By most measures, Daniel Olmes is an ordinary guy—but he’s learned how to live an extraordinary life. In Memoirs of an Ordinary Guy, Daniel asserts that we are all capable of being extraordinary and redefines what it means to be just another ordinary person. He is living proof that extraordinary is there for all of us. It doesn’t mean rich or famous. It doesn’t mean better. To Daniel, “extraordinary” means grateful, honest, happy, loving, fearless, and faithful. Doing extraordinary things is not what makes us extraordinary. Being extraordinary is having an extraordinary perspective on our lives and the things that happen to us. Daniel’s narrative will inspire everyone to view their lives differently, remind us of the stories that we all share, and spark a renewed curiosity about a world that’s anything but ordinary.
D. A. Carson's father was a pioneering church-planter and pastor in Quebec. But still, an ordinary pastor-except that he ministered during the decades that brought French Canada from the brutal challenges of persecution and imprisonment for Baptist ministers to spectacular growth and revival in the 1970s. It is a story, and an era, that few in the English-speaking world know anything about. But through Tom Carson's journals and written prayers, and the narrative and historical background supplied by his son, readers will be given a firsthand account of not only this trying time in North American church history, but of one pastor's life and times, dreams and disappointments. With words that will ring true for every person who has devoted themselves to the Lord's work, this unique book serves to remind readers that though the sacrifices of serving God are great, the sweetness of living a faithful, obedient life is greater still.
A work of great intrigue, Memoirs Of An Ordinary Guy shares the journey of one man’s extraordinary experiences across multiple continents and throughout various cultures with unique encounters and escapades at every turn. Some moments are routine, others hilarious, some deep and painful, and then there are those so unbelievably crazy you would think they were straight out of a movie. Confronting honestly with intense expression, the reader is able to form a personal attachment, enabling them to empathize and experience the highs and the lows along the way. A poignant, well connected, emotional journey from beginning to end, this story offers adventure, romance, mystery and suspense with each chapter building upon the other and each concluding with a “Lesson Learned” giving greater insight into the authors perspective of life in which readers can relate and connect to, in a personal way.
The remarkable autobiography of the globally-recognized human rights champion whose heroism inspired the film Hotel Rwanda “Fascinating…your book is called An Ordinary Man, yet you took on an extraordinary feat with courage, determination, and diplomacy.” – Oprah, O, The Oprah Magazine As Rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious Hotel Milles Collines into a refuge for more than 1,200 Tutsi and moderate Hutu refugees, while fending off their would-be killers with a combination of diplomacy and deception. In An Ordinary Man, he tells the story of his childhood, retraces his accidental path to heroism, revisits the 100 days in which he was the only thing standing between his “guests” and a hideous death, and recounts his subsequent life as a refugee and activist.
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The raw, candid, unvarnished memoir of an American icon. The greatest movie star of the past 75 years covers everything: his traumatic childhood, his career, his drinking, his thoughts on Marlon Brando, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, John Huston, his greatest roles, acting, his intimate life with Joanne Woodward, his innermost fears and passions and joys. With thoughts/comments throughout from Joanne Woodward, George Roy Hill, Tom Cruise, Elia Kazan and many others. A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME and Vanity Fair "Newman at his best…with his self-aware persona, storied marriage and generous charitable activities…this rich book somehow imbues his characters’ pain and joy with fresh technicolor." —The Wall Street Journal In 1986, Paul Newman and his closest friend, screenwriter Stewart Stern, began an extraordinary project. Stuart was to compile an oral history, to have Newman’s family and friends and those who worked closely with him, talk about the actor’s life. And then Newman would work with Stewart and give his side of the story. The only stipulation was that anyone who spoke on the record had to be completely honest. That same stipulation applied to Newman himself. The project lasted five years. The result is an extraordinary memoir, culled from thousands of pages of transcripts. The book is insightful, revealing, surprising. Newman’s voice is powerful, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, always meeting that high standard of searing honesty. The additional voices—from childhood friends and Navy buddies, from family members and film and theater collaborators such as Tom Cruise, George Roy Hill, Martin Ritt, and John Huston—that run throughout add richness and color and context to the story Newman is telling. Newman’s often traumatic childhood is brilliantly detailed. He talks about his teenage insecurities, his early failures with women, his rise to stardom, his early rivals (Marlon Brando and James Dean), his first marriage, his drinking, his philanthropy, the death of his son Scott, his strong desire for his daughters to know and understand the truth about their father. Perhaps the most moving material in the book centers around his relationship with Joanne Woodward—their love for each other, his dependence on her, the way she shaped him intellectually, emotionally and sexually. The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man is revelatory and introspective, personal and analytical, loving and tender in some places, always complex and profound.
