Customer Reviews

Addition by Adoption: Kids, Causes & 140 Characters

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I didn't expect to be inspired by this tweet-built book. I liked the cause that each purchase supports: a clean-water well in Ethiopia. And I knew I'd find some of the tweets amusing -- particularly those of a work-from-home dad capturing the antics of his daughter, Lexi. But I'm not even a parent, let alone one who has made the journey through the adoption process, so I didn't expect it to "speak to me." (Plus, I'm not the type who would ever say something like "that book really spoke to me.") I thought I'd skim it, donate it to my library, and be done.

I read it late one night, trying not to wake my husband as I stifled laugh after laugh. It's put together nicely, with the "tweets" well-chosen and the narrative sections that introduce each chapter giving just enough context without taking over the book. It gives a great glimpse into one family's season of adoption-expectation and simultaneously raises awareness about other things and causes that are important to them.

Turns out, I didn't skim, donate to library, done. It still has me thinking. And acting (small example: I don't think I've ever written a review on Amazon before). Adoption by Addition is a funny quick read with a sweetness and energy that lingers. I don't think you have to be a Twitterer, an adopting parent, a cause-crusader, or a work-at-home anything for this book to speak... er... appeal to you. If you are any of these things -- Buy it now; you'll love it!

(I also think it would make a great little gift book for any parents you know who are in the process of adopting.)

In honor of Kevin Hendricks' fantastic idea of putting together a book comprised of Twitter updates about his kids, his family, their international adoption of Milo from Ethiopia, support of charity: water and their life in general, I'm going to share my comments regarding his book below in the form of 140-character (at most) snippets or if you will play along, tweets:

* Finished reading Addition by Adoption on my 3 hr. layover at the Twin Cities airport. @kevinhendricks lives in St. Paul, MN.

* @kevinhendricks book Addition by Adoption really shows the power of social networking & how you can tell a powerful story via Twitter.

* Loved idea of a book of twitter updates but how do you set context? Great solution: @kevinhendricks wrote a narrative piece before chapter.

* In a time where there's so much information overflow, how cool is it that @kevinhendricks reminds us how less can mean more!

* As a SAHD who also is a WAHD, I appreciated @kevinhendricks tweets about trying to strike that balance between work & family.

* Twitter updates re: adoption process was a very unique yet powerful way of sharing info & I was amazed at how emotional I got reading it.

* While I was reading, I would come across a particularly touching tweet & would show my wife. We are very seriously considering adoption.

* I am in awe of the author's passion for helping & caring for others. It sparked things inside of me, which I haven't thought about lately.

* For such a short book (82 pages), so much is said & you finish reading the book feeling as if you know the Hendricks family.

* Think this book is only about adoption? There's so much more. Love, family, charity, compassion, humanity and more.

* You don't need to understand Twitter to enjoy this book. Forget about the format & just read the content. You won't want to put it down.

If you're like me you're thinking: tweets? A book of tweets? I bought it rather reluctantly and after a few tweets I was thoroughly engrossed. This book is beautiful. I think there's a story here about the relevance of social networking tying us together and highlighting our common humanity. The Hendricks family sounds wonderful and it's true you are "right there with them" during the adoption. I'm glad the author discovered his tweets would indeed make an engrossing book and I'm glad he followed through on his project. Kudos.

This book is so quick and easy to read -- yet totally engaging and heartfelt. I felt like I was tracking with him at each step of his journey. You don't have to be on the same path (towards adoption) to appreciate the ups and downs of raising kids. And you don't have to be a tweeter to enjoy the writing style. It actually reminded me that fewer words can often have a greater impact. And he's got good stuff in there about taking action for causes you believe in. Great book!

An excellent, quick read that is both heartwarming, honest and careful. The snippets are page turners and when they finally get their baby the few and simple words are distinctly powerful.

Buy this book and then start tweeting your life's adventures.

Hilariously real and authentic! Plus the money helps build a well in Ethiopia... always a plus!

As a twitter addict, I loved the layout of this book. As someone who has always wanted to adopt, I loved the premise of this book. As someone who has a heart for impoverished people around the world, I loved the message of this book. I highly recommend buying this. :)

I'm a sucker for a good adoption story. Combine that with the brevity of Twitter and numerous laughs provided by his now 4-year old daughter, and you have Kevin Hendricks latest book "Addition by Adoption: Kids, Causes & 140 Characters."

"Addition by Adoption: Kids, Causes & 140 Characters" cleverly weaves 19 months of Kevin's tweets into a heart warming and funny look into the life of a work-at-home dad, a Sesame Street-loving four year old and their family's journey to adopt a baby boy.

In between laughing (often out loud) at Lexi's antics, I experienced waves of nostalgia as I remembered feeling the same emotions conveyed in Kevin's book during the different steps in our adoption process.

I was also relieved to find out that I am not the only parent who sometimes feels it necessary to hide behind closed doors and eat large amounts of chocolate in order to regain sanity.

really enjoyed how this book really captures the heart of adoption in such a seemingly simple way.

Our lives go on and we leave little marks along the way that seem to be isolated. However, the way that Kevin has retraced his path and compiled those individual moments into a larger story is incredible.

anyone who has been through the adoption process knows that it's those long moments of life that pass between the milestones that shapes the journey. We have to find value in the present as we wait for the future. Thanks Kevin for pointing us in that direction.

In Addition by Adoption: Kids, Causes & 140 Characters, Kevin Hendricks shares the story of the adoption of his son, Milo, from Ethiopia. The story is interwoven with 140 character Twitter posts (aka "tweets") that give a glimpse into Kevin's life as a work-at-home dad preparing for and then adjusting to the addition of Milo to the Hendricks household.

If you're one who is still wondering, "What's the point of Twitter?" or you have people asking you that question, Addition by Adoption goes a long way... not to explaining the answer but to exemplifying an answer.

Most of the content of the book is made up of Kevin's tweets over a 2 year period. It's filled with funny little one-line stories anyone whose every parented a 3 year old can relate to. It's got emotional tweets about adoption & the conditions in Ethiopia. Some of the tweets also tell the stories of how Kevin raised money to help the homeless and for clean water using Twitter.

In addition to being funny & interesting, I recommend Addition by Adoption for three reasons.

1. It puts a spotlight on the importance of adoption.

2. It demonstrates the power of social media. The book is derived from tweets & is being promoted exclusively through blogs and social media.

3. Kevin is giving a portion of the proceeds from every book purchased to charity:water, a wonderful non-profit that brings clean drinking water to people in developing nations. Kevin's goal is to raise $5,000.

My full review & discussion is at:

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