Book Description
In this remarkable book, 103-year-old George Dawson, a slave's grandson who learned to read at age 98, reflects on his life and offers valuable lessons in living as well as a fresh, firsthand view of America during the twentieth century. Richard Glaubman captures Dawson's irresistible voice and view of the world, offering insights into humanity, history, hardships, and happiness. From segregation and civil rights, to the wars, presidents, and defining moments in history, George Dawson's description and assessment of the last century inspires readers with the message that-through it all-has sustained him: "Life is so good. I do believe it's getting better."
Download Description
George Dawson was born the grandson of a slave in Marshall, Texas, on January 18, 1898. His four brothers and sisters attended a school for black children, but George, the oldest, had to go to work to help the family make ends meet. He was just eight years old when he first left home to live at and work as a farm hand on a white family's farm. But from his warm and loving parents Dawson inherited a positive life philosophy, based on focusing on how much they had rather than how little, and on wise observance of others, and common sense.
Richard Glaubman captures Dawson's personality, philosophy, voice and amazing life story, from his early years in Marshall -- his jobs as farmhand and sawmill worker, to his attraction to a white girl which he handled to protect them both, to his departure at 21, when he said goodbye to his family, and hopped a train to find his way in Memphis. Throughout this story, "Life Is So Good" captures Dawson's techniques for survival, and the history of the nation, as seen through Dawson's eyes -- segregation and race relations in the South, the First World War, the invention of the automobile and the airplane, the desegregation of baseball, and more.
Dawson worked many jobs in his 101 years, including laying railroad ties. He was married twice, widowed twice, and raised seven children. At 98, long after he retired, a local teacher offered to teach him to read, and he realized he was tired of making an "X" for his signature, he wanted to be able to read the Bible and the newspaper. After learning his alphabet in half a day, Dawson has learned to read, print and write.
Throughout his story, Dawson repeats the message that has sustained a happy life, thathis father passed on to him at an early age: "life is good. I do believe it's getting better." So good, also, are his ways of being and being happy, his wisdom and knowledge about survival, joy, people, and life.
Customer Reviews:
A tale of stunning accomplishment .......2007-08-08
Richard Glaubman's "Life Is So Good" is a real comeuppance for anyone whose outlook towards life runs along the lines of "I wish I had done X, but I'm too old to start now." Here's a man, George Dawson, who learned how to read at age 98. As a USA Today review aptly summarizes, "Dawson has become a literary hero, a testament to the power of perseverance." First-time author Glaubman expertly fleshes out Larry Bingham's award-winning 1998 Fort Worth Star-Telegram short story.
Dawson's tales of life in the Jim Crow-era South, his unquenchable work ethic, and his travels throughout North America make for compelling reading. Here is a man who was never given a shot to read when he was younger - economic circumstances forced him into full-time manual labor at a very early age. Despite significant hardship, his optimism and sense of self-worth never waver. The title really sums it up well here. Glaubman's final words from Dawson are "Life is so good and it gets better every day."
As other reviewers have noted, Chapter 1 of this book could stand alone as among the best short stories you'll ever read.
A Strong Work Ethic.......2007-04-27
I like the memoir because George Dawson never gave up his dream to read and write. George was born in the late 1800's. His parents were not slaves, but his grandparents were once slaves. George was raised in Texas. His family was poor, and he never attended school. Georges started working at a very young age, drawing water from the well each morning for the house. George worked alongside his father in the fields. The work was hard, so was their life. They had to watch what they said and went in fear of the K.K.K. Twelve year old George went to work, and stayed with a white family to help out at home. His cousins came to live with his family because their parents died, so George was needed at home. George left home at twenty-one and worked in Tennessee building levees. It was two years before he returned back home.
Life is So Good is a story about George Dawson's dreams of receiving mail, learning to read and write at the age of ninety-eight, and his work ethic. I can relate to George's hard work and his work ethic. I beleive in hard work and doing it right the first time.
This book is sad and tells of struggles he had to go through. It is not easy reading at first because the chapters jumped around. But overall, it is a good book to read.