An Ordinary Guy spirits us along his journey from the post World War Two neighborhoods of the Bronx through his days as a cadet at the New York State University Maritime College to his thirty years at sea sailing as mate on oil tankers and captain of harbor and sea-going towing vessels. He allows us a peek into the the world of boats and the crews that worked them. Along the way we are skillfully transported through the rich tapestry of history that saw the Vietnam Era, the struggle for civil rights, a resignation of a president, the horror of 9/11 and the response to international terrorism. The Ordinary Guy shares with us his interpretation of these events, all the while entertaining us with tales that range from the informative to the outrageous. We are his passengers as he takes us along on his joyous and sometimes angry romp through seventy years of the extraordinary life and times of this ordinary guy.
It started with a txt...... Life... Where do you start, oh much before the days of computers, brick sized mobiles, mobiles that you could fit into the palm of your hand, social networking and of course not forgetting txting..... Technology, that was the downfall of everything....... Come inside and reminisce with me as I take you on a humorous journey of discovery, disappointments, fun and adventures of my life, just an ordinary guy growing up in the 70's and 80's.From boyhood to manhood and all my escapades in-between. Meet the characters I encountered along the way whom helped make this a funny, yet truthful account of my memoirs. A compelling story of a boy growing up to be a man, told with humour, pathos and raw feeling. Compelling stuff to read
An American truth seeker recounts his life-changing friendship with the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in this intimate memoir. Michael Fischman is the president of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation in the United States. In this intimate memoir, Fischman recounts his startling spiritual journey from childhood in New York “among the tribe of people known as the Jewish Middle Class” to befriending and working with the humanitarian and spiritual leader who changed his life. His story is a compelling narrative that blends remarkable experiences with an inner struggle and search for meaning. “In writing this story, different eras and their flavors came to life again—the world of Orthodox Jews I grew up in; twenty years of teaching meditation and breathing to people around the world; the traumas and triumphs of self-discovery in the Caribbean and Jerusalem; the spiritual traditions of India that became so meaningful to me; and the remarkable atmosphere around the enlightened master I fell in love with” (from the prologue). “Michael Fischman’s journey reveals how fears and negative emotions can be transformed into love, compassion, and higher consciousness when a student has an authentic relationship with a wise teacher.” —Deepak Chopra
This book will restore your faith in life. It might even save your life. The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man is not "based on a true story." It is a true story. More precisely, it is a memoir of dozens of Dr. Tom Schneider's true stories: from devilish schoolboy hijinks to death-defying heroics during his time in the military, and even a heated disagreement with his boss: the U.S. Surgeon General. You'll start reading The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man because you want to hear those stories. And you'll love them. But what will keep you reading is the authenticity of Dr. Schneider's voice: the way he writes to you and only you; the way his jokes, corny coming from anyone else, are funny and endearing coming from him. Then, when you get to the final few chapters and you think you there's no way Dr. Schneider can provide you with more value, you'll learn the basics of human health and wellness -- from someone who learned them the hard way. It's a miracle that Dr. Schneider lived to write this book. That he did is a testament to his fighting but humble spirit, and to his desire to live up to the true meaning of his profession. The word "doctor" originally comes from the Latin "docere." It does not mean "to heal" or "to cure." It means, instead, "to teach." The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man will teach you something about life, death, and the human spirit on every single page.
