Friday, November 03, 2006

Review: Finding Fish

Antwone Fisher's biography, Finding Fish, is a truly remarkable story.

On one level, his story is one about how cruel people can be. His8 tale of physical, mental and sexual abuse is beyond shocking. It's a story about how wrong the system can go, to the point where he spends years in an abusive home, with not one social worker fighting for his removal. It's a story about how people can truly slip through the cracks, ending up on the street, homeless and without anything.

On the other hand, this is a story of how the system works. It's about the teachers that make a difference in his life. And about the social workers who genuinely care for him and teach him valuable lessons. And it's a story about how the Navy provided him with a family and positive environment in which to grow.

But most of all, this is a story of how sheer determination can overcome adversity. In the end, Antwone bootstrapped himself, going from a lost soul to a success.

This is a story we all need to hear. Both so that we will be there to improve the system, and help those in it, and so that we realize we too can reach our own potential.

I should mention that the narrator of this book did a terrific job. When done right, hearing a professional story teller relate a tale is a big treat. And in this case, the narrator served to enhance the quality of the story.

I give this book a 10/10. Listen to it.

--Ben

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