THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

an autobiography  
By Chris Gardner  
Reviewed by Matthew Ujah-Peter                                                                                 

 This astounding true rags-to-riches story of a man who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crowned prince of Wall Street will surely put electric charge in your nerves. This is the book on which the movie The Pursuit of Happiness - starring Will and Jaden Smith - was based.

Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s grew up in the midst of poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner lived with his Bettye Jean Triplett but never knew his father as a child. His mother taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart a path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.

Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and after discharge moved to San Francisco where he worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific supply distributor. Determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., in 1981, Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”

Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Gardner later earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary.....

START WHERE YOU ARE:
A motivational book by Chris Gardner. Life Lessons In Getting From Where you are to Get to Where You Want To Be. 

Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on  the of determination, focus and hard work and to show that the harsh and tough realities of life do not have to define you. 

The movie: Puruit of Happyness, starring Willsmith and Jaden Smith