Customer Reviews

A Hand To Guide Me

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

i had recently seen this book at a local bookstore, and i was taken aback by how inspiring it is. i'm not sure if he wrote it himself but it is really written with a beautiful language. many amazing people are featured. and his own story is one that should inspire a lot of the youth in this country.

later, i learned that a large portion of the profits (more than 50%) go to the "boys and girls club," which helps the youth in america with all sorts of activities from sports, fitness and eating well, etc. this organization helped successful people like the author of this book, actor brad pitt, gold medalist joan benoit samuelson, former presidential runner gen. wes clark, etc.

it is definitely worth to check it out. i bought it because it is really inspiring and it is a good cause.

This story is filled with stories from people from all different occupations, and the special individuals who have influenced them to achieve their dreams. Actor Denzel Washington was influenced by a professor named Bob Stone, whose letter of recommendation gave him the confidence he needed as an actor. I loved the contributions from people who are not famous like Kelly Zimmerman Lane. She learned the importance of hard work from her single mother, an incredible woman who worked three jobs to support her three daughters. I enjoyed the story of Notre Dame president Reverend Edward Malloy, whose love of learning and reading was instilled in him by his grade school teacher.

There are numerous stories of people who belonged to a Boys and Girls club. This wonderful organization has influenced so many people to succeed in life. I enjoyed the story of surgeon Patrick Kelly. He learned the value of patience and staying calm from a fellow doctor. He also learned to cultivate these traits from his childhood mentor at a Boy and Girls club. Attorney Socrates De La Cruz learned the importance of setting goals from a special person at the Boys and Girls club named Steve Kelly.

There are many contributions from famous people in this book. I loved the contribution from Olympic gymnast Dommique Dawes. She learned the value of hard work and discipline from her coach. Singer Bonnie Raitt learned the importance of maintaining relationships with people and staying healthy physically from the excellent example her parents provided for her. Actor Daryl Mitchell learned to how continue to enjoy life from fellow actor Christopher Reeve, after a motorcycle accident made Mitchell physically disabled. All the stories in this book are so touching and inspirational. I really enjoyed it.

This book is a compilation of personal stories about the men and women who have mentored some of the best and brightest people in America. Much of the profit of this book go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. It's really a testiment to true role models in life.

There are stories in here about Bill Clinton, Tara Lipinski, Whoopie Goldberg (it really covers all kinds of celebrities and non-celebrities). He looks at some of his friends even, like Debbie Allen, and he Antwone Fisher. It is so amazing and interesting to see what and who has influenced people and helped them on their way. There are little personal glimpses in Denzel's own life. His push in the world came at the Boys Club in Mount Vernon, NY. Billy Thomas ran the Boys Club there and he was a helping hand in Denzel's life. He talks about how we are all destined to leave a mark in the world and that we might miss that mark from time to time unless we get a little helping hand from people we know.

You must go and get a copy of this becaus it really is fascinating and inspirational. It makes you realise that no one in the world makes it on their own - they all have had a helping hand whether it has been big or small and being that we recognise a lot of the people in the book, it is great to see how they have gotten to where they are now and how their lives have changed due to people they've known. I really love this and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have.

This was the most inspirational book I have read in a long time that was not written by a well known religious person. The book gives one a rewarding experience that anyone can accomplish anything in life if you have confidence in yourself and trust those who continually encourage you to go forward with your life. There were so many people that I didn't know had common people behind them pushing them along the way. I was very surprised at the celebrities not being ashamed of telling their stories. This book would be a great asset for teens who are struggling with their lives to read. This book gave me confidence on some of the things that I have tried and did not believe that I made a difference in the young person's life. This book just makes me have even more respect for Mr. Washington on his views on life and his contributions to the young people. I will continue to be involved in the lives of other young people and help them acheive their goals as nuch as I possiblity can just as Mr. Washington. I wish him many more blessings from God and keep up the fantastic work. Remember that not only is God watching but many young males and females are watching yuou also. God Bless you and your family.

M. Buntin

This is a good book to give as a gift to a young man you would like to influence. It indicates how important it is to have a hand to guide us in our development. Most of our patterns are learned from those we give attention to in our lives. It is crucial that these role models be positive and affirming.

