Customer Reviews

A Worthy Legacy

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A Worthy Legacy is a very slim book, topping out at 101 pages but filled with inspirational wisdom from a man respected by everyone who knew him--his large family, his neighbors who looked to him for advice in all matters. It's broken into two parts--part one is the author's journey to her family's village, her recollections and stories of visiting him, then her grandfather's last words to his grieving family. Part two is about the story thereafter--on the anniversary of his death family members fathered to mourn, but Tomi has another mission, to find the secret journal the two of them kept.

The wisdom her grandfather passes along to the wives he left behind, the children and grandchildren still learning and growing, is simple wisdom that everyone always forgets or overlooks. He isn't telling them how to become rich or how to set the world on fire, he's relating his experiences and urging them to learn to love what they have, what they can do and not envy others. If the second part is any indication it would seem that the words fell on deaf ears for the most part, as the family had disintegrated into a bickering mass of people who couldn't stand to be around each other.

The book reminded me of a song my father really likes by Baz Luhrman, called 'Sunscreen'. The song itself is actually just the words of a graduation speech a keynote speaker gave in 1997 set to music and Baz's own unique style, but it too was filled with simple wisdom. Whenever my father is really stressed--either from his job, or school or us kids--he listens to that song and it helps to focus him. That's how I felt while reading this book--I won't claim to understand all of what Tomi's grandfather's words meant, but I felt calmer after reading them.

This isn't my normal course of book--there's no wild romance or high flung fantasy or vampires--its a gentle book that in years to come I can return to and offer to my friends and relatives.

Though poetry is her first love, Tomi felt inspired to write this book, her first book so she could spread the words her grandfather told her to the world at large.

A Worthy Legacy

A Worthy Legacy combines the record of a grandfather's wisdom with an evocative memoir of family life in Nigeria. Tomi Akinyanmi is at work at her office in the city when she receives the dreaded phone call from her father; her ailing Grandpa wants everyone in the family to return to the village. He is near death, and wishes to share his final words of advice with them. Tomi travels home and joins her extended family to attend the gathering, and along the way she paints for the reader a picture of her life in Nigeria. Her descriptions are made in broad strokes, yet they are enough to eloquently convey the character of a place and culture: the dry and dusty winds, Grandpa and his three wives and their children, a meal of melon soup and pounded yams, and the contrasts between city and village life.

The center portion of the book consists of brief chapters of her grandfather's wisdom, with titles such as "Concerning the Cycle of Life." Akinyanmi's background in poetry serves her well here, and each chapter's text is accompanied by a short poem. The overall effect is similar to the I Ching , and there are many similarities between Grandpa's homespun African wisdom and Eastern beliefs. But there is more to this book than Grandpa's own words; the deep affection and respect shared between Tomi and her grandfather is woven throughout every page.

When Tomi returns to the village for a memorial service on the anniversary of Grandpa's death, much has changed and the family has become scattered and divided. At the service, Tomi suddenly remembers a secret that she and her Grandpa shared. When he learned of her love of writing, he bought a journal that they wrote in together. In it, her Grandpa would write a question and challenge Tomi to write out her thoughts in response. When Tomi finds the hidden journal she is hoping only to find some final question from her Grandpa, but instead finds a message written just for her.

This book is a testament to the deep influence that grandfathers can have in our lives, not only for their emotional support but also for the intellectual and spiritual nourishment that they can provide us as well. In A Worthy Legacy, Akinyanmi does more than transmit her grandfather's words, she reveals how they have changed her as well.

In addition to being well-written, the cover and book layout have been excellently designed by Cecilia Sorochin and SoroDesign. Much is being made these days of The Death of Print, yet the hardcopy of A Worthy Legacy is a beautiful artifact in and of itself, which is an astonishing accomplishment for a trade paperback. The visual design of this book is simple without being simplistic, and is the perfect complement to Akinyanmi's words. If you're interested in the process of book or web design, be sure to check out SoroDesign's thoughtful graphic design blog as well.

When it's all said and done, what's really important? "A Worthy Legacy" is the first novel of Tomi Akinyanmi telling the story of a dying patriarch and his last message to his family. An inspirational tale of what really matters, the story is of how one crafts their own legacy. "A Worthy Legacy" is a fine and worthwhile read, highly recommended.

A WORTHY LEGACY is the true story about a young woman who has to face the fact that her beloved grandfather is dying.

The two had always had a special bond. With secret journals and life lessons, this wise grandfather was destined to be missed, especially by Tomi.

The novel goes through the many lessons the grandfather had taught the woman over her lifetime. It has insightful poems and thoughts about topics such as love, power, time, and many more.

This is a truly inspiring short story that is easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable.

Reviewed by: Steph

This book was striking. Not for any depth of story but for the message and insights gained in the very small volume. A Worthy Legacy is a very quick and enjoyable read. It is an excellent book for anyone who has lost a loved one.

If you are looking for a long and involved story, this book is most definitely not for you. It is like a freeze frame of an event. Extremely short but very memorable. A Worthy Legacy is full of wisdom and advice that only an older person could bestow. You almost feel as if it is an old and wise person speaking to you while you are reading this book. It was an extremely touching read. Reading about the death of a grandparent is always something that saddens me but the aged wisdom kind of tempered that sadness and made it somehow more joyful. I also really liked the poetry which means it must be really good because I normally have to struggle with poetry.

