Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Inspiring
Review: This book is truly, truly inspiring. I could not put it down! Every person in America should read this book. The lessons gained by reading this book could be life-changing. Mr. Anderson amazes me with his candor in telling his story. The lesson I learned is that no matter how bad your circumstances might be, you CAN rise above it all. What a beautiful memoir. Praise God for the "Mrs. Williams" of the world that impact us as children. Everyone needs a "Mrs. Williams". I absolutely loved this book and I'm telling everyone to read it. It blessed me.
Rating: 
Summary: How a man overcame a sad childhood
Review: Walter Anderson came from an abusive home and his mother had a secret; the father who beat him was not his father at all. Anderson overcame his problems by joining the Marines and there he excelled in the harsh but disciplined environment. He finished his degree, did a stint in Viet Nam, and ended up as a journalist, spurred on by the success of an article he wrote about the Vietnamese during his tour.Anderson tracks down his secret past and makes more astonishing discoveries. This is an inspiring book, full of hope and redemption. And it's well-written. If you enjoy memoirs and stories of triumph over hardships, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: An Evocative Story About Overcoming Challenges
Review: Walter Anderson makes a wonderful contribution to memoir writing in this fabulous book. As he explores not only his upbringing but also his sense of despair at his circumstances, he displays a courage that many of us would have trouble exhibiting. His manner of writing was breathtaking, and I read the book in just about 4 hours. I couldn't put it down. Also, since I am a dean at a community college, I was inspired by how he went from being a high school dropout to a Marine to a community college graduate, and then a four-year college graduate and then enjoying his current success. It says a great deal about opportunity--sought and grabbed. This is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: An Evocative Story About Overcoming Challenges
Review: Walter Anderson makes a wonderful contribution to memoir writing in this fabulous book. As he explores not only his upbringing but also his sense of despair at his circumstances, he displays a courage that many of us would have trouble exhibiting. His manner of writing was breathtaking, and I read the book in just about 4 hours. I couldn't put it down. Also, since I am a dean at a community college, I was inspired by how he went from being a high school dropout to a Marine to a community college graduate, and then a four-year college graduate and then enjoying his current success. It says a great deal about opportunity--sought and grabbed. This is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: A family secret
Review: Well, not even a family secret. A secret kept just by his mother, one she then bound him to keep: that he was not the biological child of the cruel, abusive, alcoholic man he had always called 'father.'
Even as a child, Anderson knew he was different in every way from his older siblings. It was only after his father's funeral that he finally asked the question of his mother than had haunted him for years: Is this my real father? Her answer sent him on an intense examination of identity and life goals.
Anderson, the chairman of Parade publications, relates his success story with humility and awe. Revealing his life through anecdotes that include stints in Vietnam to meetings with the world's movers and shakers, Anderson's compassion and appreciation for mankind and its foibles are beautifully rendered.
Bound to become a coming-of-age classic.
Rating:
Summary: A family secret
Review: Well, not even a family secret. A secret kept just by his mother, one she then bound him to keep: that he was not the biological child of the cruel, abusive, alcoholic man he had always called `father.'
Even as a child, Anderson knew he was different in every way from his older siblings. It was only after his father's funeral that he finally asked the question of his mother than had haunted him for years: Is this my real father? Her answer sent him on an intense examination of identity and life goals.
Anderson, the chairman of Parade publications, relates his success story with humility and awe. Revealing his life through anecdotes that include stints in Vietnam to meetings with the world's movers and shakers, Anderson's compassion and appreciation for mankind and its foibles are beautifully rendered.
Bound to become a coming-of-age classic.
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