The Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
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Book Reviews of The Pursuit of Happyness
Book Review: Incredible and Inspirational!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a true story of an individual believing in himself and chronicles the journey he took to reach his dreams.
Chris Gardner's life experiences exemplify courage, strength and willpower. He never gave up on his dreams for a better life for him and his son - even though he struggled to find a place to live, food to provide for his growing boy, and a stable job. Gardner lived in the Oakland BART station bathroom, among other places, and just kept getting right back up every time something knocked him down.
What I personally find to be admirable about this story is the incredible and inspirational journey Gardner trekked down in an amazing turn from rags to riches. He is now an extremely successful businessman and a mighty wealthy one too!
The power of the American dream still lives on. One only needs to think that they can do it. Gardner is an example for us to follow - to have a dream and to find ways to reach it, regardless of the hurdles and obstacles which are put in our way.
Congratulations, Chris, on your magnificent success in life!!
Book Review: Pursuit of Happyness
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the movie twice before I read the book. It took me all of 3 day to read it! It's a fascinating tale of a single-parent black male aspiring to become a renowned stock broker on Wall Street. Along the way, he encounters bigotry, homelessness, physical and mental abuse, and a plethora of other obstacles. The book is an entirely converse version of the movie starring Will Smith and his son Jayden. If you want the real story, take several days to read this enthralling story. Especially gripping was how Gardner recounts in graphic detail how he was raped by another black man when he was in his early teens. Gardner also intersperses elements of hilarity throughout this tale too like the time he and his wife were at the beach when another women walked by and his hormones arrested his better judgment. If you like rags-to-riches stories please purchase this book. Not only does Gardner's story resonate with us "PSD" black males, it will appeal to everyone. After all this is a story not about black and white but GREEN!Book Review: Fantastic! But why an endorsement from Donald Trump???
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great story!!! My only complaint is with the publisher. Why in the world would you have an endorsement of this book from Donald Trump...and have it be the leading quote on the inside cover? I almost put the book back because I thought this was some "get rich quick" book. Plus I thought, if Donald Trump endorses it, I'm not sure I'm interested. Is it because Trump is wealthy? That's not what this book is about! It seems to me that Donald Trump is the antithesis of Chris Gardner. Having Trump endorse this book diminishes its importance. Trump has made himself into a punchline--symbolizing narcissism, greed, selling out,and America's fascination with celebrity and vanity. What does this have to do with Chris Gardner's story? And aside from that...Donald Trump reviewing a work of literature? Yikes! So if you pick this book up, don't be put off by it having an endorsement from Donald Trump. In any case, read this inspiring book and enjoy it. Meanwhile, perhaps Trump can go off and write a review of Faust.Book Review: From Nothing to Success
Summary: 4 Stars
See this, right here? Right here on this line? It is all a man had to work with to make his dreams to come true. Chris Gardner's Pursuit of Happyness is an excellent story about a man who comes from having nothing to make his way through life and make his own dreams come true.
The book sheds a light on what his life was really like. His motivation comes at an early age, at only three years old; he is determined not to be like his father. This is just the first step in setting up his life goals and aspirations. The book tells of his daily strain just to find a place to sleep, even if it has to be a public bathroom. On the other hand the language is a little intense at times, but it gives the book a sense of the reality that he had to live in every day. I don't want to give anything away from the experiences that are written in the book. So I will leave it at this.
Thomas Lilley
Pd 5, 10 English Honors
Book Review: Healthy ego, for sure
Summary: 1 Stars
My husband met Mr. Gardner when he was a keynote speaker at a corporate event. He was so impressed by this man's story and the way he tells it. He bought the book at the event, got an autograph, and ended up bumping into him and speaking to him later, in another city. He is a huge admirer of Chris Gardner, and rightly so. But all the things he has said about him/his speaking, and the movie, do not match most of this book! I was on page 200 and wondering when he would stop complaining or bragging (especially bragging) and get to the crux of the story. After reading about yet another public sexcapade in an airport baggage claim area, I put it down and haven't gone back. His story is inspiring; he has overcome much, but the book dwells too much and too long either on things that were out of his control, or that I simply do not want to read about. I wish him well and I'm glad he has done extremely well, but I would not recommend this book.