A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver [Hardcover]

Mark Shriver (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 5, 2012

In this intimate portrait of an extraordinary father-son relationship, Mark K. Shriver discovers the moral principles that guided his legendary father and applies them to his own life

When Sargent "Sarge" Shriver—founder of the Peace Corps and architect of President Johnson's War on Poverty—died in 2011 after a valiant fight with Alzheimer's, thousands of tributes poured in from friends and strangers worldwide. These tributes, which extolled the daily kindness and humanity of "a good man," moved his son Mark far more than those who lauded Sarge for his big-stage, headline-making accomplishments. After a lifetime searching for the path to his father's success in the public arena, Mark instead turns to a search for the secret of his father's joy, his devotion to others, and his sense of purpose. Mark discovers notes and letters from Sarge; hears personal stories from friends and family that zero in on the three guiding principles of Sarge's life—faith, hope, and love—and recounts moments with Sarge that now take on new value and poignancy. In the process, Mark discovers much about himself, as a father, as a husband, and as a social justice advocate. A Good Man is an inspirational and deeply personal story about a son discovering the true meaning of his father's legacy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Since most people are happiest doing what they are good at, it’s no wonder that Sargent Shriver was always smiling. He was good in every role he filled—husband, father, friend, public servant, and visionary. And he was as inspiring as they come. Mark’s poignant tribute captures the idealism and exuberance that made us all love Sarge, and reminds us to find pleasure in the simple act of living.”—Former President Bill Clinton

“This tender, endearing memoir is a moving portrait of a son’s struggle to deal with the gradual disappearance of a beloved father through the progressive stages of Alzheimer’s. It is a praiseworthy book.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin

“This is a deeply touching story of a famous family and the private joys and trials that came with it. Mark’s love letter to his Dad is one we can all learn from.”—Tom Brokaw

"As founder of the Peace Corps, Sargent Shriver had the genius to change lives, mine included. With this powerful book, his son Mark shows a great man can also be a good man. What a joy to read about Sarge, the father.  In a real way, he was father to everyone who ever served in the Peace Corps."—Chris Matthews

“What a lovely book this is.  It’s funny and sad and inspiring without being insipid.  Why was it, this loving son wanted to know, that everyone described his highly accomplished father, Sarge Shriver, as a ‘good man’?  In the middle of the active and ambitious Kennedy and Shriver families, Mark Shriver comes to understand his father’s faith in God’s love anchored him and allowed him to do all that he did so well, including dealing with his own Alzheimer’s.  In getting to know his father better even after his death, Shriver learns some lessons useful to all of us.”—Cokie Roberts, author of We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters

“In A Good Man, Mark Shriver gives a rich personal account of growing up with a father whose boundless optimism and life of public service made a profound difference for millions of people.  Read it and come away, like Mark, reenergized and re-inspired to follow Sargent Shriver’s extraordinary example.”—Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund

“Asking around, in order to write about Sarge Shriver, I could find no one with a bad word to say about him. This book tells why. The mystery of goodness is deeper than the mystery of evil.”—Garry Wills

About the Author

Mark K. Shriver is the senior vice president of U.S. Programs at Save the Children in Washington, D.C., and a former Maryland state legislator. Shriver also started the Choice Program and served on the coalition to create the National Commission on Children and Disasters following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He lives with his wife and three children in Maryland.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; 1 edition (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780805095302
• ISBN-13: 978-0805095302
• ASIN: 0805095306
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Son Discovers Father's Spirituality June 5, 2012

By C. Johnson

Format:Hardcover

Eulogies often happen before we can fully appreciate what we have lost. Mark Shriver's eulogy pretty much sums up a lot about his dad, Sargent Shriver. Nonetheless Mark needed to rediscover his father and has done an outstanding job of fleshing out a wonderful man in the almost year and a half since Sargent Shriver's death due to Alzheimer's. An advanced reader's copy of this book was mailed to me by the publisher, Henry Holt and Company with permission to quote from the manuscript. Mark's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics and Sarg Shriver the Peace Corps. While there is much Kennedy trivia, mystique and accomplishments that can be noted in the book, I want to zero in on how faith here is passed from generation to generation, and how Sargent Shriver dealt with his own Alzheimer's. Mark writes that Sarg went to Mass every day, even when he was in other countries. Furthermore, Sarg's faith wasn't just a ritualistic habit. Mark writes: "Dad was a radical, a hell-raiser who based his revolutionary public service on very orthodox instruction manuals: the Scriptures, his faith's creeds and prayers, and the life of Jesus Christ. . . . Dad lived out applied religion. He applied his faith's ethics every day to everything he did. His paradox--his radical orthodoxy--allowed him to conform to the requirements of a life in public service." Despite admitting his own insecurities and early anger, Mark comes to terms with faith, hope and love reflecting on his father's death and faith. "I liked to think about faith, hope and love at church and talk about these ideas with my kids. But apart from a few minor struggles, I never needed them as if life depended on them. . . .... It is ironic that so often the first time we have to use them for real--our parents' principles and examples and tools--comes when they themselves age, suffer, and die. My capacity for faith, hope, and love wasn't truly battle tested like his--until the day we learned what he would die from, and the ways in which he was going to suffer in the years leading up to his death." Eventually Mark, the fourth of five siblings, was in charge. He handled finances, medical care and "each small step in his decline became another devastation for me" (p. 5). In 2003 Mark's brother Timothy approached his father about resigning from his job as Chairman of the Board for the Special Olympics. Sarg graciously resigned and continued showing his same values and care for others. Perhaps the most interesting dialogue between son and father came when Mark said to his father, "You are losing your mind. You know that. How does that make you feel? How are you doing with that?" Sarg replied: "I'm doing the best I can with what God has given me." Mark was totally in awe of how his father let God be in control and asked for God's guidance every day of his life. This is where his father's joy came from. Thank you, Mark Shriver, for bearing your soul and all you have learned in the end. in your book about your father, Mark, you have discovered your own happiness. Read more ›

