Customer Reviews

Make the Impossible Possible: One Man's Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary

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Before purchasing this book, I was lucky enough to hear Bill Strickland speak at a conference luncheon in Chicago. Prior to the speech I had never heard of the guy, and therefore didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't imagine I'd witness possibly the best, most uplifting speech I've ever heard in my life. When Strickland mentioned in his talk that he had a book being released, and that he wanted his book to zoom to No. 1 on the best-sellers list, I sat in my chair with the immediate thought that I'd be more than obliged to help him out with his goal. Frankly, the more people who know about this man and his message, the better off the world will be.

Like his speaking style, Strickland's words on paper are fairly plainspoken and to the point. He's accomplished some amazing things and is a beacon of inspiration, but onstage and in book form, Strickland won't necessarily wow you with dazzling buzz words or an excitable manner. Thankfully, he steers clear of religion and the clichéd "10 Steps" a person needs to follow in order to become an overnight sensation. Instead of rehashing the usual banter, Strickland tells the story of his life. He believes people need to follow success on their own terms, using their heart and mind as a guide. In this world of high-strung, fake, successful know-it-all types who believe they have all the answers, I frankly find Strickland's laid-back persona very refreshing and appealing. To be honest, while watching him talk and after reading his book, I couldn't help but wish that more people like Strickland would get into politics or even run for president.

So what is Strickland's main message? Basically that EVERYONE should have a shot at a good life and a chance to display his or her potential, no matter what that person's race or socioeconomic status is. In Strickland's own words within the book: "Every human being, despite the circumstances of his or her birth, is born full of potential, and the way to unlock that potential is to place individuals in a nurturing environment and expose them to the kind of stimulating and empowering creative experiences that feed the human spirit." Strickland's method of feeding the human spirit is not through social programs or feel-good seminar sessions that define what it means to be poor. His vision is much more ambitious but also much more helpful: change social policy and the educational system by creating inner-city schools that look less like prisons and more like his uplifting Manchester Bidwell facility.

Strickland came from very humble beginnings in Pittsburgh, where he watched his once proud and diverse neighborhood turn to shambles by the time he hit high school. Though Strickland himself went through a period of intense self-doubt and aimlessness as a young man, due to the ghetto he grew up in that so fiercely attempted to inhibit ambition, his ability to rise above negative habits and make something of himself is both impressive and endearing. Sure, Strickland doubted himself early on, but you get the feeling it wasn't for very long. This is a guy, after all, who made great things happen for himself -- and, more importantly, for others -- during his teenage years.

I've often heard it said that when you're living in poverty and surrounded by countless negative elements, it's extremely difficult to bust out of those circumstances and move on to a more hopeful way of life. Well, though it wasn't an easy journey by any means, Bill Strickland is an example of a guy who sprung out of his harsh hometown circumstances without ever even leaving town. Unlike so many others who "make it" in this world and move away to greener pastures, Strickland decided to remain in his own corner of the world; he immediately began saving the world there, which he has done in a major way. Strickland did so by starting an art center that grew by leaps and bounds after a sluggish beginning. His gravitation toward pottery and great art is itself charming to read about, and it's always impressive to discover someone whose own passions spread outward to help or inspire others.

As is expected from a man who has worked so hard to make his world a better place, Strickland experienced numerous roadblocks in the pursuit of his varied dreams. (One of his dreams included becoming an airline pilot.) He writes about both his setbacks and his accomplishments, making sure to relate how both the positive and negative occurrences in his life can help his readers during their journey. This is a great story about a genuinely nice, well-rounded, passionate, altruistic person who does pretty much everything he does for the betterment of his own soul -- which just happens to enhance other people's lives.

Bill Strickland first got my attention when I read an article where he said he saw no difference between artists and entrepreneurs. My thoughts exactly. It wasn't until someone alerted me to this amazing autobiography, that I learned the story that led him to that wise observation.

Strickland's turning point began the moment he followed his teenaged curiosity into Frank Ross's art classroom and was invited to try his hand at throwing a pot. In this calm and inspiring classroom, Strickland realized that life had much to teach and he became an enthusiastic learner. Like a true creative student, he was influenced by a wide array of people and things. Frank Lloyd Wright, jazz and orchids all become part of this story. Happily, he passes on what he learned along with this fascinating story of starting small and dreaming big.

This is the best kind of story...the kind that shows what can happen when we refuse to give up on our wildest dreams. Unlike many success manuals, there's nothing sappy about Strickland's path from ghetto kid to community force for good. He won't tell you how to make a million dollars, but he will show you how to find your own path and purpose. In our information-drenched world, it's also wonderful to read a story that shows us that inspiration matters every bit as much as information. Bill Strickland is a man worth knowing.

I had seen Bill Strickland speak and was absolutely blown away. This book hits me the same way. Here is a man who, through hard work and an unbridled passion, has empowered thousands of people to create better lives for themselves, many of whom were the discarded and disenfranchised of our poorest neighborhoods. I can just imagine what our leaders in companies, government and schools if they could harness just a fraction of Strickland's beliefs and leadership practices. And it is my belief that, by reading this book, you will change your life, and in the process, change others along the way.

