Customer Reviews

Letters to a Young Brother

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recommended this book to all of my book loving friends and associates because I saw Hill Harper on 106 & Park and I thought the idea for this book was BIG. I bought a copy to give to my nephews, but I wanted to read it first to make sure it was something I would want them to read.

Cons: I tried to put myself in my nephews' crazy minds and guess how they'd react to certain lines. When Harper kept saying "I love you," I'm sure my oldest nephew would've said something like "Man, I don't know him!" When Harper said he'd send a picture in his scuba gear, I'm sure both of them would've cracked up laughing and said "Ugh, what does he have on?!" Scuba gear is not exactly the coolest outfit to send a young boy. When Harper started talking about surfing, he lost me for a minute. How many young boys that he was talking to (who are thinking of making "quick money," "being in the streets," saying school "is not for me," and trying to have sex with girls would get excited about the thought of surfing? Maybe skateboarding, for those new school hip-hop heads who adore Pharrell, but surfing? Nah, I wasn't buying it. I was a little disappointed with the parts where he was supposed to be talking to the "young brother" and congratulated him on getting an A. But what if the boy reading this actually only got a C? Would that make him feel any less? Harper kept talking about the people he knew and the places he'd been. I wondered if it would come off as bragging to a young boy who has not gotten the chance to barely leave his neighborhood, so he definitely hasn't gotten out of the country.

Pros: To totally contradict my cons, there are so many young boys who have NEVER heard the words "I love you" so it may be a relief and flattering to them to read that SOMEBODY loves them. DMX was on his reality show talking about how his mother never told him that she loved him, so now he says he loves his kids at least five times a day. I'm sure that's gotta make his children feel good (and probably embarassed if he does it in front of their friends), but it could definitely be a self-esteem booster. As for the places Harper traveled, it could make young brothers want to go to those places just to see if they can have as much fun as Harper.
I loved the quotes from celebrities; those were some of the rawest and relevant quotes I've ever read. I kept hoping Reverend Run would be in there, but hey, Harper had GREAT quotes from people that young brothers would want to hear more about like Jadakiss, Denzel, Will Smith, David Banner, and Andre 3000. When I saw the letter from Nas, I was sold. What young brother would not want to read what one of the classic hip-hop lyricists EVER had to say? Then to top it off, Barack Obama is in here too! I was indeed impressed with that.
I was thoroughly entertained by the back and forth e-mails at the end of each chapter and looked forward to that more than the actual chapters. The chapters on "Friends and Family," "Finding Your Swagga," and "Sex Matters" were the strongest chapters in the book to me and I'm sure to a lot of young men.

I think every young man needs some kind of male role model and if for some reason they cannot find it in a present human being, why not a book concentrating on them?

Hill Harper is a well-known and often lusted after actor who has played in movies such as Lackawanna Blues and the hit crime series CSI. However, LETTERS TO A YOUNG BROTHER shows a completely different side of him. Through the book, he shares his commitment to youth as well as a lot of his background and life expereinces. Harper immediately grabs your attention as he shares stories about his trailblazing family and his own Ivy League educational background. From there, he presents a series of letters which address many of the questions he receives from fans at speaking engagements, via email, or other avenues. As hereplies to these letters, he provides sound moral advice about how to live. In addition, he has reached out to some of his famous friends, other positive male role models, asking them to respond to some of the questions and includes thier responses in the book. He touches on education, financial stewardship, relationships with parents, and how to pick good friends. As he touches on the topics, he gives advice in an encouraging rather than preachy tone. In the end, readers will take away a myriad of positive messages, sound advice, and a new appreciation for the importance of hard work and personal responsibility.

Hill Harper has written a timely book that is intended for young, under-served male youth, and particularly African-American males. However, this is a book youth of any cultural or socio-economic background or gender, can benefit from reading. LETTERS TO A YOUNG BROTHER is a good book for parents, and people working with youth can also benefit from reading it. The MANifest Your Destiny Foundation, which was established by Harper, is a non-profit organization that facilitates the pairing of successful, positive role models with under-served youth and provides scholarship, grant and internship opportunities. The foundation shows the author is not just a man of talk, but also one of action. My only concern is perhaps this is a book that parents would want their children to read, rather than one they would naturally be drawn to.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This book has resonated with myself and many whom I love. I recommend this book very highly because of the brilliant communicated message, anecdotes, quotes and most of all raw truth and inspiration. It is a necessary read for all young brothers.

I had the great opportunity meeting/hearing Hill Harper at the Queens Public Library on May 1st 2006. I was moved with his enthusiasm to help the brothers. You felt his passion, sincerity and determination when he spoke.
Now,that I just completed reading the book I was greatly challenged to do more and step out of the shallow into the deep. This book needs to be planted in every brother's hands at achools,halfway homes, substance abuse programs and churches or wherever.
Get the book! Read the book! and Pass it on!

I love this book! I enjoyed the personality that shined through and the courage he had to open up, along with the ability to be very candid with the many topics chosen in writing this book. It's encouraging and inviting. You feel him and it makes you think and assess where you are in life, while supplying solutions/options to everyday dilemas. It's a great read for those stuck on what others think about them and has allowed those opinions to stump their growth and or potential. The book also focuses on choices, results and fulfilling your destiny by always being proactive.

I am so excited that there is a book of hope for young men. I enjoy the positivity and love that is expressed throughout this book for our Young Kings in training. There are about 500 people that I would like to recommend this book to, and I have already made a significant dent in those on my list. Let's continue to lift up these young people in LOVE and let our lives, not our words be the encouragement to keep them motivated!

This isn't the most enthralling or cogent book on the subject of black male identity and destiny, but brother Harper really won me over with his heartfelt personal truths and some pretty decent writing.

I would encourage all young brothers and "mothers" of young brothers to pick up a copy of this book right away. It'll be a cool summer read, too.

DA ISAAC AT CHA!

For the record, I technically give this book 3.5 stars :)
I find it to be a straightforward, easy read that can encourage and motivate young people in general, if read and discussed with a parent or respected adult. Hill Harper seems fairly open, honest and responsible in his approach to responding to various questions that plague the minds of young brothers. Sincerity, concern and confidence resonate throughout the book and allows us adults a chance to peek into the wonderfully complex yet fascinating world of young brothers growing up today. I can see 11-15 year olds benefitting from the examples, experiences and outlooks given in this book and I recommend sharing it.

Great Job Hill Harper. I purchased four of them, one for each of my sons, a male friend (Harvard MD) and myself. Full of reality and realism.

As I read this book, I thought about my high school days in Brooklyn, NY and my college years in Virginia. If I would have read this book at that time in my life, the decisions that I made at that time would have been a little more sound. I really wish I would have read this book much sooner. But I will make sure to pass it to the younger brothers that are a part of my life.

Although, this book is not a page turner, it is a GREAT read. And it will remain at the top of my list of books.

This is the perfect book for a young man who is somewhere between the end of his high school years and the end of his college years. It will help him to make decisions on life.