Life is so good and it gets better every day.......2006-12-12
"Life is good just like it is"(233). "Don't worry about what someone else thinks. Just do the right thing and take pride in yourself"(214). The owner of this optimistic way of thinking toward life was George Dawson, the grandson of an African American slave, who worked hard his whole life but was illiterate until he turned 98 years old. From the time George Dawson was a young boy, he learned the importance of hard work from his father and gave up going to school to help raise his younger siblings since he was the oldest son of five children. Dawson felt that school was only for children, and he was never aware of adult education classes until he attended an ABE (Adult Basic Education) program. He was ashamed of his illiteracy, but no one around him knew it, not even his children, until Dawson told them. When signing a sheet, he had to mark his name with an X.
Dawson grew up in South, Texas, where there was a prevalence of strong racial discrimination. As a grandson of an African American slave, he suffered social injustices his whole life, including racism and poverty, but his cheerful view of life was the key to his mental and physical health. Dawson's wholesome life philosophy despite a racist society was transmitted to him from his father who taught him how to get along or deal with white people without friction; this was a realistic and functional survival skill. However, throughout the book, strong racism was well represented in every story and left me feeling sad and angry.
Nevertheless, their family worked hard so they could make enough to feed the family. Moreover, he left home to travel and work for about nine years here and there, not only inside the USA, but also in Canada and Mexico. These experiences away from home let him become acquainted with the ways of the world. During his lifetime, Dawson did not waste his time and tried as best as he could in any situation and he did not lose his warm heart nor fall into any misbehaviors under difficult circumstances.
He married four times and had seven children, but he sent all his children to college; for his life, he had always valued the importance of education. He had lived in three different centuries, from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st century. His life's journey in education as a member of the labor class and minority is a prime example of the American history of adult education in the 20th century. Interestingly, he traced back in memory to important social events or movements by looking at old photos or listening to past historical stories. Because he could not read the newspaper, he received the news from other people or the radio. His excellent memory enabled him to become literate in an ABE program at the age of 98 years old.
All through the book, I learned many actual philosophies of life. I thought that every ethnic group has its own specific life style, but I am reminded that the basic philosophy of life is not different between different races or classes; Dawson said that "...Every colored man had the same talk with his children: how to get along, how to survive in this world" (202). His philosophy was that, "A man is born to die. You got to keep that in mind and don't do no wrong" (257). This thinking was not new, but hearing these advices have produced a profound sense of meaning for me. He also said that, "You have no right to judge another human being,"(12) and "People forget that a picture ain't made from just one color. Life ain't all good or all bad"(233). He did not complain toward social injustices but kept his composure illustrated by his ability to keep calm. For example, when he was gardening for a white woman, he refused to eat a meal she served when he discovered she provided the same food to her dog.
However, I think that many parts of his optimistic perspectives towards social inequality were influenced by his illiteracy and non formal educational background. Without education, he was unable to articulate his human rights and desire for social reform. Criticisms directed towards social injustice were out of his realm of concern.
"I want for people not to worry so much. Life ain't going to be perfect, but things will work out" (246). "I guess the heat doesn't bother you people. You're fortunate that you can just keep working"(209). These positive thoughts were the cause of his long life; this book was published when he was 101 years old.
The school started at nine, but he got up by five-thirty and made his lunch, packed his books, and went over his schoolwork. He had always gone to school early and had not ever been late for three years since he began to attend the adult education program. When he turned one hundred years old, Dawson could read on a third-grade level.
I would definitely recommend this great book for any student over ten-year old children to let them know the importance of education, the value of literacy, and the sadness of a distorted social and racist environment. I also would like to recommend it to older generations who have been afraid of learning something at their age. I already handed this book to my teen-aged child with a brief explanation.
Those of us who are literate and highly educated people do not know the difficulties of illiteracy, but it is a shameful secret for many illiterate people. I think that illiteracy is mentally as debilitating as poverty. As a non-native English speaker, I have a similar sense of shame in many situations as Dawson might have had; this feeling is well synthesized into the story. This easy to read, meaningful, and impressive book kept me reading non-stop from the beginning to the end.
