Customer Reviews

Extraordinary Comebacks

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A friend of mine came across this book and alerted me that I am one of the 201 individuals profiled, specifically in the athletics section, just ahead of Joe Namath, but that's only because of the alphabetical listing!

To John Sarkett, if you happen to read this review, THANK YOU for including me -- it truly is an honor and a privilege to be part of your fine collection of profiles.

Gratefully,
Ric Munoz

It amazed me how little I knew about "turning points" in the lives of some very well known people. Points in their lives when they could have thrown up their hands and rightfully given up. But these 201 people didn't....all for different reasons. They didn't give up....they came back. Each vignette in the book builds upon the one which precedes it....and the message is overwhelmingly positive. It's a great read!

Three kinds of stories in Extraordinary Comebacks inspired and entertained me. There are the human renewal stories I had already heard or read at least in part (e.g., Jimmy Piersall's) and enjoyed reading again. Then there are the comeback stories of people like Bill Gates who I had always assumed achieved success in a straight line upward. Most surprising of all are stories of people I had never heard of. One was Count Istvan Szechenyi, who at no personal gain almost single-handedly saved Hungary from oblivion more than a century before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The book's only shortcoming is that it has only 201 stories, not the 365 that would have made it perfect as a year-round daily meditation book. But if your memory span is anything like mine, two-thirds of the way through the year isn't be too soon to repeat the cycle.

It's a truly wonderful book. Just reading the introduction and a few stories today made me anxious to finish all 201! I especially liked the closing, offering readers an opportunity to write about their own comeback experiences. Ending with the story of Jesus was a nice touch too and a refreshing reminder of the true spirit of the Christmas holiday season. Well done, Mr. Sarkett!

This is a delightful book. I work a lot with entrenpreneurs, and one of the most important things they often have to deal with is an unpleasant realiazation that very few people get everything right the first time. In fact, most don't and have to comeback again and again. This book gives some very real and solid inspiration to keep trying. The author has gathered wonderful stories of how famous and ordinary people were able to comeback and overcome defeats, diseases and other disasters. I particularly liked the author's decision to gather stories from so many areas of life--doctors, artists, famous and ordinary folk all show up in the book. Buy it, read it, and send it on any of your friends who need a little more bounce in their bounceback.

To whom it may concern:

I hae never done this before but I felt compelled to do it--to write a book source and let them know how I feel about a book. This book, Extraordinary Comebacks, by John A. Sarkett, is a tremendous resource. It has knocked me out of my writing slump, after 20 years, and gave me a mission. If all these extraordinary people have made comebacks, why not me? It gave me a great sense of hope after reading it. Thank you for allowing me to post this message. I hope millions of people buy the book--it is a great one!

The author had done a great work of condensing 16 categories (background of the comeback hero/heroine) of 201 stories into this 345 content page book. Irrespective of a reader's background and expectation, he or she would definitely find some stories which help lifting his or her spirit up. Truly inspiring. Some may argue that the stories are too short. I think the author had already striked a good balance. In short, recommended!

p.s. Below please find some of my favorite passages for your reference.

To be human is to be knocked down, and every single one of us is knocked down at one time or another. pg3
Agassi has said each day he strives to get one day better, no more and no less. pg23
Jordan said that he missed more than nine thousand shots in his career, lost some three hundred games. Some twenty-six times he was entrusted to take the game winning shot - and missed. And one he got cut from the team entirely. He failed over and over again, he says, and paradoxically, that is why he succeeded. pg57
Most people have the will to win, but few have the will to prepare to win. pg59
As a young man, George Soros failed to find success in many jobs, including dishwasher, house painter, busboy, and lifeguard. He was fired from a mannequin fabricating workshop (he failed to attach the wigs properly) and from a fancy restaurant (he dropped food on a customer). pg117
Who speaks of triumph? To endure is everything. - Al Pacino pg132
Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. - Mark Twain pg177
Larry King reminds himself every morning that nothing he will say this day will teach him anything - if he's going to learn, he must do it by listening. pg196

Great little book, has already been handed down to all 3 of my high school daughters, it has been a topic at diner many times.I am thrilled at the motivation my kids get from reading this book.Cant wait til the next book

Mr. Sarkett has put togeather a great collection of some of the most important people in our history and there stories of them over coming adversity to achieve great success. The stories are well written on the light side and are set in a one or two page format.It easy to pick up the book,read of few stories and come back latter.Makes for a great purchase to yourself or as a gift to others. Well worth the price.

Extraordinary Comebacks is chock full of inspirational stories. For anyone facing life's adversities, and let's face it, at some point everyone faces some setback, this is a great book to dip into and regain hope and a reminder that others have faced that adversity before you and made it through to the other side. John Sarkett profiles a wonderful variety of people, from every walk of life, facing almost every imaginable setback, and each anecdote contains that essential message of hope.