Life Is So Good

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: 104 and still going¿
Review: Imagine being the grandson of slaves, learning how to read at the age of 98 and living through one whole century. A rare life like this is proudly owned by one very lucky man named George Dawson. A writer named Richard Glaubman and George wrote a book together called "Life is so Good". This book takes you on an amazing adventure through this man's life. He lived all the way back to the awful times of segregation between blacks and whites, and the Depression at the beginning of the 20th century. Fast forward the date all the way to the 21st century, he is still as healthy and active as ever at the age of 104. One of the things I enjoyed the most about Mr. Dawson's book was that he would always do his very best and never gave up even when things were really tough.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring.
Review: Similar to a Studs Terkel, only this whole book is by a 101-year-old African-American man, who learned to read at 98 (the book is co-authored and polished by Richard Glaubman, but it's Dawson's voice). Dawson's simple optimism is inspiring, especially in our cynical day and age. Demonstrates that whether a person's situation is good or bad depends more on his attitude than his actual environment. It's also inspiring to hear from someone who lived to see so much change. So often we ignore the voices of the elderly when it's those voices that have the most wisdom to offer.

Rating:
Summary: The most interesting book Iv'e ever read!
Review: This book is excellent. One reviewer said the book was good but not riveting. This is true, but it is not meant to be riveting. It is a book that humbles you, makes you think, makes you appreciate life and appreciate the lives of others. After reading this book I could better understand my 71-year-old mother's life experiences. She left home at 14 to work but never talked about how she felt about having to do this. This book helped open up a dialogue with her about that experience. This may be like talking to your grandparents (as a previous reviewer stated) but should be read in addition to the talk you have with your grandparents.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is simply a wonderful book to read.

This is the story of George Dawson, a 101 year old man who was the grandson of slaves and who started learning to read when he was 98 years old.

I found the book to be very well written and I felt like I was right there alongside the characters during their colorful experiences.

The book also presents a philosophy for living that is very simple and yet very foreign in this day and age. The basic premise is that "Life is good, just the way it is". Just accept things as they are, no use complaining.

The book also contains some interesting insights into America throughout the 1900's especially concerning slavery, racism and the depression.

As a footnote, sadly George passed away in July of 2001.


Rating:
Summary: A story of the past, yet a story of a man's potential
Review: When a friend loaned me this book, I hadn't heard about it. Once I started reading, I wondered why the book wasn't widely known. LIFE IS SO GOOD reveals, with great poignancy, how an illiterate black man earned his living for most of a century--years of wandering, taking hard labor jobs, following the rules for survival in a white man's world. At an age when white boys were getting their favorite toys, he left home to work on a white man's farm. . .truly a hired "hand," not acknowledged as a youngster who needed family, recreation, education, social development, and nurturing. We follow George Dawson as he hoards the few dollars he earns, never complaining about his plight. Unable to decipher a newspaper, George is oblivious to the progress taking place around him--automobiles, modern appliances, jobs with fringe benefits. He knows little about the historical and social revolutions permeating America. Nevertheless, he survives--and remains content. His greatest miracle, though, comes at age 98, when he learns to read. At this point, he starts to grasp what others have known all along. LIFE tugs at the reader's heartstrings. We grieve as we consider all he missed in life, we rejoice at his delayed triumphs. If you've ever considered yourself disadvantaged, read this book. You'll be blessed by George Dawson's fortitude and gratitude.

Rating:
Summary: "It's not my fault I'm 101!"
Review: WOW!! what a book.I was not awfully surprised that this book was so good.I read about half of the Customer Reviews before I started the book.From those reviews ,I was expecting the best;and that is exactly what it was.No doubt I found it to be one of the most enlightning and inspirational books I've ever read.This is not just a book about rememberences of a person who happened to live and continue to learn during a lifetime of 103 years.This is a great book of wisdom and love by one who possessed an uncanny ability to deal with life.He didn't develop this ability because of his long life;he already had it when he watched his friend Pete being hung as well as having to leave his family and go to work at 10 years of age.
I strongly recommend this to everyone;and also to read all the super reviews.As well you should check the several web sites under George Dawson;good things there plus some good photos.
And yes, I went back and read all the reviews after finishing the book.I very seldom read a book a second time;but I plan to read this one again.This man,George Dawson,was truly a gifted person.