UNDAUNTED, a book review

A Book Review

UNDAUNTED, Surviving Jonestown, Summing Courage, Fighting Back

Written by:    Jackie Speir

Reviewed by:  Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown January 3, 2019

Personal Note:  I am old enough to remember the massacre at Jonestown where over 900 people were murdered and Congressman Ryan was murdered.  Congresswoman Speir was a staffer for Congressman Ryan and she was shot multiple times and as she struggled to survive, Congressman Ryan’s lifeless body lay only feet away.

This is one of the more interesting books I have ever read.  Everyone goes through life and experiences its ups and downs but Congresswoman Speir has certainly had more than her fair share of downs followed by significant ups.  In my opinion she is a remarkable woman and her story needs to be heard.

This book is about facing life’s challenges and staring them down.  It’s about in her words, “getting over it!”  The book is a lesson for everyone as to what personal focus and raw determination will accomplish for you provided you learn how to use both as Congresswoman Speir has and continues to use.

A word of caution:  If you consider yourself anywhere right of the political center, you may find portions of this book objectionable.  In the early part of the book Congresswoman Speir lays out what her personal beliefs and principles are and they are without fault.  But I found several contradictions between her principles and her actions.  For example, she is for women’s rights and sexual abuse victims’ rights yet she supported Hillary Clinton who in my opinion was one of the biggest enablers who permitted her husband to not only abuse women, she attacked the women he abused.  Not what I would call consistent.  Of a larger concern, at least for me, is that she aligns herself with the Democratic Party and expounds on her Catholic upbringing and faith.  I find that a contraction of the highest order.  The Democratic Party (including Clinton and Obama) supports Planned Parenthood who through abortions have killed more people (and yes babies are people) than the number killed during WWII. 

As great and as admirable as her story is, such contradictions take away from the overall story because they do contradict her principles and beliefs. 

Still, the book is a very compelling read.  I hate to use the overused phrase that it is a book that I couldn’t put down but it IS a book I couldn’t put down.  In spite of the contradictions, I admire her work ethic, her tenacity and her vision.  She IS to be admired!

Who should read this book?  Anyone who wants to read a real life story that should motivate anyone who might be facing obstacles in their life and isn’t that everyone?

Would I recommend it to a friend?  ABSOLUTELY and already have!

Would I buy it as a gift?  ABSOLUTELY!

Will I read it again?  Probably not because once you read it you understand what she writes about and how she reacted to serious adversities in her life. 

EGO is the Enemy a book review

EGO Is THE Enemy

A book by Ryan Holiday

A review by Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, December 21, 2018

Note:  Anything appearing in BLUE and UNDERLINED should be a link to a web site

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

This is an amazing book and another in a long list of books that wish I had read when I was much younger like when I was first starting out in business.  It would or should be impossible for anyone who reads this book not to come away when a different perspective on the way they see themselves and others they may work for or for those who work for them. 

The book is all about EGO and how and why it is most likely the one character trait that can and   may destroy your ability to achieve goals even beyond what you might imagine.  The book is timeless meaning exactly what it suggests; it applied yesterday, today, tomorrow and all of the tomorrows ahead.  The real question is can you see yourself in the various descriptions and scenarios given by the author Holiday?  That is a huge question.

It is NOT a “how to” book.  It is a book that provides stories of people we all have heard about but probably know very little about, until now.  Sometimes what we’ve been told is quite different than what actually was.  A great many famous people had issues.  Some addressed them and how they addressed them while others did not and why they didn’t and what was the result of ignoring the problems.

I was in real estate sales for over 33 years.  As I read the book, I could see real estate agents all over the pages as one after another chased the Number One status or the Highest Production or the Highest Number of Closed Sales, etc.  There is nothing wrong with being the best provided that is what is actually happening.  But are you  being learning based, sharing what you learned instead of just accumulating numbers. This book in my opinion would be a valuable asset for anyone in business but especially anyone in sales like real estate agents.  It would be impossible not see yourself or some of your fellow agents on every page in the book.

I know I appeared in the book, not sure when he interviewed me but I certainly recognized some of the traits he discussed.  I think you will as well in fact if you know me you may actually recognize me in the book.  I hope you are NOT in the book!  But somehow…..

Who should read the book?  EVERYONE, seriously, everyone can learn the lessons in the book.

Would I read it again?  Probably will.  There were definitely chapters, quotes and passages that stood out and worthy of recall.  Want an example.  From the writer Cheryl Strayed. "You're becoming who you are going to be and so you might as well not be an asshole!"

Would I give the book as a gift?  Absolutely.  It is a book for all ages but again, many of the books I have read on success and motivation definitely apply to teenagers where this book as well as other could be used to avoid the pitfalls so many of us have learned through experience.