Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (1996) - Plot & Excerpts
I hope that Ben Carson will run for President. This is the type of person we need to lead America back to our foundation. In his book "Gifted Hands" he shares his life story and what a story it is. Raised by a single Mom, he grows up without much of material things. He worked very hard to become a world renowned neurosurgeon. This book was also produced as a movie. I trust you will enjoy the quotes below:“You’ve The Captain of Your Ship”If things go bad for you-And make you a bit ashamed,Often you will find out thatYou have yourself to blame …Swiftly we ran to mischiefAnd then the bad luck came.Why do we fault others?We have ourselves to blame …Whatever happens to us,Here are the words to say,“Had it not been for so-and-soThings wouldn’t have gone that way.”And if you are short of friends,I’ll tell you what to do-Make an examination,You’ll find the fault’s in you …You’re the captain of your ship,So agree with the same-If you traveled downward,You have yourself to blame. ~Mayme White MillerRemember this as you go through life. The person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you! You make the choices; you decide whether you’re going to give up or ante up when the going gets tough. Ultimately, it’s you who decides whether you will be a success or not, by doing what is legally necessary to get you where you want to go, You are the captain of your own ship. If you don’t succeed, you only have yourself to blame. ~Sonya CarsonWhen she (Sonya Carson) believed in something she held on and wouldn’t quit. I didn’t always like hearing her say, “You weren’t born to be a failure, Bennie (Ben Carson-Sonya’s son). You can do it!” Or one of her favorites: “You just ask the Lord, and He’ll help you.” ~Ben CarsonWhat’s inside counts the most. Anybody can dress up on the outside and be dead inside. ~Sonya CarsonThat job [the one Ben Carson had between high school and college at the Ford Motor Company; his high school counselor helped him get the job] taught me an important lesson about employment in the world beyond high school. Influence could get me inside the door, but my productivity and the quality of my work were the real tests. Just knowing a lot of information, while helpful, wasn’t enough either. The principle goes like this: It’s not what you know but the kind of job you do that makes the difference. ~Ben CarsonThe kind of job doesn’t matter. The length of time on the job doesn’t matter, for it’s true even with a summer job. If you work hard and do your best, you’ll be recognized and move onward. ~Ben CarsonThere isn’t anybody in the world who isn’t worth something. ~Ben CarsonAs I think of Black youth, I also want to say I believe that many of our pressing racial problems will be taken care of when we who are among the minorities will stand on our own feet and refuse to look to anybody else to save us from our situations. The culture in which we live stresses looking out for number one. Without adopting such a self-centered value system, we can demand the best of ourselves while we are extending our hands to help others. ~Ben CarsonTHINK BIGT=TALENTLearn to recognize and accept your God-given talents (and we all have them). Develop those talents and use them in the career you choose. Remembering T for talent puts you far ahead of the game if you take advantage of what God gives you. ~Ben CarsonT also = TIMELearn the importance of time. When you are always on time, people can depend on you. You prove your trustworthiness. Learn not to waste time, because time is money and time is effort. Time usage is also a talent. God gives some people the ability to manage time. The rest of us have to learn how And we can. ~Ben CarsonH = HOPEDon’t go around with a long face, expecting something bad to happen. Anticipate good things; watch for them. ~Ben CarsonH also = HONESTYWhen you do anything dishonest, you must do something else dishonest to cover up, and your life becomes hopelessly complex. The same with telling lies. If you’re honest, you don’t have to remember what you said the last time. Speaking the truth each time makes life amazingly simple. ~Ben CarsonI = INSIGHTListen and learn from people who have already been where you want to go. Benefit from their mistakes instead of repeating them. Read good books like the Bible because they open up new worlds of understanding. ~Ben CarsonN = NICEBe nice to people – all people. If you’re nice to people, they’ll be nice to you. It takes much less energy to be nice than it does to be mean. Being kind, friendly, and helpful takes less energy and relieves much of the pressure. ~Ben Carson K = KNOWLEDGEKnowledge is the key to independent living, the key to all your dreams, hopes, and aspirations. If you are knowledgeable, particularly more knowledgeable than anybody else in a field, you become invaluable and write your own ticket. ~Ben CarsonB = BOOKSI emphasize that active learning from reading is better than passive learning such as listening to lectures or watching television. When you read, your mind must work by taking in letters and connecting them to form words. Words make themselves into thoughts and concepts. Developing good reading habits is something like being a champion weightlifter. The champion didn’t go into the gym one day and start lifting 500 pounds. He toned his muscles, beginning with lighter weights, always building up, and preparing for more. It’s the same thing with intellectual feats. We develop our minds by reading, by thinking, by figuring out things for ourselves. ~Ben CarsonI = IN DEPTH LEARNINGSuperficial learners cram for exams but know nothing two weeks later. In-depth learners find that the acquired knowledge becomes a part of them. They understand more about themselves and their world. They keep building on prior understanding by piling on new information. ~Ben CarsonG = GODNever get too big for God. Never drop God out of your life. ~Ben CarsonMother Teresa’s profound words are surely true of me and true of you: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” My prayer is that He will use you to write His next love letter. ~Richard StearnsThe meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God’s purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ. ~Richard Stearns
