Review of Disasters To Dreams
Posted: 17 Dec 2021, 14:36
[Following is a volunteer review of "Disasters To Dreams" by Chris Patrick.]
Let us redefine losing. Turning the negative perception of failure into something more favorable, even necessary. Recount the countless times you’ve suffered through defeat at the hands of others, or even by your blunder, and visualize them now as a crucial stepping stone to your salvation. Chris Patrick asks us to do just that in his book Disasters to Dreams. We follow what feels like a conversational piece as Patrick invites us to listen to his story. He discusses the tragic instances he has suffered throughout his life from early on in his developmental years to the current time and asks us to answer some difficult questions of our own. And instead of falling into a victim mentality, he commits to using these accounts to better his business, relationships, and overall life experience. He sprinkles in interviews from a list of influencers and friends to share the personal grievances they had suffered and recount how those failures helped them succeed far more than expected.
Overall, I believe this novel to be both entertaining and successful in delivering the message Chris intends to send. He reminds us to look to the opportunities that present themselves on the side of crummy situations. It is an admirable message; however, the book's shining quality is not the key idea itself, but the written narrative of his life. I managed to read his memoir in one full sitting, which is a shining example of how captivating his story is. This book is an easy-to-understand and gritty representation of someone who got the shorter end of the stick. Chris shows much gratitude to not only the ones who’ve helped him along the way but to the individuals who have caused much heartbreak. Showing us that life is not one to live alone, but one where others influence your existence. I loved that he also took accountability for his actions, using these faults as a learning lesson for future engagements. Another aspect I enjoyed was the interviews that broke up in between the chapters. It was refreshing the hear other recounts of other individuals utilizing failure for their future interests.
This book was well-edited, and I did not find any errors while reading it. Like I mentioned before, Disasters to Dreams seems more like a conversation Chris has with the audience, which I greatly enjoy when it comes to reading memoirs.
Even though I truly enjoyed Chris' novel there are a few matters I have to mention. If you are familiar with self-help books, then the core message will sound highly recognizable. I did not find there to be added spice to the key idea, rising out of the ashes. Also, as much as I love the idea of utilizing bad dealings and making them into something positive, I do not believe this message cannot be applied to every disaster. There are multiple examples of absolute disparity that cannot simply be summed up with this simple solution. Though there are chances of having a good life after a tragedy, I cannot agree that life will and can be better from said tragedy.
That being said, I think any reader will find a sense of motivation to turn things around when the going gets tough. That is overall a positive and anyone who picks this book up will be better from it. With all of this said, I rate Disasters to Dreams a 3 out of 4 stars. The reasoning I took off was for the negative aspects I mentioned above. Believing there’s always an opportunity to be found inside of grievances is commendable, but not always easy to put into practice. I would recommend this book to the average reader who isn't too familiar with other self-help novels or wants to read an inspiring story of a man who takes accountability and overcomes.
******
Disasters To Dreams
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Let us redefine losing. Turning the negative perception of failure into something more favorable, even necessary. Recount the countless times you’ve suffered through defeat at the hands of others, or even by your blunder, and visualize them now as a crucial stepping stone to your salvation. Chris Patrick asks us to do just that in his book Disasters to Dreams. We follow what feels like a conversational piece as Patrick invites us to listen to his story. He discusses the tragic instances he has suffered throughout his life from early on in his developmental years to the current time and asks us to answer some difficult questions of our own. And instead of falling into a victim mentality, he commits to using these accounts to better his business, relationships, and overall life experience. He sprinkles in interviews from a list of influencers and friends to share the personal grievances they had suffered and recount how those failures helped them succeed far more than expected.
Overall, I believe this novel to be both entertaining and successful in delivering the message Chris intends to send. He reminds us to look to the opportunities that present themselves on the side of crummy situations. It is an admirable message; however, the book's shining quality is not the key idea itself, but the written narrative of his life. I managed to read his memoir in one full sitting, which is a shining example of how captivating his story is. This book is an easy-to-understand and gritty representation of someone who got the shorter end of the stick. Chris shows much gratitude to not only the ones who’ve helped him along the way but to the individuals who have caused much heartbreak. Showing us that life is not one to live alone, but one where others influence your existence. I loved that he also took accountability for his actions, using these faults as a learning lesson for future engagements. Another aspect I enjoyed was the interviews that broke up in between the chapters. It was refreshing the hear other recounts of other individuals utilizing failure for their future interests.
This book was well-edited, and I did not find any errors while reading it. Like I mentioned before, Disasters to Dreams seems more like a conversation Chris has with the audience, which I greatly enjoy when it comes to reading memoirs.
Even though I truly enjoyed Chris' novel there are a few matters I have to mention. If you are familiar with self-help books, then the core message will sound highly recognizable. I did not find there to be added spice to the key idea, rising out of the ashes. Also, as much as I love the idea of utilizing bad dealings and making them into something positive, I do not believe this message cannot be applied to every disaster. There are multiple examples of absolute disparity that cannot simply be summed up with this simple solution. Though there are chances of having a good life after a tragedy, I cannot agree that life will and can be better from said tragedy.
That being said, I think any reader will find a sense of motivation to turn things around when the going gets tough. That is overall a positive and anyone who picks this book up will be better from it. With all of this said, I rate Disasters to Dreams a 3 out of 4 stars. The reasoning I took off was for the negative aspects I mentioned above. Believing there’s always an opportunity to be found inside of grievances is commendable, but not always easy to put into practice. I would recommend this book to the average reader who isn't too familiar with other self-help novels or wants to read an inspiring story of a man who takes accountability and overcomes.
******
Disasters To Dreams
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon