Showing Up For Life: Thoughts On The Gifts Of A Lifetime (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
A nice, easy book to read. Though it offers good advice on global citizenship and other more serious topics, I think the parts about his family were buttered up to the point that it loses credibility. In this world where we like to hear the good, the bad and the ugly in order to learn from others' experiences, all we read are goody-two-shoes nice stories, so we lose interest. Bill Gates Sr could have shared his advice on coping after losing a loved one, for example, when he tells about losing his wife, yet this is glossed over and he only talks about how marvelous she was. And many would say some of his advice is old fashioned, yet some of this advice is the type that has held up through generations, so we should listen and try to learn from a wise man that has lived a very full and interesting life and seen many corners of this World. It was such a delightful enriching experience to read Bill Gates Sr.’s book “Showing up for life”. Between its pages, this book complies a great deal of wisdom and motivation that is being introduced by the lessons the writer gained through his different experiences in life. Its truly is an unselfish act to share those lessons that are considered the secrets of the successfulness of the Gates family in social and career term. It’s brilliant the way that the writer summarizes a life experience in just few pages with constrictive, simple and understandable language with sophisticated words. What’s truly admirable in this book, it’s the focus it lays on the importance of the family and how to constrict a successful happy one with the right plan, hard work and fun as well. I really liked the recognition and respect that Bill Gates Sr. shows for each member in his family, and I enjoyed the part that talks about his wife. She was a remarkable woman whom from I learned how to be a creative woman who not only understand her family needs and provide them with best care, but also have the understanding of the important role of each individual toward humanity and how to be a productive world citizen, although she had many other responsibilities. Another thing that caught my attention is how the Gates parents influenced positively their children’s future by cultivating the seeds of charity and self-confidence since childhood and the thoughtful act of introducing their kids to influential people so they can learn from them and relate to their accomplishment in life. I highly recommend this book because I believe it can help everyone learn how to approach life in the right way in order to buildup a successful family with effective members.
What do You think about Showing Up For Life: Thoughts On The Gifts Of A Lifetime (2009)?
This was an amazing book, made me think about a lot of things and it inspired me as well.
—lovelyandlost
so so. I saw him interviewed by Charlie Rose and thought the book would be good.
—Cassidy
simple read...lessons about "showing up" for life...thought provoking.
—furrrry