A Worthy Legacy is perfect for anyone who has lost a grandparent or parent or anyone who is looking for some wisdom and inspiration.

At 101 pages I thought this would be quick read, after all, I am behind in my reading for the year, behind on books I am reading for review, so I needed a quick read. So I picked up this skinny little book, with its not very small type and far apart lines. I did't read it as fast as I thought I would. Although small, it has a powerful message. I am kind of sorry I rushed through it.

Her grandfather did have life lessons, how to treat others, how to react to others treatment of us, told in a very plain, matter of fact way, not preachy. Tomi also talks about the traditions of her family and the village they live in, also matter of fact, this is the way things are:

"Traditions have helped preserve our culture for centuries. Being there by the deathbed to bid the old and dying relative farewell was one such tradition, and the opportunity was considered revered. I consider some of the other traditions either too inundating or obsolete, this was one I had no problem honoring."

Whats shines through for me is the great love Tomi had for her grandfather, you can see it in not only the words she uses but the way she uses them. In the second part of the book you see also that her grandfather had a great love for her, she was indeed 'his little girl'. This love is what make this book not just outstanding but also powerful.

Inspired by true events, the story in A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi takes place in Nigeria. Upon receiving a grim call from her father, Tomi leaves her office in the city to return to her grandparents' home in their village of Boluwaji. Her beloved grandpa is dying and it is time for the family to gather around his deathbed and say goodbye as is the custom with their tribe. Tomi is reminded of all the days and nights spent with her grandparents, the fact that she was fortunate enough to split her time evenly between city life and humble village life. She has always felt that she was her grandpa's favorite grandchild (since she was the first girl) and as her mind wanders from story to story of her childhood, she makes the reader feel the connection between her and her grandfather.

A while after her arrival, her grandfather is brought into the common room on his mattress. He addresses his children and grandchildren with a speech on all of his wisdom. He speaks on everything from love to God, from fear to success. This lasts several minutes and then he expires.

The books jumps to one year later when the family is coming back together to remember the day their loved one passed. Tomi remembers the secret journal her grandpa and she wrote together, and goes into his room to find it. In the journal is her grandpa's inheritance to his first granddaughter: all of his musings, thoughts, and epiphanies on the gift of life and how to use it to serve others.

Although the book did not have much of a plot, its purpose was to educate the world on serving others, living life to its fullest, being happy, finding true love, and not being too concerned with material things. Sprinkled throughout the grandfather's speeches and writings were many poems that aided in the understanding of his deep ponderings. I found these to be helpful in their simplicity as well as thought provoking.

At first, I was a little bored with this book, but in writing the review and thinking of how utterly mind-blowing it would be if my own grandfather were to leave me a little book of all of his wisdom, I'm inspired. This book shouldn't be read on a summer day at the beach as a mindless activity. This book should be read one chapter at a time. Every word should be mulled over no matter how obvious you might think it is and every sentence should be applied to life. The last section should especially be pondered as it is basically a recipe or a guide book on how to be remembered fondly after you have passed on. And not even to be simply remembered, but how to leave a legacy and how to become yourself fully so that you become not the person you admire, but a person to be admired.

Though only 101 pages A Worthy Legacy speaks volumes how to live a life that will someday be a guide to those we leave behind. In her book, Tomi Akinyanmi tells the story of a grandfather, a gentle and wise man who is loved by his family because of the man he is. She writes her book in tribute to her father who died suddenly in a car accident not that long ago in May of 2001. Her father being a man of words, Tomi writes this book to give him the chance to speak his last. It is a parent's greatest desire to leave a legacy for their children. A Worthy Legacy would make a wonderful gift for someone who is just starting out in life, or for someone who struggles with it. It is beautifully written; an absolute treasure.

I liked this book! I was a little surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. It's very inspirational and really makes you think about life and how precious it is. The illustrations, done by the author, are beautiful and really enhance the enjoyment of the book. I really enjoyed the poems. There were several that I thought would make great posters and daily reminders. I think that people today don't take the time to think about the legacy that they are leaving behind. This book made me stop and say to myself, "If I died tomorrow, what would my friends/family/children remember most about me?" Honestly, I didn't like my answer. Society today is fast paced and we all have too many things on our plates. One of the things that I liked within this story was a journal that grandfather and granddaughter kept. They would both write in it and kept it hidden from other members of the family. That made it something that only the two of them shared. In the end, there is a message in that journal from grandfather to granddaughter that she doesn't read until after he has passed away. However, he left her with things to ponder and reflect upon. What an awesome idea! My kids are too young to do this with now, but I hope that this idea stays in the back of my head so that I could start it with them.

I was going to do a giveaway of this book, but after taking the time to think about it and absorb the meanings, I've decided that I might pick this up and reread it. Plus, I like many of the poems enough that I know I'll reread them. There is a link at the top for you to purchase a copy of this for yourself!

If you are a fan of books on how to create a better life for yourself, how to gain happiness or a fan of "The Secret", this book will intrigue you. You will learn what Tomi Akinyanmi shares as secrets to achieving dreams, happiness and love in this book. "A Worthy Legacy" is the story of a granddaughter who journeys to the Nigerian village where she grew up and joins her family at her grandfathers deathbed. The grandfather shares his stories and secrets from his deathbed of his long life and his happiness. Much of the book is poetic and beautiful. With this book you can ponder, learn and relate to the stories and then apply them to your own life.