The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Pursuit of Happyness
Book Review: From Nothing to Success
Summary: 4 Stars
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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: Pursuit of Happyness
Summary: 4 Stars
My book group read this book and then we'll see the DVD. I haven't seen the DVD yet.
I thought the book was inspiring.
I also thought it was a tribute to the power of a boy learning to read. His mother told him, " a library is a dangerous place." Mr. Gardner could not have achieved the success that he did had he not been able to read clearly and learn.
I don't know if my children will have as much inspiration from me as he did from his mother. I can only hope so. I found it to be a little bit like the book "Hope in things unseen."
Overall I enjoyed the book and think that Mr. Garnder's story is one that should inspire others. Stock brokers aren't usually held up as success stories, but your chances are a heck of a lot better than being a pro sports player or musician, so it's good to have some business-oriented role models.
Book Review: Not as good as the movie
Summary: 1 Stars
After being inspired by the movie, I was disappointed with the actual book, which is quite different from the movie. It focuses a lot on the years before Chris became a father--including many (more than necessary) descriptions of his sexual exploits, drug use, etc...ultimately proving Chris to be less of a hero than was portrayed by Will Smith. Didn't leave me with the heartwarming feeling that the movie did.Book Review: Unimpressed and Uninspired!
Summary: 1 Stars
***This is a discussion about certain points in the book, and may be considered to some a spoiler, so please do not read if you want to remain surprised about the book's high points and/or outcome.***
I expected to read this book and feel inspired by the obstacles that were overcome by Chris Gardner as he rose from a poverty-stricken child living the hard knock life to a successful adult with many moral achievements. However, this was not the case. Shortly into the book, I came to realize that most of Mr. Gardner's problems were self-created. Sure, his upbringing was a contributory factor to some of his issues. But mostly, he made some very bad choices that resulted in some very bad outcomes.
First, I disliked how he constantly put his mother, the woman who allowed herself and her children to be beaten time and time again by her husband, on a pedastool. This was a woman who went to prison twice, once for welfare fraud and once for attempted murder, yet we are to believe she was the epitomy of moral conscience? In all fairness, it is respectable that Mr. Gardner continued to idolize his mother, even after his rough childhood and the abuse to which he was subjected at home. However, this woman exemplified so many reasons why she was the complete opposite of an ideal role model for a child.
Second, I thought it extremely irresponsible of Mr. Gardner to discuss not being able to afford to put food on the table for his wife and child some days, and in the next sentence to talk about getting high with his buddies to "take the edge off". Certainly the drugs were not always free. Was he spending the family's grocery money on drugs?
Third, I disliked how he rationalized listening to jokes containing the infamous "N" word from the rich oil tycoon, simply because this same man was fattening his pockets at the time. This tells the world that such a situation is acceptable, so long as someone benefits enough to overlook the insulting word. I also found it absolutely disgusting how Mr. Gardner, immediately upon hearing of this oil tycoon's death, sold every bit of stock in the man's portolio, even though he himself admitted that all stock sales should immediately halt once an estate is in probate. Mr. Gardner stated that the oil tycoon, in the days before his death, had requested that all of his portfolio assets be liquidated (never mind the history of 30-35% capital gains), and that Mr. Gardner was only carrying out his final "orders". I call Mr. Gardner's bluff on this one - he sold that stock just to make a final commission. Mr. Gardner showed a true lack of ethics in this situation.
Finally, and most disturbing, was how Mr. Gardner sent his son to live with Jackie after she had already once abandoned the child. She had proven herself once to be an unfit mother, yet Mr. Gardner sent his son across the country to live with her after he starting achieving personal financial success in Chicago. If his main concern was the welfare of his child, why did he not keep little Chris with him?
Overall, I am completely dissapointed with this book. Mr. Gardner may be hailed as a hero to some, but he is most certainly not a hero to me.
Book Review: Good Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
Hi, I just started reading this book and it is so interesting what this man went through so far.