"Life is so good and it gets better every day" (260). I always would like to remember this philosophy of life.
Life, Learning, and Literacy.......2006-12-06
"I am a witness to the truth. That's why I am still here. I can't let the truth die with me. That's why you're here: to help me get the true story down, before it's my time." (Dawson and Glaubman, 2000, p. 45)
From Jim Crow laws to lynchings, from hobo camps to boarding houses, from hard work to hard times, Life Is So Good is the extraordinary story of an ordinary man. Generally, biographies and autobiographies, of which Life Is So Good is a bit of both, tell the tales of people who have risen to celebrity. We, the readers, learn of the accomplishments against all odds or the adventures of remarkable daring of some individual who has risen to fame and acclaim. Life Is So Good is not an account of such a person. Rather, Life Is So Good is an account of a person who is normally dismissed in the course of our lives--someone we see shuffling through the grocery store line or sitting in silence on the bus, someone to whom we give not a second thought. Life Is So Good is a reminder of the humanity of all people. Life Is So Good is a reminder that the story of every individual is worth knowing and that wisdom has the potential to develop from the depths of any and all experience.
George Dawson, the book's topic, is a man from the humblest of circumstances. Born in 1898 in East Texas, Dawson is the grandson of slaves. His early youth is spent working on the family's meager farm. When he is twelve, he is sent to board and labor at a white neighbor's farm. Dawson, as are all 'colored folk', is subject to all manner of subtle and not so subtle indignities at the hands of the local white establishment. There is violence and there is humiliation. There is dire poverty and there is sudden death. Yet, most astonishingly, Dawson's account is not framed by anger or resentment. The tone of the narration is calm and composed. Dawson, despite hardship and prejudice, appears able to acknowledge the truth of his situation without losing his sense of personal worth or enthusiasm for life. He is particularly drawn to and inspired by the words of his father. In an exchange between father and son after witnessing the terrifying event of a lynching, the elder Dawson responds to the young George's rage, "Some of those white folks was mean and nasty. Some were just scared. It doesn't matter. You have no right to judge another human being. Don't you ever forget" (Dawson and Glaubman, 2000, p. 12).
Keeping faithful to the lessons of his father and always willing to put in a full day's work, Dawson leaves his East Texas town. Dawson, as both train passenger and rail rider, journeys far and wide. He's on a levy crew outside Memphis; he's a field hand in Mexico; he's a longshoreman in St. Louis and New Orleans; he journeys to Canada in search of snow. He is naïve but grounded by common sense; he is sometimes a victim of his pride, but not for too long. He is, however, stopped short on more than one occasion by his inability to read. Near the end of the story, Dawson describes how his illiteracy plagued him and how his illiteracy forced his mind to be ever vigilant:
I always had a dream that I would learn how to read. It was my secret, that I couldn't read. There was nothing I couldn't do and my mind was as good as anyone's. That's just how it was. All my life, I had been just too busy working to go to school. I kept it a secret that I couldn't read.
My mind worked hard. When I traveled somewhere, I could never read a sign. I had to ask people things and had to remember. I could never let my mind forget anything, never let my mind take a vacation. (Dawson and Glaubman, 2000, p. 224)
At the late age of 98 we learn that George Dawson enters an Adult Basic Education program and ultimately learns to read. Dawson who has spent a long, productive, and commendable life utterly unrecognized by the dominant culture is, ironically, near the very end of his existence celebrated by the very society which for so long scorned him. Dawson's story is one of hope and perseverance and promise.
Life Is So Good is an illustration of the value of personal experience combined with self reflection as an educational tool. George Dawson learns by watching, by doing, and by thinking. Dawson's education takes shape in an atmosphere of relevancy, curiosity, and confidence. Learning for Dawson for much of his life is not about books or schools; rather, learning for Dawson is embedded in his everyday experience--for an illiterate and "uneducated" man, Dawson exemplifies the lifelong learner. Dawson, in the spirit of Eduard Lindeman (Lindeman, 1961), reminds us that learning is situated foremost in the individual; institutions and degrees are ancillary.
Life Is So Good is engaging and thought provoking. The prose is straightforward and accessible; the wisdom expressed is plain-spoken and immediate. This book has universal appeal, from students of all ages to educators of all ages. Too, this book provides a sort of reality check, making it a worthy read for minorities, 'majorities', historians, activists, and policy makers alike.
References
Dawson, G., and Glaubman, R. (2000). Life is so good. New York: Penguin Books.
Lindeman, E. C. (1961). The meaning of adult education. Norman, OK: Oklahoma Research Center for Continuing Professional and Higher Education.
An Astonishing Book Which Humbles Me.......2006-09-16
George Dawson's words expressed through Richard Glaubman's more advanced language catch your attention right from the first sentence. I wasn't able to put this book down and found myself staying up late to finish it. It has changed my outlook on life. Read it and see for yourself. All events in the book are true; unbelievably Mr. Dawson can still have a positive outlook on life. One of the best books I have read. I will keep this one for life. A classic.
Book Description
A Girl's Guide to Growing Up
Being a girl is a lot of fun most of the time. But some days are really difficult. Dealing with a body that is changing before everyone's eyes, increasing amounts of schoolwork, boys, other girls, friends, makeup, clothing, parents. Wow! Life as a preteen or early-teen girl is tough, and that's why every girl has questions about growing up. Fortunately, now you have some help.
Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good? is your new guide to surviving those trying times and feeling good about yourself in the end. Inside, a mom and her daughter—who's about the same age as you—team up to help you figure out what's really important in life and how you can become the person you want to be. You'll find some great ways to handle emotional issues and deal with daily crises as you discover how to:
·Develop a positive self-image
·Maintain healthy relationships with parents, friends, and boys
·Deal with peer pressure, bullies, brats, and violence
·Dream big and turn those dreams into reality!
·And so much more!
"A lively, relevant, and valuable resource that can not only empower but also help girls keep open the lines of communication with the important adults in their lives."
—Marty Evans, national executive director, Girl Scouts of the USA
"A great book for preteen girls! The best of both worlds with the smarts of a mom and a daughter!"
—Karen Bokram, editor in chief, Girls' Life magazine
Customer Reviews:
great book for and "interesting" time.......2007-01-09
What a great book this is - I bought it for my daughter who is at an age where she has lots of questions - some easy to ask, some not. This book has provided a save place for those questions along with work sheets to get her "journaling". I have and will recommend this book to my friends with daughters this age (11+).
Highly recommended.......2004-05-27
I have been reviewing books for girls who are in their preteen years. The interactive book I like best is "Girls: What's so Bad about being Good?" (Authors: Harriet Mosatche and 12 year-old daughter Liz Lawner). The format is teen friendly and inviting. A wide range of topics will captivate young readers. The book is written in a format that will guide and encourage young women to make positive choices. Highly recommended.
Excellent Book.......2001-08-18
This book has everything I was looking for. The best part was that the information was down to earth, stuff I can actually use in my life. When I had my copy at camp, all the other girls kept grabbing it so they could read it too!
Read this Great Advice Book.......2001-07-07
I just finished reading this book, and really loved the fact that you can get advice from a mom and a daughter. The book is funny, has lots of stuff to do, and has loads of interesting and very useful information. The authors really understand kids my age.
Book Description
"Good workplaces are worth examining if for no other reason than that they enrich the lives of the people working there. Everyone, after all, would prefer working in a pleasant environment to an unpleasant one. Since most of us spend the greater part of our waking hours at work, this is no small matter."
With this idea in mind, Robert Levering decided to depart from the usual approach - looking at what's wrong with bad workplaces and how to fix it - and instead sought to discover what is right with truly great workplaces. To do so, Levering interviewed employees and managers at every level of "the best of the best" - the top 20 from his best-selling book, The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.
