Customer Reviews

Everything Will Be All Right

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an honest, inspirational story of a man overcoming one of the toughest challenges that modern Americans can face: being born into extreme poverty. Douglas Wallace talks at length about what it was like growing up in what he terms "generational poverty," and how he managed to find his way out through hard work, determination, and, ultimately, faith. It's a story that can put your current problems into perspective, but more than that, it's a testament to the power of character and belief. Like "Slumdog Millionaire," it's an honest, sometimes brutal look at adversity, but its crowning achievement is the message of hope that it offers. I couldn't put it down.

Doug Wallace has carved a moving, page-turner with precision and grace out of one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking childhoods ever to be set down on the page. This deeply affecting memoir is truly a great American classic. Like a good bottle of wine, the lessons learned from the author's story will become more valuable with time. It covers one of the greatest eras in American history from the perspective of a young boy growing up in horrible poverty in the 50's and 60's. It is triumph against all odds in every possible way, and it does what all the great classics do: it affirms our faith in the human spirit, in God, and in Love. WOW is all I can really say about this book. Everything Will Be All Right is now our family mantra. Thank you, Doug Wallace, for sharing your inspiring story.

It seems almost impossible that a person with a childhood as Doug Wallace's could have the guts to set his sights on, and achieve, such lofty goals. I'm truly impressed and ashamed for complaining about things that are not even comparable to what he had to live through. From the beginning to the end, the story captivates the reader. I was able to see, from the outside-in, through the prism of poverty, the hardships of growing up poor. But rather than seeking pity, the writer enabled me to see things from the perspective of the positive side of the human spirit, never letting go of hope and always believing everything will be all right. I personally passed this book to my sister the moment I finished reading it. It's a fantastic quick read and I agree with other reviewers, the story will stick with you.

Everything Will Be All Right provides a moving memoir for any general lending library, telling of a child determined to free himself from his family's long history of poverty. Abused by an alcoholic, unemployed father, the author and his seven siblings barely survived childhood - and was determined to make major changes in his own life. Faith, courage and determination combines in a powerful, inspirational guide.

This is a memoir by a white American male who pulls himself out of
generational poverty to become a millionaire.
In a plain, period-specific, and young voice, Doug Wallace presents his life story from birth to his early twenties. He starts out in a Tennessee shack with seven siblings, an alcoholic father & battered mother and ends up in a Georgia graduate school a few floors above his office. The journey in-between is what happens when the author remembers that "everything will be all right".

We've all had those experiences where we knew everything would have been all right, had it not been for [fill in the blank]. Douglas Wallace has shown that in fact there aren't any blanks to be filled in--we are the only ones who can control our lives and our souls. It isn't easy, especially when many of our peers start off with numerous advantages. But we each make choices every day that will determine our long-term trajectory. And almost universally, choosing the more difficult course leads one closer to ultimate success.
A book with this message would seem predestined to come off as preachy or, worse, insufferable. But more than anything it is a fascinating story that keeps you turning the pages to be sure the author gets the rewards you know he deserves (this is quite a literary feat, as we know from the jacket cover that he becomes wildly successful).
Not only is this a great read, but it will change the way you view your daily challenges--rather than using them as an excuse for things going wrong, you can use them to create success in other areas. I only wish I could give it seven stars!

Doug Wallace gives ample evidence that the chain of poverty and failure can be broken. His faith comes through loud and clear. He does an excellent job of showing how one choice leads to another and another. Every person who has used excuses and alibis for staying in the midst of their problems rather than solving them should read this book. Every young person going through a troubled youth should read this book. It offers hope. It shows that actions are necessary and one should never, never, never quit. Having grown up in Stewart County, TN, I appreciate his descriptions of the natural beauty of "home." Knowing something of East Nashville in the '60s, Doug paints an accurate picture. Through it all, Doug doesn't hold bitterness or malice toward others. He shares good memories, too. It's an easy, quick read and provides much food for thought.

This was an interesting story about a person pulling himself up by his bootstraps. However, it could have had a little more "meat" to it. It was easy reading. Unfortunately, I read it after I finished another book by Jeannette Walls that was compelling to read. Had I read this one first, I might have enjoyed it more.

This book held my attention and my emotions from front to back. It really makes you appreciate the little things that you are blessed with in your own life, including basic needs, such as food, water and shelter. These are things that most of us take for granted. This book should be mandatory reading for our young teenagers today. It would be a good down to earth lesson for each & every child. After reading this book, I passed it on to family members, and you will do the same. It's that compelling, that inspiring, and that moving, and you never doubt for a second that the author is writing with a genuine voice.

This book is wonderful. There is only one other book besides "Everything Will Be All Right," that I was able to read cover to cover NONSTOP and that was Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes." And, that was years ago. The author doesn't wallow in self-pity and his story is written with a genuine voice. This story will move you, inspire you, and IT WILL stick with you well after you have finished it. The author writes his story so well. It's definitely a page turner and an inside look at a world most of us will never know.