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01 September 2011

Life is So Good by George Dawson

I read this in December 2004 and again in May 2008.


This book is a true winner if you love autobiographies or memoirs!
Life Is So Good: One Man's Extraordinary Journey through the 20th Century and How he Learned to Read at Age 98George was born January 1898 and died at age 103 years old in July 2001.


Talk about seeing change in the world! George was born to grandparents who were slaves. He was affected by racism to a true and great degree. He once saw a man lynched and that, of course, changed the course of his life.


He married and fathered seven children.


George couldn't read but it was a lifelong ambition of his. When someone knocked on his door to inspire interest in local adult education courses George determined that it just might be time for him to learn to read. He was 98 years old when he learned to read and write.


His book is written in a conversational tone. I'd have loved to spend some time with George. 

3 comments:

  1. This is an interesting pick. How did you decide to read this one?

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. I'm not sure I recall...
    I often receive recommendations from the parents using the forum hosted by the homeschooled curriculum we used when we were actively homeschooling.

    It seems to me, however, that this book, with George's face on it probably smiled to me from a library display or shelf. At the time I believe we were heavily frequenting out local library for reading material.

    When you read it let me know. After reading it I wished I'd known him. I also felt that I'd have loved to help him fix the roof on his home. He justs seemed such a likable fellow and very pleasant and easy to listen to.

    This is probably my favorite sort of book to read. It's real; portraying the life of an extraordinary, but normal, person. No Hollywood, no rumors, no scores to settle even. History through the eyes of one who experienced a piece of it. His story could have been one of hostility but he chose to look at things through the phrase "Life is so good."

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