Customer Reviews

Joel

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got the book, read half, and my wife asked if she could "take a look at it." She read it in one night and loved it. Then my assistant grabbed it from me, and now she won't give it up! All of us agree that this is a wonderful book about winning through hard times. Highly recommended

I differ with another reviewer in that I was not bothered by passive voice nor the occasional personal aside. Joel's book gave me an incredibly authentic view of what it is like to live in America with a highly visible disability. His expression of his equal discomfort with the extreme reactions of both pity and hero-worship was very eye-opening. His faith in God is clearly what helped him through his challenges and gave purpose to his life. I began the book thinking that it would have been better had Joel been allowed to die at the scene of the accident. By the middle of the book, I came to see that his life, while having tragic aspects, was not the tragedy that his loss would have been. A fascinating read, but keep a few tissues nearby in the early chapters!

This is a wonderful book that I think everyone should read.
I am a teacher and I plan on buying one for our school library and one for my church library....
When I first got the book I thought it might be depressing.... but from the first page I couldn't put it down...... and nothing about this book is depressing!!!! Joel is the most uplifting book I have ever read!
Not only does it help young people see how someone can cope and be successful with a life altering accident, but it also shows them what it's like to be that person who has been changed.... It also helps adults to see that maybe their life problems aren't so bad after all..... Joel is a true hero!!!

I read this book in a week. It was so inspirational, challenging, and encouraging all in the same time. Joel didn't let any of his disfigurements keep him limited. If only we would do the same. I have many people waiting in line to read this book and hope they'll purchase their own copies for their libraries. It's amazing. I even taught from it this week at the college I work at.

I met Joel in person at a conference, where he autographed a copy of his book for me. The book is an autobiography of Joel's life so far (he was born in 1977). After hearing him speak, I expeced to read about the powerful role that faith in Christ plays in his and his family's life and he is quite clear about that in the book. What fascinated me more was the role of his parents in his life. They did everything in thier power to make Joel's life a success and to count for something. If it had not been for his family and thier commitment, Joel's life would probably have turned out very different. This book is a testimony to the positive influence of loving and dedicated parents.

I didn't go look for this book, but it found me. What an inspirational story. It is painful to read because it fills with all the pain Joel had to endure after the accident. The part when he asked the nurse to please be gentle gave me goose bumps. The book captured Joel's pain, happiness, faith and his love for life. I adore his parents. Through all 10 fingers or no fingers, their love for Joel never change. Eventhough after the accident, Joel lost his eye browns, but he never lost his vision for life and for God.

Joel's story is unforgettable and truly a treasure among biographies. I was inspired and encouraged by his remarkable story. A truly great read that you won't forget anytime soon! I'm so glad I bought this one!

In Joel, you will come as close as you can to seeing life through the eyes of one who has had more asked of him in any single day of his childhood than most of us endure in a lifetime. This is the story of a determined fighter and frankly a roaring success, told with an endearing humility and honesty. Joel can inspire you to look beyond the outward appearance of any disabled person you encounter, to know each is an individual like you in so many ways inside.

I was Joel's Orthotist/Prosthetist at Burke when he was about 4 to 5 years old. I have never forgotten what an energetic and normal boy he was, always ready to laugh. Sweet and rambunctious. At that time I read Race For Life, by Joel's lovely mother, a book I still cherish. I never stopped wondering how his story went on after they moved away. Today I couldn't put this book down until I got to the last page. I feel amazed and somehow proud of that little boy all grown up.

A must read for everyone! If you have ever asked the question "why?" whether it was you or someone else, get this book. God has used this gifted man in amazing ways throughout his life. I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting this incredibly humble and generous man. Think your life is hard? We all need to take a step back and see the reality of this story and learn from it. Thank you, God for sharing Joel with the world.

This book was a delight. Joel takes us through his unique life journey with humor and insight that is amazing. Found it hard to put this book down. I kept putting sticky notes throughout the book so I could share Joel's wisdom with others. Throughout his life, Joel has found that he can be (an is!) an unforgettable disciple of God. Afterall, he is just a normal person who has had to tackle extraordinary challenges.