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars At last June 8, 2012

By Lil' Champ

Format:Hardcover

Finally, a book about "growing up Kennedy" written by someone who actually knows what it's like "growing up Kennedy'.
This is a great read. Shriver the son takes an earnest look at his Dad and concludes what every father strives for-- total admiration.
It seems a new Kennedy book hits the shelves on a weekly basis...this one is the real deal. Two thumbs up.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A richly deserved tribute June 10, 2012

By Carrell Ray Jenkins

Format:Hardcover

Mark Shriver has written a poignantly beautiful tribute to his parents, Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. As I read of their record of service, I often found myself thinking of the words inscribed on Sir Christopher Wren's crypt in St. Paul Cathedral in London: "If you seek his monument, look about you." All around us we see monuments to Sarge and Eunie Shriver. This book gives the world an uplifting message in a time when there is all too much doubt and cynicism.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Inspring. June 8, 2012

By Jeremiah

Format:Hardcover

Just read this book. Actually, couldn't put it down. What an inspiring and faithful life. Its filled with great moments in history and how Sargent Shriver lived his life with integrity, faith and compassion. Loved it and highly recommend it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important and Thoughtf Provoking Book June 8, 2012

By DC20012

Format:Hardcover

At first blush, this may seem like a nice book about a unique and interesting father - son relationship. It's really much more than that, and for a lot of readers who are going simultaneously through the challenge of either raising children and/or caring for an aging parent, its a thoughtful and important read. Mark Shriver lays a lot of himself on the line in this book, in a way in which I think people will identify with him as both a son and a father. By doing that, I think he challenges the reader in the same way he's clearly challenged himself to continually strive to improve and grow. At least I was challenged in that way. This was a really good read that has caused me to think about it a lot since I put it down. Highly recommend.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Read it! June 10, 2012

By TKR

Format:Hardcover

I see this book as a companion piece to Scott Stossell's excellent biography on Sargent Shriver. Mark Shriver is able to give the personal view on his father that was absent from the biography, which mainly focused on the professional accomplishments of this extraordinary man. Mark Shriver's book is very honest and the author reveals both himself and his father. Mark shares his desire to measure up to the Kennedy legacy and competitiveness, contrasting himself with his father's ability not to focus on his public persona or legacy. Mark is certainly his father's son and offers the reader an intimate view of Sarge Shriver, who is a man without peer. Shriver's contribution to his time through the Peace Corps, the Special Olympics, VISTA, Forster Grandparents, Legal Services for the Poor: all immense but the book stresses that he was a man focused on doing good professionally and personally. Sarge Shriver had a long lasting and happy marriage and five kids who adored him, including Mark, who wrote this book. Great book! You won't regret reading it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars They are getting harder to find June 9, 2012

By Michael

Format:Hardcover

This is a very moving story. I thought the writing style was less than smooth sometimes, but the images presented overcame that. My main concern while reading the book was the realization that there may never be other men and women like Sargent and Eunice Shriver. While the background on Sarge's family shows that they went through bankruptcy and hard times, Sargent was able to attend elite preparatory schools and Yale, on scholarships or working through school. Perhaps his natural abilities were what made Joseph Kennedy bring Sarge into his business organizations and seems to have made him successful at most everything he did. The unknown, or concerning part to me, is "what made Sargent and Eunice Shriver commit themselves' to things like the Peace Corp and Special Olympics?" Was it, being comfortably wealthy that they didn't have to worry about money, was it the religious faith that the book so forcefully points out? What made them participate in but not succumb to the Kennedy competition? What made Sarge able to live in the moment and look past political defeats and move on? What made them love others so much that they did so much?
And so, this a wonderful portrait of an amazing man with some great insights into behind-the-scenes look at some historical events, a heart breaking story of the slow effects of Alzheimer's, and a touching picture of the family's dedication to each other. But, I'm left with the sinking feeling that changes in our recent society will not be able to create many more "good men".