Customer Reviews

The Fourteen Lives of Matt Perry

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

 

 

Matthew and I were classmates at Waynesburg College and both of us are first generation Americans of Croatian origin. His real name is Mate Pisacich but changed it as an aid to pronunciation. Matthew tells the story of his difficult childhood in a mill town in the suburbs of Pittsburgh (West Mifflin). He continues on through the various stages of his life telling it like it is; one thing about Matthew - he's very honest. When he did well he tells you about it and when he bombed he tells you about that too. Actually it's a typical story of first generation Americans who grew up in the Great Depression. So those of you who were born around 1929 will find it familiar.

Matthew started out as a chemist then turned businessman, and finally stock broker. He would have been very good in the cosmetics business but was in the wrong place at the wrong time: the 1970s recession plus the new age when women didn't wear bras let alone cosmetics. As is true with most people, unfortunately, Matt's goal was money. He is a very good salesman, good in business and he wanted to make a lot of money. He describes many of his trials and tribulations along the way and in the end concluded that "money isn't everything". He rails against those millionaires who stash their money away [Warren Buffet] and admires those who gave it away while they were living [Andrew Carnegie].

I think it's a very nice read but those of you who aren't familiar with Matthew's writing style may find it a little tricky. Just be patient, read it slowly and imagine yourself starting out as a very poor boy in a smoke-choked mill town.