A true computer science student is the one who thinks of Andrew S. Tannanbaum when it comes to Amsterdam, and not about Euro Trip. :)
-Anonymous
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Pursuit of Happyness - Book Review
I finished reading this book - The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner, a self made man & a multi-millionaire. I liked the book. I liked the frankness with which this man puts all his life in front of you.
Book starts with troubled childhood of young Chris. He doesn't know his real dad. And his step-dad never misses a chance to taunt him about it. Worse, he gets to see very little of his mother during his growing years, because his step-dad sends his mom to jail. He has his uncles & aunts who try to alleviate his troubles, and give him much needed love & support. At this age he decides, no matter what happens, he would give all the love in world to his children.
Ever curious Chris grows up and goes to Navy. He then works under a navy doctor where he learns & masters many medical procedures. He becomes a good medical professional & researcher, without a degree though. Getting a medical degree is beyond his financial reach. So he gets to the business of selling bone density X-ray scanner. As it turns out, the product goes flop, and Chris has his life's income invested in it. Due to this, there is lot of tension in his life & his wife leaves him. But he loves & cares for his only son - Chris Jr. like a delicate flower. The parts where the book shows the mutual love between father & son, touched me deeply. For E.g. an innocent toddler Chris Jr. tells his dejected and tired dad "you're the best dad!", and Chris finds his life litle easier.
Chris' strong hunger to earn money not just to become rich, but to get the man out of himself, tells us something. Being poor and homeless is not poetic and the daily crises he faces, while juggling between his son & job, are really saddening.
The book is not as dramatic as the movie. There is no mention of the famous movie scene - Chris colored in paint, locked in cell, then runs for his important interview & pulls it off successfully. But this doesn't make the book less interesting. It is especially amazing to read how Chris improvises his business skills, shifting from one business arena to another at right time.
All in all, a great read if you like reading biographies of great people. The first part of this book could be bit slow & boring at times, but the end is good. The book is as good as the movie. (I know it is mostly the other way around, but since I saw the movie first I compared the book with the movie.)
Book starts with troubled childhood of young Chris. He doesn't know his real dad. And his step-dad never misses a chance to taunt him about it. Worse, he gets to see very little of his mother during his growing years, because his step-dad sends his mom to jail. He has his uncles & aunts who try to alleviate his troubles, and give him much needed love & support. At this age he decides, no matter what happens, he would give all the love in world to his children.
Ever curious Chris grows up and goes to Navy. He then works under a navy doctor where he learns & masters many medical procedures. He becomes a good medical professional & researcher, without a degree though. Getting a medical degree is beyond his financial reach. So he gets to the business of selling bone density X-ray scanner. As it turns out, the product goes flop, and Chris has his life's income invested in it. Due to this, there is lot of tension in his life & his wife leaves him. But he loves & cares for his only son - Chris Jr. like a delicate flower. The parts where the book shows the mutual love between father & son, touched me deeply. For E.g. an innocent toddler Chris Jr. tells his dejected and tired dad "you're the best dad!", and Chris finds his life litle easier.
Chris' strong hunger to earn money not just to become rich, but to get the man out of himself, tells us something. Being poor and homeless is not poetic and the daily crises he faces, while juggling between his son & job, are really saddening.
The book is not as dramatic as the movie. There is no mention of the famous movie scene - Chris colored in paint, locked in cell, then runs for his important interview & pulls it off successfully. But this doesn't make the book less interesting. It is especially amazing to read how Chris improvises his business skills, shifting from one business arena to another at right time.
All in all, a great read if you like reading biographies of great people. The first part of this book could be bit slow & boring at times, but the end is good. The book is as good as the movie. (I know it is mostly the other way around, but since I saw the movie first I compared the book with the movie.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)