Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be [Hardcover]

Chris Gardner (Author), Mim E. Rivas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2009

Ever since the story of his transformation from homeless, single and struggling father to millionaire became known the world over, Chris Gardner --whose life story both inspired the movie The Pursuit of Happyness and became a #1 New York Times bestseller by the same name--has been inundated with two questions: “How Did You Do It” and “How Can I Do it Too?” Gardner’s power-packed, transformational reply is the basis of this long-anticipated book.

As a departure from standard self-help tomes that promise overnight riches and exclusive secrets for success, Gardner avoids any tilt toward magical thinking by staying with real issues and solutions impacting individuals in all walks of life. If you’ve had the rug pulled out from under you, or have been dealing with the loss of a home, a job, a health or financial crisis, or simply can’t find the motivation to pursue new challenges, Start Where You Are abounds with life lessons that offer hope and provide a road map for starting anew. This is also the book for anyone ready to launch a personal, professional undertaking, or break generational cycles that hem in their potential.

Taking stock of his own credos, including “The Cavalry Ain’t Coming,” “Find Your Button,” and “Seek the Furthest Star”-- Gardner’s 44 life lessons are earthy, soulful, and always accessible. With an array of stories from the author’s own life, as well as from those he has known or admired, both famous and not, Start Where You Are has arrived just in time to embolden and encourage all of us, even in our era of great global change, reminding us of the infinite resources we already have in our collective pursuit of happyness, and spurring us on in only one direction - forward!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“With . . . Start Where You Are, he is encouraging us all to start where we are and dare to make our lives bigger and stronger, more satisfactory, and better. Chris Gardner is a knock out!” (Maya Angelou )

“This smart and well-written guide includes excellent suggestions for both everyday life and work, with the last sentence summing up Gardner’s message: “Accepting responsibility is accepting that your dreams really can come true.” The result is hopeful and uplifting. (Library Journal )

“Start Where You Are represents the next phase in Gardner’s career, offering hope and sound advice in this tough economic climate. . . .Transformative and inspirational.” (BookPage )

“Gardner offers practical advice and pragmatic suggestions for tackling life’s problems. . . In 44 ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ chapters. . .Gardner provides a blueprint for navigating tumultuous times.” (Ebony )

“A book that teaches you how to transform the impossible into the possible.” (Sidney Poitier )

“Start Where You Are is a must-have, must-read guide to pursuing happiness in changing times. It’s not just about surviving as an individual or business in the current economic environment, but about thriving -- personally, collectively, and globally.” (Quincy Jones )

About the Author

Chris Gardner is the chief executive officer of Gardner Rich & Company, a multimillion-dollar brokerage with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. An avid philanthropist and motivational speaker, Gardner is a recipient of the Father of the Year Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative. He has two children and resides in Chicago and New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Amistad; 1 edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006153711X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061537110
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Road Less Traveled, June 7, 2009

By 

jbell (LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

Not long ago, I made the difficult choice to open up my own practice as a therapist. After years of working in human resources and relying on a steady paycheck, I was nervous to go into business for myself - having never done anything like this! When I told a friend about my worries, that I lacked the know-how to make a success of my dream, she recommended "Start Where You Are". I had been moved by the movie of Gardner's life and recalled that many of my clients, who were struggling with a variety of issues, had been inspired by his journey from homelessness and single parenthood to success. Still, I didn't expect that his new book, in which he explores the lessons that allowed him to succeed, would have so much relevance for me. But from the moment I opened it up and read the very first lesson ("Without a Plan, A Dream is Just a Dream"), I was hooked! It is chockfull of stories from his own life and from famous individuals as well as "everyday" people he meets. They are a constant reminder that no matter how tough a situation may seem, someone else has overcome that obstacle and prevailed. The lessons also reinforce the idea that we all already have the resources we need to be successful, if only we take the time to recognize them and put them to use. That has been transformational for me in my new role as a business person.

As a therapist, I have already recommended this book for its eyeopening and practical insights. In particular, the chapter called "The Thorny and Golden Past" has been helpful for many of my clients who are reluctant to talk about the past or who don't recognize what joy can come from self-discovery and from the freedom of dealing with it. The discussion about Spiritual Genetics is fascinating, as is the lesson on "Breaking Generational Cycles".

This book should also be required reading for any free-lance person, small-business owner, or executive, either just starting out or in the process of reinventing yourself or your company. Although Chris Gardner has a deceptively simple, clear way of imparting his wisdom, "Start Where You Are" does give you a dose of tough love. It will challenge you to get out of your rut and to stop excuses. For those reasons, I give it five stars, and compare it to "The Road Less Traveled". At a time when everyone else is talking about the economic collapse, Chris Gardner has the audacity to remind us that there are not easy fixes, but that with tenacity and vision, we can achieve real joy in life.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Inspirational Book, June 6, 2009

By 

Paul E. Puckett Jr. "Paul" (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

Chris Gardner's story is well-known from his first book, The Pursuit of Happyness. In "Start Where You Are" he, and co-author Mim Rivas, collect additional stories that are tied together in a very enjoyable book. The stories are divided into six sections, Start Where You Are, The Thorny and Golden Past, Hitting the Anvil, Your Empowerment Zone, Spiritual Genetics, and The Good Old Everyday.

As an investment advisor, I particularly enjoyed Mo' Money, Mo' Options, Mo' Problems. His observations about people's attitudes toward money, his three questions, and the transition to the next chapter, "Money is the Least Significant Component of Wealth", are worth the price of the book.

I give the book five stars because there are so many inspiring stories in this book. If you read one a day, at the beach, it will take you through most of the summer! If you're like me, you'll be rereading a few after just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down. For those that like me, are human, this book provides a positive message that is not only inspirational but also enjoyable. Happy Reading!

Paul Puckett - Author
Investiphobia: You Can Invest Without Fear!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book for self-help devotees., August 10, 2009

By 

Intrepid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

Unlike most self-help books, this one actually offers some solid advice. Like most self-help books, it gives the impression that following this advice will duplicate the author's success rather than somewhat increase your focus or improve your work habits. I like how the author makes his points with storytelling and includes some life lessons from people who are decidedly unsuccessful in some arenas of life. Many people expect their role models to be paragons of virtue to be worthy of advice, and are missing out because of it. If you are a self-help aficionado, this book is one of the better ones I have encountered.