Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but not rivetting
Review: I started this book on recommendation of a colleague and was prepared to enter a different world of someone from a background far different from my own. The book starts off with a bang, describing an incident both powerful and shocking, but after a while, it disintegrates into sort-of interesting stories, but nothing of the caliber like the book starts off with. It's just like sitting next to your grandpa (or 'ma) and listening to his or her stories for hours at a time. Fun for a while, and then...
:-}I was slightly irritated by the fact that the co-author (richard) kept presenting this old guy with pieces of paper and book pages about events of the 20th century and after a while, it was obvious that this old guy would not remember it or it wasn't important to him. I found it rather cruel after a while - sort of like Richard was saying "Look how much I know bc I am so clever..." Overall review: interesting, but not rivetting. Just go and visit your grandparents - it's the same sort of thing!
Rating: 
Summary: A Thoroughly Charming and Thought-Provoking Story!
Review: I picked this book up mostly because of the title, and seeing that Dawson had learned how to read at such a late age. Once I got started, I couldn' t stop reading it! A very salt-of-the-earth type of man, his humility and perspective on life made an impression on me. I often caught myself laughing at his humorous observations, and captured by his restless spirit. The book is very inspiring, and I would say it is also a lesson in authenticity. I recommend it to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Life is so good (and so is this book) !!!
Review: It's not often I read a book but this one really had me hooked. Rather than turning on the TV I reached for it (and that's saying something) wanting to find out how George got on in his next location. I found the story of George Dawson inspiring. The way that he dealt with very difficult situations was admirable and all those years of hard graft...I feel put out if the TV remote is too far away (modern living, eh ?!?!) This is definitely one of the best books I have read - please give it a go, you won't regret it :)
Rating:
Summary: this was damn good...
Review: George Dawson is a incredible person. Having as much reason to be bitter and angry with the world as anyone, he doesn't allow himself to let others have a negative impact on his life. Seeing the world through the eyes of someone like George reminds us that life really is good and we should never take it for granted.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable story
Review: A remarkable story about a remarkable man. People asked him how he lived so long. Their questions generally were about his diet. That wasn't his 'secret' to a long and happy life; his secret was his incredible ability to forgive. His father told him as a boy that he didn't have the right to judge another and never did he. What kind of person could live by his father's wise words? Only a wise man. George Dawson had every reason by today's sorry standards to be bitter, yet he never used the word 'racist', never blamed the white man, never demanded reparations or even asked for a hand out. He was, in a word, a success.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful and enriching story
Review: This book is a study of the Serenity Prayer embodied in a poor black man growing up in a racist nation. More than anything this book gave me an understanding of what it meant to be black--and illiterate--in America during the 20th century: look down when you talk to a white man, do what you're told, never contradict or show up a white man, stay out of trouble, don't speak out when cheated, be ever-vigilant to appear obedient and subservient. I had trouble putting the book down once I started it. George was a poor, illiterate, black man who believed in honesty, integrity, respect for others, hard work, a man who lived with everyday injustices without bitterness or anger, who pursued life with vigor, gave his all to every endeavor, and lived every day with hope. He didn't waste time bemoaning his fate or hating his oppressors. George was never a victim of his society. I don't generally read biographies, and fortunately this book doesn't read like a biography. This is an encouraging story, and I really enjoyed the tone in which it was written. I think the main reason he lived to the age he did was because he accepted life as it was handed to him--without regrets. A lesson we could all learn.
Rating:
Summary: Life IS So Good...
Review: and if you don't believe it, then you need to read this book! Mr. Dawson has led an amazing life. Born in 1898, he has seen it all. The grandson of freed slaves, he was taught to be a good man, a man of integrity and he learned it well. He married (4 times! and outlived them all!), had 7 children and put them all through school, all graduated college even though he never learned how to read. Then one day, at the age of 98, he was offered the chance to learn and he seized it. A hard worker all his life, he attacked his new goal with the same attitude. He's now a full time student. This book is the incredible story of his rich, not in money, but in more important things like love, pride in one's self, and life. The reason for Mr. Dawson's long life? I don't think it was anything as special as eating a certain way, or exercise per say, but it was love. Mr. Dawson loves life and it shines through every part of his life. There are wonderful life lessons are here for everyone; young, old, black, white, man or woman. A must read!
Rating: 
Summary: A winner
Review: What a fine book this is about an extraordinarily decent man who worked hard all his life and never lost his positive outlook about the world and human life despite the challenges of poverty and racism. George Dawson, a 103-year-old slave's grandson, lived through the entire 20th century and at the age of 98 enthusiastically took on the task of learning how to read. The book's title, Life Is So Good, sums up his philosophy of life. This is the kind of book that makes one feel there is still some hope for the human race.
Rating:
Summary: Simple but Inspiring
Review: This book comes across like a long chat by the fireside with a fascinating storyteller. When I picked it up, I expected to encounter more recounting of historical events within the tale, and, at first I was a little disappointed that is seemed so "light" on these details. But it is a powerful story and will keep the reader enchanted in it's telling. It reminds the reader that, in the not-too-distant past, American life was a much simpler event than today's hustle for higher education and material possessions. Although learning to read at the age of 98 seems an amazing feat (living UNTIL 98 without ever learning to read must have been an amazing feat as well!), it is only one of many monumental tasks that George surmounted in the course of his life. This book does not preach, but gently suggests through the stories it depicts, that it is not the material things we accumulate that make us happy. Rather, faith, optimism, and hard-work that make life--if not easy--interesting. Not a difficult read, not a historical tome, but a wonderful, easy story by a fascinating man. I recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Quick Read
Review: I loved this book and i read it on a long bus journey and it made the time go so quick,i was hoping we didn't get there to soon so i could finnish the book.As i read the book George became like an old friend,he was aware of the events of his life but used very little judgement about the ignorance he confronted.A simple life told so well and we were enriched by the living history book that was George Dawson.I highly recommend this book to anyone and it is a book that school kids should read as part of their history classes it is that balanced and contains a rare understanding not found in most books of it's type.
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