Permission to Dream written by Chris Gardner and Mim Eichler-Rivas

Chris Gardner is inspirational & his life quite extraordinary to say the least. He uses the deep conversations he had with his 9 year old granddaughter on a blustery cold day in Chicago to illustrate his perseverance to achieve his dreams while teaching her life lesion along the way. While I found the story to be quite impactful, it wasn’t what I needed at this time in my life. I have achieved my dreams & in actuality did it in many of the ways Gardner points out.
Gardner had some really tough times in his life and came out a champion.

Ohhh! This BOOK! Where to begin? I adore the style in which it was written. This literally just felt like a nostalgic walk down memory lane between a grandpoppa and his granddaughter. Chris Gardner's reflections are as insightful as they are inspirational and I know that this is one book I'll be recommending for years to come. Permission to Dream is a book that should be read, re-read, and shared with everyone of every age because EVERY single person on this planet needs to give themselves the permission to dream, and to dream big! There is so much to absorb from Chris's struggles and eventual success. Personally, I'll never look at another tackle box in the same way again!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful story. Thank you to Mr. Gardner for sharing your journey with us and for being such an inspiring soul.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amistad/Haper Collins for gifting me a digital ARC of the inspirational book by Chris Gardner and Mim Eichler Rivas, passing along more lessons learned from the authors of The Pursuit of Happyness. 4 stars!

Told in a blizzardy, mystical atmosphere where Chris Gardner goes on an adventure with his granddaughter to find a music store in an unknown area of Chicago, Chris gives Brooke lessons on how to dream and turn those dreams into reality. Mixed with his past experiences and relationships of being a homeless single dad to becoming a wealthy financial businessman, Chris gives guidelines on making your dreams come true.

Mr. Gardner is now reaching out to high school students in his B2HS program imparting these lessons. This book would be well served to be on every high school student's must-read list, especially those in lower income families who may not have role models in their lives who have attained personal and financial success. One of the most powerful sections in the book for me personally was thinking about the question, What is God going to ask you?"

Permission to Dream is a quick and light read, accessible to and perhaps written especially for young readers. Gardner continues telling his story that began in his book, Pursuit of Happyness (intentionally misspelled). He talks again of being a homeless US Navy Veteran and a single father; how asking two questions to a stranger changed his life: “What do you do” and “How do you do it”? It led to his working in finance and ultimately achieving his version of The American Dream.

Now in his late sixties, he is a proud grandfather of a precocious granddaughter, and he gives her advice on how to reach her dreams. I was ready to completely dismiss this book, as he tells her that she can do and be anything if she doesn’t get in her own way; but he pulled me back in telling her about the many structural challenges that can prevent people from reaching their dreams (racism, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence), while also saying that “dreams need hope to become real”.

I also appreciated that he told her, “The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can’t tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they all probably would say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work.”

He tells her other very simple advice that he ultimately turned into a youth program (I’m paraphrasing): Be authentic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be aware of how you are branding yourself. Be able to communicate your values and your dreams. Don’t always think about what you can gain from relationships; what can you give and how can you help? Strive for excellence. Learn from those who are leaders in the field (even through books). Be adaptable and resourceful. Your dreams and plans may change.

He ends the book by thinking about a question he was asked, “What would you ask God”. He turns it around and asks us to think about if God will be pleased with how we used the talents and abilities that he has given us.

The best advice he gave was for people to consider what is already in their “tacklebox”: How can you draw on the skills you already have to achieve your dream(s)? He stresses how skills are transferrable. The two questions he advices people to ask now is of themselves: “If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything, what would it be” and “What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?”

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, Chris Gardner reflects and tells his granddaughter about the lessons he learned while pursuing his dreams that eventually led to his success. Most people know Gardner as the author of NYT best selling memoir and major motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness. Through his stories from the past, we get an inside look at the trial and hurdles he overcame to become successful. We also see how even a man of his accomplishments finds himself unsure of what else to do in his life after experiencing the devastating loss of his girlfriend. It’s through the journey he went on with his granddaughter Brooke that he realizes what his next pursuit will be.

I enjoyed how this story was written. Gardner recalls stories from his past in order to answer his granddaughter Brooke’s questions about pursuing your dreams. I could see my younger self in Brooke, and it was heartwarming to see the grandfather and granddaughter relationship between them. I love hearing wisdom from people who have gone through some things, and Gardner really dropped some gems in this book that helped me to dig deeper into how I’m going to accomplish my dreams. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved the writing style, intelligent, captivating, and insightful. Gardner follows the lead of his nine-year-old confident and inspiring granddaughter who takes him “beyond the wall” in the cold of Chicago winter that reads so true to all of us who had lived it. This book needs a study of at least a couple of readings for a reader to truly takes in the whole experience. “What will you do with the time you have left?” Exceptional.

Feel-good and practical advice. I didn't enjoy this as much his Happyness book or movie, but it still contains helpful info wrapped in a nice story, and is well written.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

This relatively short book is a self-help book in the form of a story/memoir. The author, Chris Gardner, was the subject of the Will Smith movie The Pursuit of Happyness a few years ago. This book covers some of the material there, but also gives more about Gardner's childhood and life after the time of the movie. This book is in the form of a day-trip with his granddaughter where he tells her stories about his life and the lessons learned.
If you enjoy memoirs, as I do, this will be an uplifting book. Gardner is truly a self-made man and is an inspiring person to learn from about overcoming obstacles in life.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.