My first reading of Dr. Carson’s story happened when I was 18 years old. I had (and still have) an obsession with the brain, and it was that obsession which led me to the book in the first place. Admittedly, my initial interest was not in his personal story, but in his medical experience. And I’d hoped the book would go into great detail about his surgeries; namely, his successful separation of Siamese twins conjoined at the head. The words strewn across the page grabbed me and lifted me away. Took me to a higher place. And this inspirational tale of how an inner-city boy grew into one of the leading neurosurgeons affected me in ways I never expected. Very deep ways.Dr. Carson’s story was one I never forgot. Sure, over the years, bits and pieces of it had slipped from my memory, but the essence of it remained.And whenever I am at a crossroads in my own life, I look back to classics and favorites to re-inspire and motivate me as I venture down a new part of my own journey. Fifteen years later, I decided it was time to revisit Gifted Hands.It’s actually remarkable how much more I took away from his story this time around. At the age of 33, I could relate more intimately to the struggles and adversities of adulthood. And even though I knew his story, still, new chills crept over the surface of my skin and wiggled their way down to my soul.The book was originally published in 1990, but like any great work of art, its message is still relevant today. Gifted Hands is effortless and intimate, leaving the reader feeling as though they've sat down with a cup of tea and heard Dr. Carson tell his story firsthand.The first half of the novel, for me, was the most inspirational; telling the story of his childhood and journey to and through medical school. The second half of the story focuses on his medical career, sharing many of the surgeries which helped to shape his career and who he was a medical professional. And what’s particularly nice is the medical stories are just as easy to read as the rest of the book.And Dr. Carson didn’t only share with us his triumphs, he also shares struggles he has had over the years. Things that, had he not gained controlled of, could have kept him from enjoying the success he has.If you’re searching for stories to inspire you to never give up and reach for your dreams, Gifted Hands is one sure to be on your list.
What do You think about Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (1996)?
This was a beautiful and inspirational book! Not only did a poor black man living in the ghetto of Detroit get an amazing education, he also became one of the most famous neurosurgeons in America. What impressed me so much was his mother's determination; she was only 13 years old when she got married and, to make things worse, she became a single parent when her husband left her.Despite all this,she knew how important education and faith would be for her sons; she encouraged them to read books and pray. Amazing how a lady who only had 3rd Grade education managed to raise two great scientists! I enjoyed reading about the medical cases that he worked on that made him so well-known. Despite all his achievements, Dr Carson seems to be a very humble man and credits God for getting him where he is today. Also, in spite of all the racism he encountered, he made it clear that he wants to heal people of all races and all the adversity he faced on account of his race just made him grow stronger, and work harder.
—Rowena
From inner city (Detroit) Ben Carson, a poor black kid , raised by a very determined single mother , to whom he dedicates the book , becomes a renowned neurosurgeon changing children's lives at John Hopkins Medical Center. An inspiring true story of determination, persistence , and faith. This 2011 reprint, with a forward by his mother, who was one of 24 siblings and married at age 13 (Can that be right ? wow ) is out in trade paperback and is a very quick read. Take two hours and restore your faith in humanity. The movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr. is also very good. 4 stars
—Camie
This memoir about Ben Carson’s life was enthralling. It was inspiring to read of Ben’s life from his earliest childhood growing up in a single mom home of poverty in the ghetto to his success as a world-renowned surgeon for John Hopkins in the field of neurology. I loved how the influence of his hard-working mother instilled in him a love of learning and self-reliance. She wouldn’t let him watch more than 2 television shows a week and he had to read 2 books a week. Reading about his surgery work on the brains of children was fascinating. He wrote it in such a way that the medical terms didn’t go over my head. I was glued to the story, and have a new respect and understanding for what surgeons face in their career. Loved this book and want to read more by him. He’s a God-fearing, humble man who has accomplished amazing things.
—Charissa
