Books : The Pursuit of Happyness

Rating: - Not as great as I hoped for
Reviewing an autobiography is a tough thing to do as you are not reviewing a story as much as someone's life.

So let me get the point about why this is not 5 stars for me. What makes Chris Gardner's story so inspirational was his ability to look after a son and get a job in a top financial firm whilst homeless. He went from homeless to millionaire in the face of a few years- the ultimate rags to riches story. This is what the film is about and this is why he tours doing speeches etc. So to have this part of his life as the last third of the book (only about 100 pages) means that you have to feel a bit cheated.

Yes his upbringing was tough and interesting but in most autobiographies the "me growing up" bit is the first chapter as the writer gets to the stuff that makes their story interesting enough to warrant a book. Indeed once you get to this bit the drama and writing get considerably better leaving you feeling exhausted and thrilled by the end of the book.

It is very honest and the book is a very easy read plus Chris comes across as a likeable guy who is as flawed as the rest of us. It is therefore a shame that he leaves so little of the book to really get us to appreciate the struggles he faced with a toddler on the streets of a city.

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Rating: - Disappointing
Story of a man who doesn't have much, but loses it due to his own decisions. Then makes it all back (and much, much more)whilst putting his son through far worse conditions than he has to so as to maximise the payoff at the end.

Yes, it is amazing how he turned his life around, but how much of the misery was due to Gardner is not normally commented on.

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Rating: - Brilliant
This is such a good read it's hard to know where to start. The style is so easy to read and the story is so gripping you'll fly through this book. It adds so much more detail to the story if you've seen the film and makes you realise how rich Chris Gardners life has actually been. The film (however fantastic) doesn't do his life justice. This book gives more of Chris' story before he began to pursue his dream of becoming a stockbroker and a full third of the book looks at his childhood. Rarely have I been so inspired by a book, so quickly and I fell in love with this from the first few pages. I could wax lyrical about this book for pages and pages, but suffice to say I think it is superb and you can't go wrong in giving it a try. Highly, highly recommended.

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Rating: - Capturing The Story Of The Voiceless Could Never Be Better Screen Played
The execution of the main role by Mr. Will Smith is beyond words, and it is hereby hoped that those who watch it will appreciate the content of the movie as it is a true (albeit small part) reflection of the plight of the "Brother" who has managed to survive "caving in" to the imposed eurocentric (mentally and physically draining)pressures of survival that he finds constantly burdened on him as none of us were really given a choice to be born into this world.

It must have taken a lot out of Mr. Will Smith to be able to embed himself into the shoes of the main character and be able to produce realistic "acting" as good as he was able to just as Mr. Denzil Washington was able to do in the recap of brother Malcolm X (RIPP).

Like I said, for those brother's who have managed to escape being dragged under by the system this is part of our collective story of survival in a world and system we neither asked to be born into nor participated in its creation or maintenance.

Needless to state, initially I thought the recap by Mr. Smith of Brother Mohammed Ali was good, but he has once again shown he can step into the shoes of the wider (voiceless) community at large which is much appreciated....all I can say Mr. Smith is ThanXs!

Idris Aduwa

One final note, it amazes me how after watching this movie "anyone" and "anything" could be so mentally and emotionally inadequate to attempt to debase the film out of ignorance, malice and sheer human stupidity as the author of the review cited below could do.

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Happyness = Money?, 16 Aug 2007
By Ivon of Windermere "ivon_ritzcovitz"
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It clearly shows that both the "alleged" author of that "negative" review and his wife have issues of inadequacies and all I can do is wish they one day find "inner peace" to appease their state of turmoil.

This movie was not "written" for you and you are not compelled to "watch" it, it is a reflection of "reality" for many others who in society may be voiceless and as your level of ignorance shows, you misconstrued the issue of having limited choice (due to survival pressure) of "taking the child along on sales calls" as you put it for being "manipulative". I guess that alone shows your level of mental/emotional inadequacy, sheer human stupidity and ignorance....I hope one day you find inner peace for your current troubled state of being!

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Rating: - one of the best movies ever!
I absolutely loved this film. I saw it and i cried! it's sooo sad! it's just... it's indescribable! Without a doubt one of the best movies ever.

Will smith gives an amazing performance as Chris Gardner and his little boy is sooo sweet!

I just cant believe it's inspired by a true story! thats soo sad.

It's great for all ages (over 10) and men or women!

Anyway. I wont bore you any longer.

I hope my review has been helpful to you and you choose to buy this product.


(By the way, i'm not actually susan i'm her daughter, who's 11 so that explains why this isn't very posh!)

If you do buy it, get your tissues ready when you watch it!! You'll need them!

by emma