260 pages
"What makes a happy person, a happy life? In this remarkable book, George Dawson, a 101-year-old man who learned to read when he was 98, reflects on the philosophy he learned from his father--a belief that 'life is so good'--as he offers valuable lessons in living and a fresh, firsthand view of America during the twentieth century.
Born in 1898 in Marshall, Texas, the grandson of slaves, George Dawson tells how his father, despite hardships, always believed in seeing the richness in life and trained his children to do the same. As a boy, George had to go to work to help support his family, and so he did not attend school or learn to read; yet he describes how he learned to read the world and survive in it. 'We make our own way,' he says. 'Trouble is out there, but a person can leave it alone and just do the right thing. Then, if trouble still finds you, you've done the best you can.'
At ninety-eight, George decided to learn to read and enrolled in a literacy program, becoming a celebrated student. 'Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day. You just never know.' In Life Is So Good, he shares wisdom on everything from parenting ('With children, you got to raise them. Some parents these days are growing children, not raising them') to attitude ('People worry too much. Life is good, just the way it is').
Richard Glaubman captures George Dawson's irresistible voice and view of the world, offering insights into humanity, history, and America--eyewitness impressions of segregation, changes in human relations, the wars and the presidents, inventions such as the car and the airplane, and much, much more. And throughout his story, George Dawson inspires the reader with his message that sustained him happily for more than a century: 'Life is so good. I do believe it's getting better.'" -Dust Jacket
George Dawson is an amazing example of a quiet, gentle, hard-working, humble man who lived his life trying to treat people with respect and do the right thing. His story is entertaining, enlightening and informative. I loved his simple approach to life, family, and values, but especially his approach to work. He had a lot of common sense and didn't complain about the hard things in his life though he easily could have; he just accepted them and kept going.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Most folks, if they saw a rattler, and had a gun, they would try and shoot it. People always say that it tastes like chicken. But I swear some folks will say anything tastes like chicken. No one ever says that a chicken tastes like a rattlesnake, though. Go figure that one." -Page 22
(Talking about Bonnie & Clyde) "Nowadays, a lot of people say they were heroes. I hear there was even a movie about them. But I didn't see it; don't generally go to movies. I guess they gave some of that bank money to the poor, but they killed some people and scared a lot more. That's wrong. The Bible tells that straight off. They weren't no heroes. They were famous all right, but they weren't no heroes." -Page 198-199
"I even have some pictures from when me and Mr. Henry went to NASA for something about pioneers of this century. There are some senators and politicians in the pictures with us. Nobody ever noticed me before, but everyone wants to see me now. They showed me and Mr. Henry around. We saw some big rocket ships like the ones that go into outer space. They say that someday people might even live up there. Not me. I don't think it's going to work for people. God didn't make us to have wings. People fly in airplanes, but living on other planets, that's something else. They even gave me a picture of Mars. It's got poor-looking soil and it's too rocky to grow anything. Maybe they plan to bring food with them. Even so, I just don't see it. A man will come out on the front porch and there won't be nothing to do." -Page 232
There is also some great parenting advice but too much to quote. This is a feel-good book with some sound advice and important life lessons. I love books about real people whose lives inspire me to live better. George Dawson's does just that. I smiled, laughed, and cried. I love when that happens.
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