What a wonderful surprise reading through the pages of Denzel Washington's 'A Hand To Guide Me' is! Writing with humble fluidity, Washington shares with the world, and perhaps himself (?) how we all are connected to one another, and so, have a significant responsability to help those around us, with great emphasis paid attention to children. Through the Boys and Girls Club of America, Washington openly shares that he was able to find his own way, with the assistance of kind hands by others. The role of 'Mentoring' our youth is all about what this wonderfully inspirational book is all about, and Washington shares some unique stories about other high-profilers who have particiapted as mentors - which, in its own way, places seeds of activism in the mind of his readers. In a certain sense, this book helps clear the record of one of the world's greatest actors as being self-centered: clearly Washington is a private man with a giant heart and kind intent towards children. Well done.

I purchased this book before it was released from the publisher. I was not disappointed in any way when I received the book. It provided insight into the character of Denzel Washington that you cannot get from watching him in the movies. Also, the short vignettes about various people were so uplifting! The principal point of the book that I received was that there are a lot of very successful people from the majority culture who never tell their hard luck stories in public. Overcoming adversity is not something that is relegated to ethnic minorites, even though that is all that you see reflected in the media.

I also liked the format of the book because you can basically go down the list and select the people that most interest you in order to find out their background stories. There is really a broad cross section of Americans reflected in the book. I would recommend the book for teens as well as adults to provide the inspiration that you can make it, and your obstacles may be great, but, they are not as insurmountable as you may first think that they are. A beautiful book and one that I would recommend for every library (personal, educational, and public).

In "A Hand to Guide Me," American film star and legend, Denzel Washington, sets out shine a light on the 100 year old Boy's & Girl's Clubs of America, an organization of 3,700 serving more than 4.4 million children in all 50 states. Washington's eventual success can be traced directly to the Boys Club in his home town, Mt. Vernon, New York. It was there, by necessity, that he learned purpose, consequences, and how to be a man.

"A Hand to Guide Me" is a collection of short stories by ordinary people from ordinary beginnings, accomplishing extraordinary things. Six dozen people from diverse backgrounds share their memories about role models, mentors and positive influences in their lives. Some are household names like coach John Wooden, director John Singleton, author Toni Morrison, General Wesley Clark and former President Jimmy Carter. Many are alumni of Girls and Boys Clubs of America, while others have taken on leadership roles in these clubs. And some were asked to contribute because there was something to learn from their voice. These are very readable stories ranging in length from two to four pages.

All of the contributors have outgrown a hardship or two to reach a significant level of success and can draw a line from their success to some rock solid foundational experience - sometimes it is a parent, a coach, a neighbor or the inspiration derived from a tragic event.

Washington's resonant message is that we are all extraordinary in our own way but we don't go it alone. There are people on whose shoulders we stand and we, in turn, can provide a shoulder for others.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are the center of everything for many kids today, providing a shoulder for millions of kids and making a vital contribution to the future of our society. They are a breeding ground for hope, purpose, and direction - where many have learned strength, confidence, and the freedom to dream...to think big.

Hooked on giving! Predicated on the biblical principle of reaping what you sow, I found Mr. Washington's words and that of his collaborators ringing truth. We don't live in this world alone and we need people along our different pathways. Our living should not be in vain. I work with behaviorally challenged children and teenagers. One of my co-workers is using this book for inspirational readings during therapy sessions to help motivate children and aid them in making positive turn-arounds. I support and join with her in meeting the challenges that young people face. This book is a positive and inspirational source of knowledge and experiential reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a memory maker!

An interesting construct for a multi-author book, but the contributions are safe and lacking in personal connections with the reader. I mean, Muhammad Ali (whom, interestingly enough, influenced me as a teen) chose Nelson Mandela and it sounded like the relationship was mostly an admiration from afar rather than any personal connection between the two men. By far the best contribution is that of Mr. Washington himself, who allows himself many more pages than others in describing the relationship with the Boys and Girls Club and the mentor who helped to mold his life. The thing about mentors is that often the relationship is informal and the influence isn't realized until many years later. Some people just make you a better person by being themselves. I think if the contributors to this book had focused on that part of it, this book would hit the inspirational mark that it seeks.