The Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
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Book Reviews of The Pursuit of Happyness
Book Review: Not in Kansas anymore Toto
Summary: 4 Stars
Those that have seen the movie adaption of Chris Gardner's life undoubtedly left with a warm, fuzzy feeling, but I must say that after reading the book one can see how fast and loose the movie played on the book. While the movie focuses on Gardner's struggles with homelessness while raising a son, it also assimilates a number of the events into one and also streamlines the story to make for a better movie.
In the book, we learn more of the backstory with Chris Gardner and how he dealt with an abusive stepfather and growing up poor in Milwaukee. In short, the book tells how Chris Gardner got to the point of homelessness and taking care of his son. It also points out, several times, how Gardner fell to temptation through sex and drugs. And, as several other reviewers have pointed out, it talks about his infidelity. It also makes you wonder how credible Gardner's story is (run-ins with Leon Spinks, Samuel L. Jackson, and Danny Glover before he hit the big time, so to speak).
Nonetheless, Gardner's story is still a good read and we know that he did rise from poverty to become extremely successful. If the movie can be considered indicative of the typical "Disney" feel-good story, the book should serve as the adult, film noir version.
Book Review: Very Inspiring story!! Example of how drive and determinination pays off.
Summary: 4 Stars
Chris Gardner appears to hold nothing back in this story of his life. The book is gritty in his explanation of conditions growing up with an abusive stepfather, his time in the armed forces and homelessness. The book is also no holds barred in its experiences in the financial arena and his successes. You find yourself rooting for his success as you continue reading. As you read toward the end of the book you can't help but be amazed of how far he has become in his journey. Unlike the movie starring Will Smith, the book covers his life as a child and the trials his family faced and his failed relationships with women. The movie really covers less than the second half of the book with many changes that are not from the book.
Chris Gardner goes at length to describe his feelings, emotions and struggles throughout his life and attempts to explain where his inner drive comes from than brings him from homelessness to where he is today. Other reviews pretty much explain the story which I won't elaborate on. I do agree with other reviews regarding his excessive information on his sex life which I felt could have been shortened. Overall, if you found the movie as facinating as I did, you should enjoy the book.
Book Review: Not as good as the movie it inspired, but inspiring in its own right
Summary: 4 Stars
If you're interested in reading the book because you saw and loved the movie, you should be forewarned that you will find the effect of the movie somewhat diluted here, and also that the movie's version of events matches in very few particulars the actual events of his life as recorded in his autobiography.
That said, the book provides much more background about Chris Gardner's life, and it is a fascinating and ultimately triumphant story--and, in the latter part of the story, his commitment to his son does shine through.
His idol-worshipping meeting with Nelson Mandela at the end is a bit much, but otherwise Gardner's story is told with admirable sincerity and intelligence. And best of all, he's completely unapologetic about pursuing material wealth and prosperity, and saying that these are part of his pursuit of happiness. People who've been dirt poor are typically more honest about things like that than the self-righteous idiots who've been comfortable all their lives and never really had to work and then tell us sanctimoniously that "money can't buy happiness"--true, it can't, but it sure helps.
And Chris Gardner's story is well worth the money.
Book Review: Big Time Deflated
Summary: 2 Stars
Where the movie of the same name lifted me and inspired me, this book came crashing down on me. It crushed me because it turns out nothing in the movie was true. In fact, far from being the hero that Will Smith portrayed on film, the real Chris Gardner turns out to be a skank, a thief and a murderous thug. The fact that Gardner retains these attributes through to the end of the book and continues to defend them means there is no happy story of redemption and thus, no real happy ending (except that the man is now rich).
Structurally, the book was supposed to be about a father's love for his child but Gardner's son doesn't enter the story until 2/3rds of the way through. Even then, the book continues on into exposition of the father's life, so it is more like a biography. I did like the writer's style but since the book was co-written, I doubt if it was Gardner himself that I was reading.
If you loved the movie, do not buy this book. Continue to believe that Will Smith's character was an honest, moral man who deserved the success he got because he pursued it ethically and persisted against his hardships without complaint.
Book Review: juhzellll per6
Summary: 4 Stars
The Pursuit of Happyness
The pursuit of happyness by Chris Gardner is a very good book. The pursuit of happyness is about Chris Gardner's struggle to be better. He was a single father, homeless, and he had no money. His life was always hard growing up with an abusive stepfather, so he wanted his son to have a better life than he did. Chris Garnder goes through many struggles to achieve his dream job. His goal was to be a stock broker, and that is what he became after all his sacrifices, he did everything he possibly could to get his job and take care of his little boy. This book is very inspiring. It inspired me to never give up and to go for your dreams. It inspired me to become very determined. I recommend this book to anyone in the world going through a hard life right now. If you think you are at an end and you cannot possibly do anything to better yourself or your life, read this book and see what Chris Gardner does. He went from dirty rags in a ghetto city in San Francisco, to filthy rich. So if Chris Gardner can do it, so can you. I love this book even though it took me a few chapters to get into it. Read it!