Review of Destiny Control
Posted: 21 Apr 2022, 19:52
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Destiny Control" by David Garrahan.]
Destiny Control is a non-fictional autobiography written by Dr. David Garrahan. This book consists of nine chapters that describe the author’s life from as early as two years old right up to his older years. It highlights the author's belief in controlling one's destiny by reflecting on personal decisions and the resultant implications they could have. The book details the author's experiences with poverty, abuse, and accomplishment while serving as an inspirational come-up story.
The book begins as David describes his first memory, which was with his father and brother on a bus. He goes on to describe the first ten years of his life, with his mother being mentally ill and his father abusive. He recalls the birth of his sister, the fights between his parents, and eventually living without his father. The situation forced David to find any means to survive. This involved selling newspapers, shoe shining, living in churches, and even stealing food. One day, his mother attempted to kill him and his sister, which ended with her being admitted into a mental institution.
David then lives with some relatives on a farm, where he proves to be a troublemaker as a result of his difficult childhood. At the end of his high school studies, David is forced to leave his relatives. With no money, no plans, and no help, what will he do? How does David become a success? Find out in this inspiring book.
The book has a lot of positive aspects. The main one among them is its story. David's story is truly a picture of triumph, and it is beautifully captured in this book. The story illustrates how challenges are sometimes overcome with simple yet innovative ideas and the willpower to persevere through obstacles. The book's portrayal of David's disadvantaged upbringing made him very relatable. I also appreciated the author's honesty and vulnerability which is on display in different parts of the book where he highlights his flaws and mistakes. I particularly appreciated the afterword section and the difficulty it must have taken to write it. The author must also be commended for his use of simple language in most parts of the book. I also liked its moderate length, pictures, and the effort put into documenting over eighty years of a highly accomplished life.
The book is not without its negative aspect. While the language of the book is simple for most of it, there are a few terms like "covariance model" and " inferential statistic," which may be difficult for the ordinary reader to understand. A further explanation for these terms would have helped.
Although I found a few errors in the book, it is, by its own evidence, professionally edited. These errors did not take much away from my satisfaction with the book. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The compelling nature of the story, as well as the importance of its message, could not be reduced by the negative aspect the book had. I could not deduct a single star from my rating.
I recommend this book to lovers of inspiring biographies and autobiographies, especially people with disadvantaged backgrounds.
******
Destiny Control
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Destiny Control is a non-fictional autobiography written by Dr. David Garrahan. This book consists of nine chapters that describe the author’s life from as early as two years old right up to his older years. It highlights the author's belief in controlling one's destiny by reflecting on personal decisions and the resultant implications they could have. The book details the author's experiences with poverty, abuse, and accomplishment while serving as an inspirational come-up story.
The book begins as David describes his first memory, which was with his father and brother on a bus. He goes on to describe the first ten years of his life, with his mother being mentally ill and his father abusive. He recalls the birth of his sister, the fights between his parents, and eventually living without his father. The situation forced David to find any means to survive. This involved selling newspapers, shoe shining, living in churches, and even stealing food. One day, his mother attempted to kill him and his sister, which ended with her being admitted into a mental institution.
David then lives with some relatives on a farm, where he proves to be a troublemaker as a result of his difficult childhood. At the end of his high school studies, David is forced to leave his relatives. With no money, no plans, and no help, what will he do? How does David become a success? Find out in this inspiring book.
The book has a lot of positive aspects. The main one among them is its story. David's story is truly a picture of triumph, and it is beautifully captured in this book. The story illustrates how challenges are sometimes overcome with simple yet innovative ideas and the willpower to persevere through obstacles. The book's portrayal of David's disadvantaged upbringing made him very relatable. I also appreciated the author's honesty and vulnerability which is on display in different parts of the book where he highlights his flaws and mistakes. I particularly appreciated the afterword section and the difficulty it must have taken to write it. The author must also be commended for his use of simple language in most parts of the book. I also liked its moderate length, pictures, and the effort put into documenting over eighty years of a highly accomplished life.
The book is not without its negative aspect. While the language of the book is simple for most of it, there are a few terms like "covariance model" and " inferential statistic," which may be difficult for the ordinary reader to understand. A further explanation for these terms would have helped.
Although I found a few errors in the book, it is, by its own evidence, professionally edited. These errors did not take much away from my satisfaction with the book. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The compelling nature of the story, as well as the importance of its message, could not be reduced by the negative aspect the book had. I could not deduct a single star from my rating.
I recommend this book to lovers of inspiring biographies and autobiographies, especially people with disadvantaged backgrounds.
******
Destiny Control
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon