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marisaksandoval's review against another edition
5.0
“We don't have all the answers. But what we do have is the choice to live in our seconds, in our moments, and in our limited time in the world. We do have a choice as to how we use all that has been given to us.”
A book that was gifted from a friend always strikes my heart in a unique way. This book is a special one that I will continue to revisit throughout my life.
A book that was gifted from a friend always strikes my heart in a unique way. This book is a special one that I will continue to revisit throughout my life.
kaylasue79's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly picked this up at the library with 0 expectations. Had I expected something like self help or a really great story, I may not have liked it. However, it was a sweet story that was sometimes over embellished. I understand that he exaggerated characters for effect, yet the taxi driver's responses and his granddaughter's responses were too implausible to take seriously.
Even so, it is a nice heartwarming book with a call to action. It just takes one person, one action in a day, and giving yourself permission to dream to make a difference. His story is inspiring and there are some great nuggets about how to be successful in this world in the ways that matter. Some themes of the book including making the most of this one life, the ability to dream is America's greatest export, people are here now because of our ancestor's ability to dream, and letting our life to be a masterpiece.
I appreciated the concept of the rep, the rap, and the rolodex. (Reputation, being able to communicate your ideas, and your relationships). I especially loved the emphasis on relationships here. I also want to come back to his mentioning of Dr. King's speech about having a blueprint for you life which includes sombeodiness, a dedication to excellence, and a commitment to love, beaty, and justice. Last, he left us with a question of what God or your higher power might ask you about what you've done with your life.
Some quotes that stand out to me:
"Dreams-if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride-may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progression. Rarely, do we have the option to move along from A to B to C"
"Your external circumstances are impossible to change when you lack the capacity to imagine possibilities that may not be right in front of you-yet."
"When you help someone else choose to believe in themselves and their most audacious, wildest dreams, you are also giving them permission to be different"
"The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can't tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they would probably say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work. "
"You have to make the choice as to whether you want to be the one signing the front of the check or the back of it".
...."there are some dreams you don't have to chase down but will come and find you. Let me encourage you to be receptive to opportunities that may not appear as such in the beginning. When the universe taps you on the shoulder and says there is something you can do for others, guess what-that might be your dream calling you. I tell you this as a reminder to give yourself daily doses of permission to accept the that is coming to you. I tell you this as a reminder that no matter how young or old you happen to be, you are a child of the universe, loved, and meant to be here, a person of worth and substance in this life. "
"We are pivoting away from the old paradigm of doing and being as we enter a period when what counts more are the values of being and becoming."
"Our masterpiece lives will come from taking on causes fully and allowing ourselves to be fully engaged to the nth degree in the passionate and collaborative pursuit of our new vision of the American dream".
Even so, it is a nice heartwarming book with a call to action. It just takes one person, one action in a day, and giving yourself permission to dream to make a difference. His story is inspiring and there are some great nuggets about how to be successful in this world in the ways that matter. Some themes of the book including making the most of this one life, the ability to dream is America's greatest export, people are here now because of our ancestor's ability to dream, and letting our life to be a masterpiece.
I appreciated the concept of the rep, the rap, and the rolodex. (Reputation, being able to communicate your ideas, and your relationships). I especially loved the emphasis on relationships here. I also want to come back to his mentioning of Dr. King's speech about having a blueprint for you life which includes sombeodiness, a dedication to excellence, and a commitment to love, beaty, and justice. Last, he left us with a question of what God or your higher power might ask you about what you've done with your life.
Some quotes that stand out to me:
"Dreams-if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride-may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progression. Rarely, do we have the option to move along from A to B to C"
"Your external circumstances are impossible to change when you lack the capacity to imagine possibilities that may not be right in front of you-yet."
"When you help someone else choose to believe in themselves and their most audacious, wildest dreams, you are also giving them permission to be different"
"The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can't tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they would probably say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work. "
"You have to make the choice as to whether you want to be the one signing the front of the check or the back of it".
...."there are some dreams you don't have to chase down but will come and find you. Let me encourage you to be receptive to opportunities that may not appear as such in the beginning. When the universe taps you on the shoulder and says there is something you can do for others, guess what-that might be your dream calling you. I tell you this as a reminder to give yourself daily doses of permission to accept the that is coming to you. I tell you this as a reminder that no matter how young or old you happen to be, you are a child of the universe, loved, and meant to be here, a person of worth and substance in this life. "
"We are pivoting away from the old paradigm of doing and being as we enter a period when what counts more are the values of being and becoming."
"Our masterpiece lives will come from taking on causes fully and allowing ourselves to be fully engaged to the nth degree in the passionate and collaborative pursuit of our new vision of the American dream".
itsmeamethyst's review against another edition
4.0
Permission to Dream is a quick and light read, accessible to and perhaps written especially for young readers. Gardner continues telling his story that began in his book, Pursuit of Happyness (intentionally misspelled). He talks again of being a homeless US Navy Veteran and a single father; how asking two questions to a stranger changed his life: “What do you do” and “How do you do it”? It led to his working in finance and ultimately achieving his version of The American Dream.
Now in his late sixties, he is a proud grandfather of a precocious granddaughter, and he gives her advice on how to reach her dreams. I was ready to completely dismiss this book, as he tells her that she can do and be anything if she doesn’t get in her own way; but he pulled me back in telling her about the many structural challenges that can prevent people from reaching their dreams (racism, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), while also saying that “dreams need hope to become real”.
I also appreciated that he told her, “The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can’t tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they all probably would say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work.”
He tells her other very simple advice that he ultimately turned into a youth program (I’m paraphrasing): Be authentic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be aware of how you are branding yourself. Be able to communicate your values and your dreams. Don’t always think about what you can gain from relationships; what can you give and how can you help? Strive for excellence. Learn from those who are leaders in the field (even through books). Be adaptable and resourceful. Your dreams and plans may change.
He ends the book by thinking about a question he was asked, “What would you ask God”. He turns it around and asks us to think about if God will be pleased with how we used the talents and abilities that he has given us.
The best advice he gave was for people to consider what is already in their “tacklebox”: How can you draw on the skills you already have to achieve your dream(s)? He stresses how skills are transferrable. The two questions he advices people to ask now is of themselves: “If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything, what would it be” and “What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?”
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now in his late sixties, he is a proud grandfather of a precocious granddaughter, and he gives her advice on how to reach her dreams. I was ready to completely dismiss this book, as he tells her that she can do and be anything if she doesn’t get in her own way; but he pulled me back in telling her about the many structural challenges that can prevent people from reaching their dreams (racism, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), while also saying that “dreams need hope to become real”.
I also appreciated that he told her, “The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can’t tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they all probably would say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work.”
He tells her other very simple advice that he ultimately turned into a youth program (I’m paraphrasing): Be authentic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be aware of how you are branding yourself. Be able to communicate your values and your dreams. Don’t always think about what you can gain from relationships; what can you give and how can you help? Strive for excellence. Learn from those who are leaders in the field (even through books). Be adaptable and resourceful. Your dreams and plans may change.
He ends the book by thinking about a question he was asked, “What would you ask God”. He turns it around and asks us to think about if God will be pleased with how we used the talents and abilities that he has given us.
The best advice he gave was for people to consider what is already in their “tacklebox”: How can you draw on the skills you already have to achieve your dream(s)? He stresses how skills are transferrable. The two questions he advices people to ask now is of themselves: “If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything, what would it be” and “What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?”
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
itsmeamethyst's review against another edition
4.0
Permission to Dream is a quick and light read, accessible to and perhaps written especially for young readers. Gardner continues telling his story that began in his book, Pursuit of Happyness (intentionally misspelled). He talks again of being a homeless US Navy Veteran and a single father; how asking two questions to a stranger changed his life: “What do you do” and “How do you do it”? It led to his working in finance and ultimately achieving his version of The American Dream.
Now in his late sixties, he is a proud grandfather of a precocious granddaughter, and he gives her advice on how to reach her dreams. I was ready to completely dismiss this book, as he tells her that she can do and be anything if she doesn’t get in her own way; but he pulled me back in telling her about the many structural challenges that can prevent people from reaching their dreams (racism, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), while also saying that “dreams need hope to become real”.
I also appreciated that he told her, “The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can’t tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they all probably would say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work.”
He tells her other very simple advice that he ultimately turned into a youth program (I’m paraphrasing): Be authentic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be aware of how you are branding yourself. Be able to communicate your values and your dreams. Don’t always think about what you can gain from relationships; what can you give and how can you help? Strive for excellence. Learn from those who are leaders in the field (even through books). Be adaptable and resourceful. Your dreams and plans may change.
He ends the book by thinking about a question he was asked, “What would you ask God”. He turns it around and asks us to think about if God will be pleased with how we used the talents and abilities that he has given us.
The best advice he gave was for people to consider what is already in their “tacklebox”: How can you draw on the skills you already have to achieve your dream(s)? He stresses how skills are transferrable. The two questions he advices people to ask now is of themselves: “If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything, what would it be” and “What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?”
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC in exchange for honest review.
Now in his late sixties, he is a proud grandfather of a precocious granddaughter, and he gives her advice on how to reach her dreams. I was ready to completely dismiss this book, as he tells her that she can do and be anything if she doesn’t get in her own way; but he pulled me back in telling her about the many structural challenges that can prevent people from reaching their dreams (racism, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), while also saying that “dreams need hope to become real”.
I also appreciated that he told her, “The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can’t tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they all probably would say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work.”
He tells her other very simple advice that he ultimately turned into a youth program (I’m paraphrasing): Be authentic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be aware of how you are branding yourself. Be able to communicate your values and your dreams. Don’t always think about what you can gain from relationships; what can you give and how can you help? Strive for excellence. Learn from those who are leaders in the field (even through books). Be adaptable and resourceful. Your dreams and plans may change.
He ends the book by thinking about a question he was asked, “What would you ask God”. He turns it around and asks us to think about if God will be pleased with how we used the talents and abilities that he has given us.
The best advice he gave was for people to consider what is already in their “tacklebox”: How can you draw on the skills you already have to achieve your dream(s)? He stresses how skills are transferrable. The two questions he advices people to ask now is of themselves: “If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything, what would it be” and “What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?”
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC in exchange for honest review.
taylors_escapism's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
More of Chris's story about what happened after his success in the movie and the other challenges he had to face in his life in later years. Truly an inspirational man. I enjoyed that this one was told in conversations with his granddaughter.
ellieb73's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
the whole book can be summarized like this: if you play your cards right and have the right people on your team, you can do anything. it has some great perspective from a man who has seen so many different sides of life (he lived on the streets with his son but also counts obama and maya angelou and nelson mandela as his friends) but it was repetitive at times. most of the book is told through the anecdote of being downtown chicago with his granddaughter which was interesting but maybe could have been side stepped to get to the meat of his memoir. overall, glad i read it. some good content and things to keep in mind with my students especially.
drstephm's review against another edition
3.0
This book is part self help and part memoir/personal life lessons. It was a little choppy and I think would benefit from being read slowly, one chapter at a time, vs all in one sitting.