see someone else make it through then I can do it too. Maybe at the beginning at the book it was a little confusing, beacause of all the characters coming in, but finally at the end it all made scense. I would recommend this book to many people, just because everyday we hear about all this problems and we always want to just give up. Then when you read this book it's like if I could Gardner talking to me and telling me that no matter what troubles I have I was got to look at the postitive. Also not everything had to be all specific, but I was able to picture many of the scense and picture myself being the same way as Gardner in the book.
I ranked the book 5 stars because the way it insprierd everything I believed in. Now I realize that when I have kids they won't have to suffer in that kind of way, I'll always be there for them. I also ranked it 5 stars because I heard it inspired many men to change from the way they used to be. I loved how the book was straight forward but had tons of details. It was a wonderful book and I would really like to know so much more.