A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life & Business [Paperback]

Calvin Mackie Ph D (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2005

A university professor. A restaurateur. A Hollywood leading man. The Mackie Men of New Orleans have made success a family tradition. In A View from the Roof, Presidential Award-winning speaker Dr. Calvin Mackie reveals just how they did it. Through a slideshow of poignant stories involving the Mackie brothers' tough-as-nails roofer dad Willie, readers will learn the hands-on, humorous lessons that propelled Calvin and his brothers to the top of their professions. From the hot gable rooftops of New Orleans to the set of a Spike Lee film, this book will leave readers with a view they'll always remember.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Calvin Mackie is one of the nation's most prolific young motivational speakers. His passion and talent is totally devoted to helping people unleash their greatness and transcend personal and societal barriers. Operating under the premise that exposure and experience are two important parameters of success, he utilizes unique strategies to motivate and inspire. Calvin Mackie has lectured widely throughout the United States, helping people change the way they think about achieving their lifelong dreams. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Mackie has worked with internationally recognized companies that include Coca-Cola, The Ford Motor Company, and N.A.S.A.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Acanthus Publishing; 1St Edition edition (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975481037
• ISBN-13: 978-0975481035
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mentor's opion of "A View from the Roof", March 3, 2005

By 

E. Azene (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life & Business (Paperback)

As a mentor to young, disadvantaged, and often impoverished inner-city African-American males, I am always on the watch for new ways to reach the hearts and minds of my "kids." I was very excited when I learned that Dr. Mackie, a wonderfully dynamic motivational speaker, had finally put onto paper his inspirational and hope-filled message. The author's growth from Calvin the grandson of a sharecropper and son of a hard-working but un-educated roofer to Dr. Mackie Phi Beta Kappa, tenured professor, and business entrepreneur is a veritable roadmap of success (especially for young black men). "A View from the Roof" provides its readers with the skills to accelerate their spiritual, educational, physical, and emotional growth. Dr. Mackie uses humorous and poignant anecdotes to drive his messages home. Every chapter ends with clearly enumerated steps to achieve any of a number of objectives from conquering fear, to accepting and inviting criticism, to becoming a master of your "craft." Although Dr. Mackie has a PhD in mechanical engineering, the text does not read like an academic treatise. Instead, the reader flows from page-to-page effortlessly. I plan to purchase copies of "A View from the Roof" for all the young men I work with. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a desire to succeed or help others to achieve their goals.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of great stories and nuggets of wisdom, September 29, 2010

By 

stephlys "stephlys" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life & Business (Paperback)

Dr. Mackie recently spoke at the company for which I work, and I read his book prior to his presentation. The book is a collection of stories and wisdom from Dr. Mackie's father and his own experiences. It's refreshing to read about someone's authentic experiences. He doesn't paint his father as a saint or as an ideal role model but as a real, flawed human being, who was wise in the ways that matter. I would love to read the "rest" of this story - what Dr. Mackie has learned since his father's death and the cataclysmic events of Katrina.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required reading in today's high school classrooms!, July 12, 2006

By 

Everett Jackson (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life & Business (Paperback)

Dr. Mackie is the true embodiment of the American Dream. His book provides an effective roadmap not only for yourself, but for those whose lives you touch. As an educator, I see many young people who have become discouraged about their own future and the possibilities they face. Dr. Mackie provides hope, methodology, humor and wit. Every young person should read this book.