Review of The Student and Teacher

[Steinkar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Student and Teacher" by Ronald F. Henry.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Ronald F. Henry presents The Student and the Teacher from his own perspective as a convicted felon serving a life sentence in Georgia’s Department of Correction. Henry creates a fictional protagonist named Tony. Abandoned by his father and orphaned by a mother who died of an overdose, Tony is forced to live a life of survival on the dangerous streets of Atlanta. Henry opens the book by introducing readers to those closest to Tony. Chris, the Street Lord and Tony’s best friend, dies in a drug deal set up by his girlfriend, Monica. Little Will, the youngest of the gang, innocent and loved by all, is sentenced to 20 years in prison for selling purple haze and meth directly to a drug task force agent. Ike, another drug dealer, lives fast and loose with money and women and ends up with a death sentence diagnosis of HIV. In the midst of all this tragedy, Tony meets Anwar, a man whom he names “Teach.” Anwar’s mission in life is to educate young men about the power of their choices before they become victims of the evil within their own communities. Working together, Anwar leads Tony on a passage from soul searching to empowerment, exploring “the divine knowledge God has provided all men.” Part 2 of the book is “where fiction and self-help intertwine,” detailing the sessions Anwar and Tony work through in his journey to self-discovery.

There is a lot to love about this book. First, since it is clear that Henry has created Anwar from his own experiences, the credibility of the message is undeniable. Also, Henry’s use of parallel storylines is impressive: Anwar’s loss of his wife, Monica’s betrayal of Chris, and Tony’s eventual connection to Michelle create three diverse perspectives on human relationships. I also liked that Henry sets up the “hood” as the antagonist and not the people who live there. The characters of Chris, Ike, and Little Will are developed enough that readers can’t simply dismiss them as evil.

The book has its flaws, however. The most frustrating one is the total lack of basic proofreading. Almost every page contains some kind of blatant error. This greatly decreased my appreciation of the book. Also, the introductory remarks at the beginning of Part 2 are disappointing. I wish Henry had kept the fictional story intact, without breaking the fourth wall by explaining to readers what he was doing.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Although the book has weaknesses, I believe Henry accomplishes what he set out to do: create a fictional account of the dangers of a life without direction or purpose and offer his readers tools for their own self-reflection.

This is a self-help book specifically aimed at young people struggling to overcome the influences of dangerous surroundings, but there is a lot of great information for anyone hoping to live a more authentic, successful life.

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The Student and Teacher
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[Steeve Bowen]

The story sounds intriguing and promises an engaging reading experience. The self-help quality of the book also draws my attention. Thanks for an informative review.

[Blueberry Dragon]

Though I'm not into self-help books all that much, the author seems to have done a decent enough job of combining memoir and self-help. Thanks for a detailed review, @ Steinkar .

[ShamilaK9]

Judging from your review, this memoir/ self-help book sounds interesting. However, I must admit to being put off by all the typos and errors you mention. Thank you for being open about this and rating the content despite these flaws. Hopefully the author remedies the errors.

[Mary John 10]

The Student and the Teacher by Ronald F. Henry follows Tony, a young man shaped by tragedy and survival on the streets of Atlanta. After losing his best friend and seeing others face dire fates, Tony meets Anwar, a mentor who helps him find self-discovery and empowerment. The story blends fiction with self-help, focusing on the power of choices and spiritual growth.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

After reading the review, it seems that "The Student and the Teacher" by Ronald F. Henry is a commendable book. The author's personal experiences as a convicted felon add credibility to the story, making it compelling and authentic. The parallel storylines and character development also make the book engaging and thought-provoking. However, the lack of proofreading and the interruption of the fictional story in Part 2 are disappointing aspects. With these considerations in mind, I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Overall, it appears to be a worthwhile read, particularly for young individuals grappling with challenging circumstances. Emotional depth, explored complex themes beautifully.