In this groundbreaking book, Levering uses interviews and anecdotes from the best employers to:
- Show why the most essential ingredient of a great place to work is trust between employees and management
- Explain why conventional management practices make it difficult to create a good workplace environment
- Provide case studies of positive and negative transformations of workplaces
The inspiring message of this book is that any company can become a great place to work. A Great Place to Work helps employees interpret daily experiences at work and determine what it is possible to expect. But it also informs well-meaning employers with ideas and tips about how to improve the quality of a working environment.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent insights into what makes a great employer.......2000-03-06
Although some of the examples used are a bit dated, the insights and conclusions about what makes a good or bad employers are still valid. This is a well-written book that shows how some employers actively strive to generate trust between the company and employees. If you don't like the company for which you work, this book will illustrate some of the practices of companies that truly value employees as their most important resource instead of just paying lip service.
Customer Reviews:
A Powerful Book of Ministry.......2001-05-07
When our oldest daughter died, my husband bought this book for me. I read it, reread it, and read it some more. Since then, I have bought it for others who also have had a deep pain in their lives. While the title at first seemed (to me) irreverent, the book itself is not. It is a deeply moving book that deals with the struggles a person goes through in times of great loss. The author himself has gone through such a time. I highly recommend this book for such people, family, and friends who wish to understand how to help.
Minus 1 star.......2001-03-13
I would not recommend this book to anybody. It was a waste of money and a total disappointment for me.
Every human should own this book........2000-05-29
Because a part of life is pain and suffering, this book is an absolute must. Having been in "christian" environments all of my life, and having seen so very much suffering - both personally and among family and friends, the title of this book intrigued me. From the first paragraph to the last, I could not put the book down. I have read, and re-read the book, and have given it to so many friends, this book is a wonderful book, and makes God seem so real to the hurting soul. THE BEST AND SO VERY WONDERFUL!
If you or someone you love is hurting, get this book!.......1998-10-08
David Biebel's keen insight and experience in human suffering makes this book a must read. Written from a Christian perspective, the material contained in these pages will help you make sense of pain and suffering, while providing hope for your situation. Simply put, this is a great book that I would recommend to anyone going through a difficult time in life.
Fantastic! A must-have! Real life situations and solutions!.......1996-07-14
Since reading this book, I have purchased every copy I could
get my hands on to give away to those who are suffering or
need help. Biebel puts God right by your side.
Numerous real life examples allow almost anyone to relate to
the pain and emotions so many now deny themselves access to.
Immediately, Biebel shelves the "advice", "one-liners",
"religious answers" and goes for the guts.
Has given many silently suffering wanderers the map and
compass to find their way through life's
pain. Turns pain into meaningful journey and stepping stone
to healthy relationships with God and others.
Book Description
This hardhitting welldocumented book is an urgent call for businessgovernment education and the church to declare a state of emergencyfor African Americans. Says the author ldquo;The black community can no longertolerate the scourge of crime AIDS poverty and shattered family structures.rdquo;Most important this book provides a roadmap for individuals and communities to rise from their present circumstances and become thepeople God destined them to be.The author is on a crusade to rescue Black America from impendingdisaster by sounding the alarm concerning the perishing predicament ofhis beloved race. In this book he offers real solutions that are grounded indivine wisdom and guided by proven values. The contents of this book aresure to frustrate the comfortable and fuel the committed.
Customer Reviews:
A DEFINATE BEST SELLER!!!.......2007-08-02
If you have ever asked yourself the question, "What's wrong with this generation?" This is the best book to enlighten you on the answers to this question and many more concerning the evolution of the African American culture as a whole. The title alone should grab the attention of all backgrounds! "If God is So Good, Why are Blacks Doing So Bad?" People of all arenas of corporate america should use this book as a reference for diversity trainings. Yes! This book is that good! Schools, prisons, churches,self help groups,outreach ministries, non-profit organizations of any kind should admonish their leaders to focus on the facts that this book sheds light on.
