The Pursuit of Happyness: An NAACP Image Award Winner

by Chris Gardner

Book Overview

The astounding yet true rags-to-riches saga of a homeless father who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall StreetAt the age of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060744871
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Amistad
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Amazing but the book

All I ask is to get a hard cover since that's what I ordered. It came today and it isnt a hard cover.

A Glimpse into the world of the "haves" and "have-nots"

Recently I saw the film, "Pursuit of Happyness", starring Will Smith and his son. It moved me emotionally, spiritually, and paternally. Consequently, I purchased the book thinking it could not match the intensity of the movie. I was mistaken on many levels. If you love a good story that is challenging, inspirational, and uplifting, The Pursuit of Happyness will take you on a tenacious journey that will break your heart at startling moments - then give you pauses for celebrations when you are beginning to feel all hope is lost. An example of this is in Chapter nine, entitled: "Turned out". This was a revealing and fascinating look into the "corporate jungle" which left me riveted, captivated, and "turned on". The mother of his son plays an integral role in developing the author's character. She will remind the reader of the classic examples of tough love, suffocating passions, and denigrating support, all rolled into one. Mr. Gardner took these circumstances and refused to accept them as limitations. In the earlier stages of her pregnancy, she would repeatedly ask him: "How can you hope to be a good father when you never had one yourself?" He faced this challenge not with experience but with a love, I believe, that is inherent in all mothers and fathers since the time of Adam and Eve. The book covers the gamut of trials and tribulations, including dysfunctional parents, illiteracy, child abuse, drug addiction, and ultimately, homelessness. In spite of these hardships along the way - it is still a riveting, heart-pounding, and marvelous story of what one man can do for himself and his child. Chapter three, page 59, is called: "Where's Momma?". It is a question asked by Mr. Gardner when he was eight years old. You will have to read the book for the answer. This section reminds us all; it takes more than a village ... it takes a mother, it takes a father, it takes time, it takes commitment, if we are to get it right for the ones we love. I loved this book from beginning to end. If you are in pursuit of a good read, "The Pursuit of Happyness" is where you should start. Reviewed by Reginald V. Johnson, author, How to Close More Customers

Incredible and Inspirational!

This book is a true story of an individual believing in himself and chronicles the journey he took to reach his dreams. Chris Gardner's life experiences exemplify courage, strength and willpower. He never gave up on his dreams for a better life for him and his son - even though he struggled to find a place to live, food to provide for his growing boy, and a stable job. Gardner lived in the Oakland BART station bathroom, among other places, and just kept getting right back up every time something knocked him down. What I personally find to be admirable about this story is the incredible and inspirational journey Gardner trekked down in an amazing turn from rags to riches. He is now an extremely successful businessman and a mighty wealthy one too! The power of the American dream still lives on. One only needs to think that they can do it. Gardner is an example for us to follow - to have a dream and to find ways to reach it, regardless of the hurdles and obstacles which are put in our way. Congratulations, Chris, on your magnificent success in life!!

Starts A Little Slow - But What a BANG at the end

Bottom line - this guy bares his soul... the good, the bad, and the in-between. Only someone who has had a dream so strong the'd go through any obstacle to attain it can really understand. What he did was completely, by the book, exactly what you're supposed to do if you REALLY want something... not just paying lip-service to a dream, but actually going for it with your entire being. Most people "settle" and then do everything from drink themselves into oblivion, beat their wives, and blame life for what others did *TO* them. Those few who dare... despite all odds... to do great things and never give up... those are the real heroes. Those people who see something and want it so badly they can move mountains. He followed the "magic" formula that gets us all everything - good or bad - that we have in our lives. 1. He knew EXACTLY what he wanted... 2. He knew WHY he wanted it... 3. He BELIEVED he could achieve it... 4. He had FAITH that it was on its way... 5. And he took MASSIVE action on every level towards its achievement. He could have glossed over areas of the story... he could have cleaned up his actions and made himself a little more saintly... but he spent the time he did on what happened to him becaue it SHOWS that we are all WHERE we are as the SUM total of our thoughts and actions to that point. He didn't end up on the street because of ONE decision... everthing he had came from everything that came before... the good and the bad. I respect him and his story more because he told the WHOLE story. You want to know the secret of his success? It's easy. He believed he could do it... he had no choice but TO DO it... and he took so much action (200 calls a day) that he HAD to do it... If you've got a dream - read this book. It will show you that you don't have any problems... you only have opportunites or excuses. You get to choose which one you accept as reality - I suggest you choose the opportunities. Read the book - hear the message - let it show you that no matter how bad things get, there's light at the end of the tunnel if you only believe, have faith, and take as much action as you can with what you have where you are. PEACE!

Deserves its top ranking and about to be a movie

I hear Will Smith is in the lead role in the movie based on this book. It is truly an incredible story of one man's rise from homelessness to being a millionaire! Not only that but he is forced to show up for his first important job interview on Wall Street in paint-spattered shoes, having been evicted - and he still manages to talk himself into the job! This is one of those stories that is so incredible, so "making it against all odds". The author has a strong, passionate voice and he doesn't flinch from telling the truth, including the fact that when he lived in hotels with his young son, they played a game called, "Shhh..." which involved keeping quiet when people knocked on the door or tried to find out if they were there (to evict them). But he didn't let the trauma, the hard times, defeat him. He simply faced up to the fact that he'd have to dig himself out of a hole, hard as it was....and, miraculously, he did. If you're feeling down, this book ought to inspire you!

The Pursuit of Happyness is Wonderful...As Inspiring as it is Entertaining

This memoir is a shining example of the rags-to-riches story and the triumph of embracing a shot at success in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Mr. Gardner's tale is riddled with challenges, despair, and even violence, but it is foremost one of hope and love. It offers up a reminder that the "American dream" still exists, that given the chance, anyone can find it in themselves to reach up and climb to new heights. And this story goes well beyond professional or financial success, even that as impressive as Gardner's, to show that really, the deepest form of motivation is found in our love for another. Whether you are facing or have overcome your own hurdles, or just need to be reminded that the demons of the past are no match for the human spirit, this book is for you.