Chris Gardner (1)Besprekingen

If Elon Musk had been born in difficult circumstances and wrote an autobiography it would read like this. I can only assume Chris Gardner has done all of the things he claims he did. Honestly, I stopped halfway through the book. I saw the movie.

It's a short book with only 208 pages but it has big, thoughtful words.

I enjoyed the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness"so I picked this book to get some more life incentives. His friend and mentor, Dr. Maya Angelou, told him once, "People might not remember your exact words but they'll remember how you made them feel" for his motivational speeches. That is the reason I wrote down some of the phrases in the book to keep each one close by for those rainy days.

This is a story about his conversation with his super smart 7 year-old granddaughter, Brooke, with a glimpse of his journey through life with ups and downs. He went from being a homeless single dad to a wealthy successful businessman and proud father. He didn't have a college degree or wealthy family to help him. But he had dreams and a plan.

He presents questions for not only Brooke but the reader: "How would your life change if a miracle happened in the middle of the night?" He gives all types of pointers to move forward in a positive direction with career and life goals.

This is a book for everyone. At any age, it shows how we all need to plan and prepare for the next day ... and the next. He tells Brooke, "You can do or be anything...Nobody can stop you but you." I wish I could take it a step further and hear him speak.

this is a great example of those books that prove that just having a good story, or a story worth telling, is enough. there are a few good sentences here and there throughout, but in general it isn't well written and is missing just about everything that makes a book a good read. certainly i'm impressed by his work ethic and ability to do so many different things so well, including navigating homelessness with a toddler. but that alone doesn't make a good rags to riches story. he went through a lot, and i'm glad that he's successful and giving back, but that doesn't automatically make for a good book.

I liked this book, but beware, the movie this book is not.

Mr. Gardner had a hard upbringing. He was in and out of foster care or living with relatives. When he did live with his biological mother, he had to endure a insanely emotionally and physically abusive step-father. My heart broke for him during those periods of his life.

Later in life, Mr. Gardner became homeless and a single father. This period was also heartbreaking, yet Mr. Gardner kept fighting. I think that's the ultimate message of this book - never give up. Gardner bettered himself through education and hardwork and overcame. Every story is different, but this is definitely a case study on rising from the ashes.

Luckily for Gardner, his mother instilled in him a fortitude to continue and wisdom to survive. This book may be an inspiration for other people going through similar experiences. If Mr. Gardner can make it, so can you.

I hear many reviewers complain about the coarseness of this book; they say the profanity and situations are too much to stomach (sigh). I disagree. Mr. Gardner's life was no "tip toe through the tulips". Occasionally, using profanity as a descriptor is the best way to convey mood and setting; It isn't a lack of intelligence; it isn't depraved; it's keeping it real. It's a way to relate. I do not think the book should be judged on how clean of a life Mr. Gardner had; It wasn't clean; it wasn't pretty.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It's an inspiration, and in these pages, Mr. Gardner just let's it go and always keeps it real.

Gardner's sequel to The Pursuit of Happyness is less biography and more a collection of top life lessons and best practices. They are all relevant and, to varying degrees, inspiring. Personally, I found it hard to take in so many concepts - 44 of them. It may read better as a daily motivational. Regardless, the lessons are useful, and I always respect a writer who has learned them directly rather than only sharing the life experience of others (even if one of my favorite concepts in the book is to borrow from the examples of the resourceful people around you). Another highlight is his advice about creating a personal balance sheet, inclusive of the intangible skills and relationships.

Hmmmm, not bad but could have been alot better . . .

For me, it wasn't one of those can't put down reads. That's for sure! I was looking to acquire a bit more in the writing material - from this particular author. Guess, that's what happens when one achieve its stardom from the start - of their authorship. However, if your expections are not mine, consider reading the book. Its material was designed to be one of those self-help models. Personally, I've read better ones; and they did keep my interest throughout.

I would but would not recommend this book to a friend. This book talks about very detailed graphic things that some people can't imagine. It tells a sad but true story of Chris Garber and his life of how for many years himself and his young son were homeless. Now a millionaire for stockbroking, it tells his story. I had seen the movie the "The Pursuit of Happyness" with will smith and the story was so interesting I had decided to read the book my self to make it (seem) more real to me. Q5P4AHS/Cheyanne F.

This book contains 44 life lessons to show how to tap into the infinite resources we already have on hand to move forward and overcome difficulties in life.

I was uneasy going into this book. The movie made Gardner to be an American hero, moving up from homelessness into riches. The full story as Gardner tells it is much more grim. I won’t itemize Gardner’s list of crimes, but it’s enough to say, I think, that the movie omits or glosses over most of the shadier events of his life. And, no, as you might expect, even with a writer helping him, Gardner is not good at setting down the story of his life. I was left with the feeling that Gardner is just a man who wanted to become rich and did so. His greatest accomplishment was to do this without tossing aside his kids when it would have been easy to do so.

Another movie book. I seem to have been reading a lot of these lately. This is one of my 'work books', something I read on my breaks. It's an autobiography by Chris Gardner, a rags-to-riches man if there ever was one. His book is as self-made as his career and it's sort of a feel-good story so I am inclined to give it a decent rating. Good biography.

I pair this book along with the movie for an excellent program at the Urban Ministries homeless facility. Many a great discussion and program opportunities have spanned from this book.

A very good story for everyone! The determination and willpower of Chris Gardner to succeed will inspire you!

Great success story! This gives me hope that anything can happen you just have to be positive and have determination.

Very interesting insight to a truly inspiring success story. Chris Gardner tells a very sad story of his life but shows that determination and will power can turn anyone's life around.½

A good book but not great. It was very slow and boring in many parts. Seems like he spent a huge amount of time on his childhood and not alot on his adult hood. I am still amazed that he went from rags to riches and give him credit for achieving that. Movie was just ok--left out alot from the book

reading now.