Review of Unexpected Lessons From Professor Higgins

[Isra Barood]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Unexpected Lessons From Professor Higgins" by Patti Smith.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Unexpected Lessons From Professor Higgins by Patti Smith is a heartfelt memoir of her experience and journey with her son, Christopher, who has Down syndrome. From their shared experiences, Christopher transforms her understanding of many things, including happiness and acceptance. I found this book moving and was deeply drawn to its inspiring story.

This memoir follows Patti Smith, a mother who has learned a tremendous amount from her son with Down syndrome throughout her life. Since his birth, he has taught her to see life through a new lens. From the many life-changing insights she learns through her experiences with him, she discovers the value of surrender, finding happiness in acceptance, and letting go of expectations. Throughout the memoir, she shares the many lessons Professor Higgins (a.k.a. Christopher) has taught her.

Patti’s writing style brings the story to life, allowing me to feel what she felt and see through her lens, making it feel as though I was experiencing her journey firsthand. I loved seeing her growth over the years, from being worried she couldn’t be the type of mother Chris needed and that he would be perceived differently, to realizing that she was the best mother for him and that Chris was a gift to everyone.

This book was incredible, and I loved every part of it. One of the things I liked the most was that even though she was older than Chris, she was open to learning new things from him. This is different from most parents, who believe that everything they do is right, no matter what. I found this book enjoyable and learned many valuable lessons that I’ll try to incorporate into my everyday life, like finding happiness in acceptance. A minor issue I encountered was the occasional time shifts between Chris’s childhood and adulthood. I found this a bit confusing at times. Aside from that, the memoir was outstanding, and the minor issue didn’t take away my enjoyment of reading it.

Overall, Unexpected Lessons From Professor Higgins by Patti Smith is a wonderful book, and I recommend it to parents, caregivers, and anyone who wants to read a truly inspiring story because everyone can learn from it. I give this memoir a four out of four stars and will definitely read it again in the future.

******
Unexpected Lessons From Professor Higgins
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon