American By Choice: The Remarkable Fulfillment of an Immigrant's Dream [Hardcover]

Sam Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 1998

American By Choice is the remarkable story of an industrious young man from Lebanon, who, trusting God, came to America in 1950 with $600 in his pocket; and eventually led Thomas Nelson, Inc. to become the world's largest Christian Publishing company. His father had given him some prudent advice: "Be honest, work hard, and don't be afraid to take a chance." A mentor had encouraged him, "God can use you."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785274537
• ISBN-13: 978-0785274537
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,185,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars upward mobility, September 22, 2005

By 

David A. Baer (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: American By Choice: The Remarkable Fulfillment of an Immigrant's Dream (Hardcover)

Rags to riches tales are an American phenomenon. From inside the system, it is easy to think that a lot of hard work, a good idea, and a little luck are all it takes for the down-and-out to pull themselves up any number of ladders, and that this is obvious everywhere. You only have to live beyond these shores for a little while to realize that this scenario is a quintessential chunk of Americana. Class, rigid economies, and 7th-grade decisions for a trade or university are strong brakes on the possibilities of moving up or even, for that matter, sideways.

Once upon a time, Sam Moore wasn't called that. Salim Ziady-before a South Carolina judge in an intimidating black robe at a naturalization hearing advised him 'when in Rome to do like the Romans'-emigrated from his native Lebanon as a young man and found a niche selling Bibles and books door-to-door in this country's Southeast. It was not so much a helping hand as a wide open door that enamored him with his adopted country, a love he communicates with vigor in this endearing autobiography.

It's easy to approach such a work with a jaundiced eye. Autobiography does not promise transparency and the rhetoric of 'I made it, so you can too' goes down like cold oatmeal to those whose tenacity has not been similarly rewarded. Yet a palpable authenticity underscores the story told on these pages.

Moore recently retired as the CEO of Nashville's Thomas Nelson Publishers, having taken that company on its own rags-to-riches trajectory as a formidable competitor in the competitive publishing arena (He continues as Nelson's Chairman.)

This reviewer-unconnected to Thomas Nelson Publishers-has known Moore's common touch and listened to the anecdotes of individuals like the receptionist in the company's Nashville headquarters, who adores the man. Men and women of integrity are still to be found, this book's gentle optimism reminds us, even if it does not fall to most of them to write their extraordinary story on pages like these.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sam Moore is a man of faith and determination., September 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (BATON ROUGE, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American By Choice: The Remarkable Fulfillment of an Immigrant's Dream (Hardcover)

I throughly enjoyed reading this book about a man who has truly lived the American Dream. This book should serve as a beacon for all those who come to this country in search of the "American Dream." I have heard Mr. Moore speak in Nashville (I am from Baton Rouge, LA) and he truly is man of GOD.

This book truly is a book of the real-life "rags-to-riches" story that we Americans so often hear. Sam Moore is a man who's only job is to glorify God and give him all thanks and that is why I think this book is a must read for all Amercians and people who want to come to this country to succeed and live the "AMERICAN DREAM!!"

2 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A self-serving puff piece., October 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American By Choice: The Remarkable Fulfillment of an Immigrant's Dream (Hardcover)

This book is nothing more than a shallow attempt at self-glorification. The CEO of Thomas Nelson writes his life story on some arrogant assumption that anyone will care, and his publishing house publishes it. Big whoop. A "celebrity biography" by a non-celebrity of no interest to anyone outside of Thomas Nelson's employees.