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You Changed My Life [Paperback]

Abdel Sellou
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 10, 2012

You Saved My Life tells the extraordinary true story of the charming Algerian con-man whose friendship with a disabled French aristocrat inspired the record-breaking hit film, The Intouchables.

Sellou’s fictional reincarnation, Driss, played to critical acclaim by French comedian Omar Sy in the movie Les Intouchables, captured the hearts of millions with his edgy charm. Already a bestseller in France and Germany, You Changed My Life shows us the real man behind Sy’s smiling face. The book takes us from his childhood spent stealing candy from the local grocery store, to his career as a pickpocket and scam artist, to his unexpected employment as a companion for a quadriplegic.
Sellou has never before divulged the details of his past.  In many interviews and documentaries, he has evaded or shrugged off the question of his childhood and his stay in prison, until now. He tells his story with a stunning amount of talent, with humor, style, and—though he denies that he has any—humility.

Sellou’s idiosyncratic and candidly charming voice is magnificently captured in this memoir, a fact to which his friend Philippe Pozzo di Borgo testifies in his touching preface for the book.


Frequently Bought Together

You Changed My Life + A Second Wind: The True Story that Inspired the Motion Picture The Intouchables + The Intouchables
Price for all three: $43.59

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Abdel Sellou now lives in Algeria with his wife and three children, where he runs a chicken farm. He remains close to Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, who lives in Morocco with his second wife and two children.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Weinstein Books (July 10, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 160286182X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1602861824
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

You Changed My Life is the kind of book that will inspire someone to say it "Changed My Life." Carol in Ohio  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
I saw the movie, Untouchables, and wanted to read the book. Jean Fahrenbach  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
The book is "writen" by someone who does not know how to write. ET  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A great perspective on Abdel/"Driss" September 27, 2012
By Bob Pr.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
(The following review is largely my comment disagreeing with the one star, negative review by "E.T.")

After seeing the movie, "The Intouchables," I couldn't believe that a person (Abdel/"Driss") so characterologically amoral would be able to change the way the movie pictured in such a short time. So I bought this book that he wrote for another perspective--and I was not disappointed; it gave that to me and I feel richly rewarded for having read it. (Now I'll start reading "A Second Wind" by Phillippe Pozzo di Borgo.)

I recommend you see the movie first, bearing in mind that it's not a documentary but was inspired by the life stories of Phillippe Pozzo & Abdel ("Driss" in the film). The movie does have much more continuity than the book but at the expense of taking many liberties, short cuts, alterations of the actual facts and time lines. (E.g., Abdel/"Driss" worked with Phillippe for 10 years & about a year before Phillippe's first wife, Beatrice, died; Abdel did not play "matchmaker" for Phillipe's second marriage.) It does stay true to the unique and uplifting story of these two men.

Although Abdel is not a skilled author -- I found his book fascinating because it was like spending an afternoon chatting with Abdel about his life before, during, and after his time with Phillippe: somewhat disjointed, organized by when something comes into his mind rather than being driven by a need to carefully, very orderly explicate beginnings, middles, and conclusions. Abdel's "style" gives a feeling of the unique reality of Abdel that a more polished version probably would never accomplish. This book's "Forward" by Phillipe expresses surprise that Abdel would open up so much and, IMO, Abdel's style of writing and content, what he covers or doesn't cover, conveys Abdel's ambivalence and views of the real person and his transformation that a more experienced writer couldn't touch.

I'm a retired clinical psychologist; much of my last 20+ years of work was in the marriage & family area. I learned there's never just one "true" view of relationships; it always depends on who is telling the story. E.g., the child favored by one parent has a much different view of both parents than his/her sibling does. The "Rashomon effect"* actually exists: "The Intouchables" film gave one view of them, Abdel's and Phillippe's books give two others.

_______________________

* The "Rashomon effect" in Marr. & Fam. work takes its name after Kurosawa's famous film in which 4 different people saw the same event yet each describes motivations, causes and effects in 4 completely different ways.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book September 22, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
You Changed My Life is the kind of book that will inspire someone to say it "Changed My Life." It certainly caused me to look at my own life and reminded me how good people and life are. Truly uplifting and inspiring.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars You Changed My Life September 12, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having seen the movies "Intouchables," from which this book is derived, I got great insight into the lives of the people involved. It shows the differences from the movie , but gives a real feeling for these persons. It added a new dimension and appreciation of the movie and I highly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Background to the movie
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and was curious about the story behind the story. I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Anci
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!
This Cd is simply wonderful and the story is told with truth and feelings that are not found in daily life.
Published 18 days ago by Tony L. Hubbard
5.0 out of 5 stars You changed my life
after reading both books, it will change your life. A insight of how the disables feel inside. After reading this you will want to walk over to someone and just say Hello.
Published 26 days ago by denise t. hammond
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
I found this book to read by accident. (I was searching the library for something to read when this title jumped out to me.) As I read, I discovered it was based on a movie. Read more
Published 1 month ago by s.h2ocasa
3.0 out of 5 stars Not a nice character
Abdel Sellou really does not seem to be a nice character. He appears to be an opportunist who is lucky to meet Phillipe who NEEDS a character like Abdel to feel alive again... Read more
Published 2 months ago by c
5.0 out of 5 stars Not better, but incredible
This is the first review that I have ever written.

I was beyond awed, moved and inspired by the movie. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lois Streib
5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous
The other side of the coin writes his story, albeit a bit reluctantly, but then, he's one of the reasons this story between Phillipe and he even happened! Bravo!
Published 2 months ago by Jeanniellewellyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Great to hear the true story
I loved the movie but so interesting hearing the true version. He could easily have hidden behind the softened movie version but came out with the "no excuses" reality -... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Christine Mundell
2.0 out of 5 stars You Changed My Life
not at all what I expectd, hard to have to keep reading the words, wasnt the story line, but a story of the one actor,s lfe
Published 3 months ago by Diana Schlegel
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviw of Abdel's story
A very honest account of his time as a carer - even though he is a person who was raised in challenging circumstances and was a con man, he has a good heart, and he remained true... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kay Kerrison
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