REGGIE: You Can't Change Your Past, but You Can Change Your Future [Paperback]

Reggie Dabbs (Author), John Driver (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2011

I don’t have to see your home to know your shame . . . I have my own.

But someone loved me just the way I am, and someone loves you just the way you are.

Meet Reggie Dabbs.

Born as the result of a heart-wrenching decision made by his then sixteen-year-old mom, Reggie offers hope and inspiration to those who are stuck in the despair of their broken beginnings and are crying out for help. It is this first chapter in his life that sets Reggie on the journey of a lifetime—one filled with fear, regret, sorrow, and, ultimately redemption. Taking a chronological look at his life, Reggie reveals the transforming power of faith, weaving in personal anecdotes, biblical principles, and ten ways to discover everything from your voice and your name to your hero and your passion. Prepare to discover, as Reggie did, that although you cannot change your past, you can change your future.

“Reggie Dabbs is one of the strongest, most influential voices God has raised up to speak to this generation.”—Jentezen Franklin

“Reggie not only will inspire you but also will lead you on a journey to the core elements of life—and the potential therein to change.”—Mark Batterson

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this entertaining autobiography, Dabbs paints an endearing image of himself: a large, African American man with an even larger heart and an important mission. This popular motivational speaker to high-school students and at-risk youth offers convincing examples of faith in action and God�s power to love and heal all wounds. Having to deal with the circumstance of his birth (he was adopted and raised by his mother�s high-school teacher) as well as his own human frailties, Dabbs discovers the power of helping others. This book asserts that people can change, that history does not have to repeat itself, and that true progress involves working through our hang-ups, not going around them. Dabbs offers several humorous and profound stories of personal transformation involving family, friends, youth, and strangers he has met along his life�s incredible journey. Bible stories with special flair and a modern voice are woven into the narrative, and work exercises at the end of each chapter are provided for individual and group reflection. This presents a unique brand of hope. --Susan DeGrane

About the Author

Reggie Dabbs has been one of the most sought-after public school and event speakers in the United States and the world for more than two decades. From professional athletes and stay-at-home moms to high school students, Reggie relentlessly chases his personal passion around the globe by sharing his own astonishing story of tragedy, redemption, and hope with millions of people each year. An acclaimed saxophonist, Reggie lives with Michelle, his wife of twenty years, and their son Dominic.

John Driver is a husband, father, pastor, author, and songwriter. He lives with his wife, Laura, and their young daughter, Sadie.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849946263
• ISBN-13: 978-0849946264
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.3 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous, inspirational, and a guy you can't help but like April 9, 2011

By Mathachew

Format:Paperback

Reggie Dabbs's life changed when in the second grade he realized his parents were not his real parents, and that his birth was the result of a twenty-dollar deal his sixteen year old unwed mother made to secure the food she needed for her three other children. Dabbs went through his pre-teen and adolescent years wrestling with this news while growing up in a home where despite his background, he was in the care of two people that would provide for him as they would to their own flesh and blood, and where Reggie would learn that value of being unconditionally loved. Now, Dabbs spreads this unconditional love to each venue he visits to speak, trying, to the best of his abilities, to speak into the hearts of every single person that can hear his voice.

Truth be told, I had never heard of Reggie Dabbs before finding his book on BookSneeze.com. After reading the description and learning more about him, I was interested in learning about this man who has spoken world wide in front of thousands and tens of thousands, spreading a message of hope, inspiration and most of all, love. Spread throughout the pages of his book are inspirational and insightful stories during his life that impacted him and altered his perspective on where he was going to take his life. Many of his stories are successfully related to stories found the Bible, provided with perfect clarity a message of redemption and of hope. It is hard to not to feed off this man's charisma and be engaged in the stories he tells and the points that he drives home.

If there is anything that I did not like about the book, it is the amount of "filled in" story Dabbs provides for several of the stories he tells from the Bible. They are just filled with some fluff that I did not particularly care for, and for people who may read this without knowing the stories, some facts could get a little mixed up. The points made are the same, but the finer details provided somewhat dilute what we may or may not know. While he added to stories when retelling them, some with humorous twists, he by no means declares the account he is retelling to be factual or definitive. It is just that he sometimes went into a lot of details that we otherwise do not have. A pretty minor point, and by far the worst "offense" of this inspirational book.

This is an excellent book for all teenagers and for adults that may not realize they possess the potential to break out of the chains of their past. On a personal note, it did not bring any more clarity to my walk with God than I already know, but what I do know is that I would have benefited greatly from this man's wisdom and message of love during my teen years, when the woes of every day drama were heavy on my mind while I took for granted the kind of home I grew up in.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book July 26, 2012

By Anita L. Calvin

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book. We also had the opportunity to see him in person and he is very genuine. This is perfect for kids without father's.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars may be a good story but it's lost in bad writing July 12, 2011

By Writer Mom VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I'm probably one of the kindest reviewers Amazon has but I hated this book. It is so poorly organized that 50 pages in, I'm still not sure who the guy is, what his story is, or even who his audience is. And the back cover isn't much help.

He talks about speaking to teenagers in schools all over the country but I don't know why. If I were a sports fan would I know who he is? The book doesn't give me a clue. Is he writing for teenagers? If so, God help him cause teenagers have a lot less patience for a poorly written book than I do.

I think he is a motivational speaker, but the book has not motivated me to continue digging for clues as to why his story matters.

I'm not criticizing the person or his message, just the way this book is written. There's no chronology, no evolving story line...It's just a mess.

If Reggie can speak to teenagers and capture their attention, then he probably does have a story worth telling. But if his story is worth telling, then it's worth writing well. I hope the editors will try again. I'd like to see a rewrite.