Customer Reviews:
A THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOK.......2002-08-02
My wife bought this book based on reading Joyce Meyers' "Battlefield of the Mind". You can read it at one sitting, but don't. Have your bible handy to reference some of the passages she refers you to. Think, ponder and reflect on your life and how these chapters refer to you and your actions. This is a very good little book and could easily be given as a present to someone you care about.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Treatment of Ethics for the Modern-Day Clergy!.......2002-04-14
There are not many books available on ministerial ethics. With the rise in sexual impropriety, financial mismanagement, and other scandalous conduct, Joe Trull and James Carter provide some much needed insight for clergy today. I have been in the pastoral ministry for twenty years, and I cannot think of one ethical issue for ministers they have not addressed. Being written by two Southern Baptists, this volume is understandably most appealing to fellow Baptists. Still, the tone of the chapters and the treatment of the issues are presented in such a way as to apply to all ministers, regardless of denomination.
I recommend this title very highly. Too many ministers have a shallow understanding of the broad range of ethical issues confronting clergy in the 21st century. This book is very readable, and would be a valuable asset on any pastor's bookshelf. Well worth the price!
Book Description
Have you ever looked at all the pain and injustice in our world and wondered how anyone could believe in God? Are you searching for purpose and meaning in life, but are sick of all the supposed easy formulas and simple steps that so many people offer? Do you crave spirituality and relationship with God, but haven't found them - or don't believe you will ever find them - by simply 'going to Church'? There is Good News. This book will not solve all of your problems or answer all of your questions. It will not tell you how to get everything you want out of life. It will not prove anything, nor attempt to do so. It will, however, introduce you to an entirely different way to look at and live life than much of our culture and many of our self-preserving institutions offer. It will introduce you to a loving, relational, self-sacrificial life that has room for questions, doubt, and uncertainty. And it will introduce you to the man who makes this life possible. It will tell you some good news.
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Conversation.......2006-04-27
This is one of the most straight-forward, understandable, and eye-opening Christian books I have read. If you're looking for a book to make you look or sound like a smarter, more 'hip' Christian, this is not for you. Blue Like Jazz is a great book that will make you sound hip; you should get that one. However, I think this book may actually be better than Blue Like Jazz. Polk is not as good a writer as Miller, but He manages to present the Kingdom life in a way that not only encourages me, but challenges me. He doesn't speak 'Christianese,' the in-house language of most evangelicals, but tells of the work of God and subsequent life of God's people in a way that I can actually understand. It really feels like you're having a conversation with the guy, and he isn't out to prove he's right, explain all of your problems, or prove how smart he is.
You do need to make sure you read the subtitle, though. Polk obviously intended to write an introduction to the Christian life. At the beginning, I was frustrated that he didn't explain in more detail the ideas he was presenting, but as soon as I remembered it was only an introduction, I fell in love with it. It has started so many conversations with friends, both Christian and non-Christian, which I think is his intention. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants more out of life and religion than a stale, cookie cutter faith.
Average customer rating:
|
If Things Are So Good, Why Do I Feel So Bad?
George Barna
Manufacturer: Moody Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Theology
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Self Help
| Protestantism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0802492444 |
Books:
- Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
- Living Out Loud
- Living with Art w/ Timeline
- LUCKY MAN: A MEMOIR
- Maimonides Reader
- Mark Twain: A Life
- Mein Kampf
- Missing You (1-800-Where-R-You, Book 5)
- Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm
- My California: Journeys By Great Writers
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities
- The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare
- History: Fiction or Science
- MCSA Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment Exam Cram 2
- Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
- The Daughters of Juarez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border
- Smart Tax Tips: Winning Strategies to Reduce Your 2003 Taxes
- CONTABILIDAD TEORIA Y PRACTICA TOMO 1 PRINCIPIOS DE CONTABILIDAD SOLUCIONES DE LOS EJERCICIOS PRACTI
- Marxian Economics: The New Palgrave
- A Cactus Odyssey: Journeys in the Wilds of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina
Burro Genius : A Memoir
Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States
Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential
Sociology: The Core
Annual Editions: Sociology 06/07 (Annual Editions : Sociology)
