True Vine: A Young Black Man's Journey of Faith, Hope and Clarity

by John W. Fountain

Book Overview

John W. Fountain grew up on some of the meanest streets in Chicago, where drugs, crime, decay, and broken homes consigned so many black children to a life of despair and self-destruction. A father at seventeen, a college dropout at nineteen, a welfare case soon after, Fountain was on the verge of giving up all hope. One thing saved him--his faith, his own true vine.

True Vine is John Fountain's remarkable story--of his childhood in a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586482858
• ISBN13: 9781586482855
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Inspirational Beacon

With True Vine, John W. Fountain has created an inspirational beacon. Not only has he trail blazed a path for all of the inner-city youth struggling in the jungle of poverty, he has written a travelogue of hope for all the souls who may have lost sight of their dreams.This is one of the best books I have read, and will most likely be among my top 10 for the year. I wrote something down from this book that I know I will take away with me and remember for a long time: "You can't stop dreaming or you start to die."When I first picked up this book, I was worried it would be a non-stop preach-fest; it turned out to be an inspiring tale of despair, hope, and faith. Even though I grew up in a ranch house on a cul-de-sac in a well-to-do white Chicago suburb with grassy lawns and two-car garages, this book made me feel like I grew up in the poverty stricken neighborhoods of the west side of Chicago. It made me feel like a part of John W. Fountain's circle of friends and family. This is the kind of book that comes along only once in a while. True Vine is a true treasure.

Such a Book--Such a Life!

I found myself unable to put this book down even for sleep. It's one of those books you read from cover to cover, then promptly begin to put together the names of friends and family who simply MUST read this book.I was deeply touched by his unwavering faith and integrity as he wrote about his life in the Chicago ghetto--up through poverty, his setbacks in life, and again recouping to claim a better life for himself and his family. I was most impressed by his early and continued determination to lead an exemplary male life, not wavering in his responsibilities to provide security and leadership no matter the adversity. His strong message of faith is a personal one, clearly and directly told. It is a touching, sincere, very warm book and so worth your time and money. You'll love it, I'm sure of it.

A Testament to the Power of Hope

John Fountain's story doesn't end the way one might expect - it didn't begin the way I might expect after reading his credentials. This touching and real story of a young black man struggling to rise above the circumstances into which he was born proves that the choice exists for each human to make changes (large and small) to create the life they want. The same challenges and frustrations (death of dreams, loss of hope and life choices) apply to people in all areas of our country and Mr. Fountain's story is a wake-up call to each of us to see the story behind the stereotype and to encourage the pursuit and cultivation of dreams for all Americans.

A must read

John Fountain has created a masterpiece. I was hooked midway through the first chapter. The book is filled with humor and sorrow and great life lessons. Fountain proved that no matter how dire our situation, we can overcome it with hard work, determination and faith. Every young male, regardless of race, should read True Vine. Aspiring writers will also pick up a few tips from the book. It's rich with wonderful descriptions and color that brings the stories alive.

Amazing story of redemption

John Fountain's True Vine answers the question of what happens to those teenagers who became statistics and get caught up in the streets, or as in Fountain's case, teen pregnancy. Fountain is a testatment of the inner strength we all possess to take stock and reinvent ourselves to better ourselves. True Vine is this century's new version of what it is to be an all-American teen. With all the choices and pressures young people face today, so much is at stake when we don't make the right choices. Fountain shows how a strong foundation, spirituality, the ability to admit one's flaws and innate common sense can put the American Dream within the grasp of anyone who has the passion and discipline to reach for it. Being American is about evolving into the best you can be. We all can hope to experience the growth and knowledge Fountain has.