If you have found yourself far enough down a path of curiosity to be reading a review of this book, waste no more time, and buy it or borrow it now. Bill Strickland is an artist extraordinaire, and his medium is life. Yes, Frank Ross, a high school ceramics teacher, turned a desperate street kid into an inspired and aspiring student by introducing him to pottery, which gave him direction and a dream. But the unrelenting pursuit of his passions, and the commitment and creative energy he has used to fuel that dream have woven a moving story of such power, emotion, and soaring success as to place him in the rarified air of any of the great artists of our time.

He shows how focusing on a life based on responsibility and passion can bring real purpose and help "understand what genuine success really means". And if this guy is anything, he is successful. Wow. The list of accolades he has compiled is stunning. How about honorary doctorates from ten separate universities? When you read the story of the creation and history of his Manchester Bidwell Corp., you start to see why. Youth and adults with little to hope for, denied their dreams, often unemployed and financially desperate are finding hope here, growing award-winning orchids in the inner-city, discovering possibilities in a world-class arts center and learning the soul of jazz through the Grammy Award winning MCG jazz program, to mention just a few of his accomplishments. Bill's recipe for a gourmet life is on display daily in the classrooms of Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and in the centers he is starting to replicate around the country and the world. He is showing people how to build meaningful lives, and it works.

This is anything but your garden-variety "however-many-steps-to-success" book which litter library shelves in countless business and self-help sections. Nor does Strickland ever assume the posture of spiritual teacher here, instead steadfastly remaining the most down-to-earth soul, humbly questioning how it is that he would end up being honored in the same venue as the Dalai Lama, for instance. Still, without him ever mentioning it, Spirit flows throughout this book, and the scope of truth and revelation contained within is considerable.

I wept several times while reading Bill's story. I could barely put it down. I haven't reviewed a book since high school, but I had to write something about this one. Get a copy, put on some jazz, sit back and let Bill show you how "the simplest experiences can add richness to our lives and open the door to outrageous possibilities". You owe it yourself (and your world).

I don't remember how I found out about Bill Strickland's book but I think it was a recommendation by one of my favorite bloggers.

Well, let me tell you - this guy truly turned the tables around and gave new meaning to achieving the impossible.

The book made me laugh, smile and cry at unexpected times. Bill is a legend in his own right and I highly recommend his book. It's a joy to read and in fact, I liked it so much I read it twice in one week.

A strong buy recommendation.

If you haven't heard Bill speak this is the next best thing. His book chronicles his journey as a young man without much hope to a man that has impacts 1000s of people for the better. The book is a must read for anyone thinking about starting a center of their own or doing an community work. He presents a model for creating sustainable and scalable community driven efforts. The most amazing aspect of this book is that he doesn't ask for handouts, but finds ways to have synergistic benefits.

This story is inspirational as an illustration of what is possible when a seed of goodness meets a little water, a lot of courage, constant hard work and the luck that occurs naturally when you open the way with a Yes! to life attitude. Recommended reading for anyone who is an idealist, a broken hearted idealist, or a realist who would like to be part of creating abundant life, beauty and hope in a crappy, crazy world. This book is an oasis.

Bill Strickland's Make the Impossible Possible is not your typical inspirational book. Strickland's story of his journey from the Pittsburgh ghetto to being the young (and ongoing for years and years) CEO of an arts/career training institution in his old neighborhood is inspirational; however, the book is really a celebration of the human spirit, and is filled with the message that respect can and will lead to success. Our city selected Make the Impossible Possible as our One Book, One Community read for 2010-2011, and I am certainly glad that we did. Since so many of the reviews at Amazon.com focus on the book itself and do such a fine job of detailing the book's merits, I will focus on the Kindle for iPhone version which I purchased. This book is short enough that the iPhone format works fine. Longer books seem to get pretty tedious, because there is so little text per "page." The downloading process went seamlessly, too, perhaps in part because the file is fairly small. I will admit that it would be nice to have the hardcover edition of the book to have Mr. Strickland sign when he speaks in our town, but the iPhone Kindle edition is convenient to use and easier to carry around and have available anytime there are a few quiet minutes for reading. An excellent account of an amazing success story in an unlikely place, and a highly recommended format.

This is a book of inspiration for anyone who has ever had an 'impossible' dream.
Bill Strickland is a child of the ghetto who dared to dream of a way out.
Never taking 'no' for an answer, and working to improve the lives of the people around him, he developed an educational program far outreaching his original dream.

I purchased this book mainly for the title and was unaware of Bill Strickland and Manchester Bidwell. It was a great read without a lot of the usual motivational drivel that is impossible to implement. Bill related some of his life's achievements to moments in time that sparked the flame and then filled in the gaps with interesting stories of how he went from the spark to fulfillment. And it wasn't just drive that helped him achieve, although I'm sure there was plenty of it, but getting the right introductions, being in the right place at the right time, and having a vision for what he possibly could create. It prompted me to quickly refine my list of the ten people I want to meet and started putting out feelers on how to get introduced.

I also loved how he brought in such eclectic topics such as jazz, orchids, and clay to make his points.