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Richie Frieman

Goodreads Author

Born

in Richmond, The United States

Website

https://www.RichieFrieman.com

Twitter

RichieFrieman

Genre

Memoir, Children's, Fiction

Member Since

July 2024

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/richiefrieman

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ABOUT RICHIE FRIEMAN:

St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Publishing dubbed Richie Frieman a "Modern Day Renaissance Man" due to a career that spans life as an author, illustrator, artist, etiquette expert, Modern Manners Guy, entrepreneur, cartoonist, and even a champion professional wrestler. He is the #1 best-selling and award-winning author and illustrator of eight books in multiple genres, with work being sold worldwide.

Frieman's current project is his upcoming debut memoir (and eighth book), The Optimistics, about his time following three men with Young Onset Dementia/Alzheimer's (all diagnosed in their 50s) who became best friends through their diagnosis. The men decided to call themselves the Optimistics and, as a result, has become a ABOUT RICHIE FRIEMAN:

St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Publishing dubbed Richie Frieman a "Modern Day Renaissance Man" due to a career that spans life as an author, illustrator, artist, etiquette expert, Modern Manners Guy, entrepreneur, cartoonist, and even a champion professional wrestler. He is the #1 best-selling and award-winning author and illustrator of eight books in multiple genres, with work being sold worldwide.

Frieman's current project is his upcoming debut memoir (and eighth book), The Optimistics, about his time following three men with Young Onset Dementia/Alzheimer's (all diagnosed in their 50s) who became best friends through their diagnosis. The men decided to call themselves the Optimistics and, as a result, has become a battle cry for hundreds of thousands across the country fighting Alzheimer's and dementia. In the book, Frieman interviews dozens of other Optimistics/their Care Partners who all had to answer, "How do you stay optimistic when facing a deadly illness?" Frieman is donating 25% of his profits to the Alzheimer's Association.

"The Optimistics" debuted as a #1 New Release in all three book categories: Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Friendship, and sold out of our initial print run in the first three hours. "The Optimistics" was also #2 overall about books on Alzheimer's.

Along with his writing, Frieman is a popular artist in the Baltimore community with his original crab art sculptures all across the city called, The Charm City Crab Art Project. Outside of the arts, Frieman was the Co-Founder/CEO of Brand U Sports, an innovative sports marketing firm dedicated to connecting brands with NCAA student athletes through brand ambassador programs for Name Image Likeness (NIL) sponsorships.

Over the years, Frieman's success has landed him on media outlets across the globe. He has appeared live on numerous radio and TV shows, including MSNBC, FOX News Entertainment, and Kwame Alexander's pilot for "America's Next Great Author." Frieman has also been featured in Time Magazine, Money Magazine, Newsweek, Yahoo, Martha Stewart, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Huffington Post, Fast Company, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Parade, Story Monsters Ink, and many more. ...more

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Hi Richie, I am fascinated about The Optimistics and look forward to reading it. What compelled you to tell their story and where/how did you hear about this group? Also, how are they doing since you wrote the book?

Richie Frieman What compelled you to tell their story and where/how did you hear about this group?

Thank you for your question, Liza! I am always excited to chat wit…moreWhat compelled you to tell their story and where/how did you hear about this group?

Thank you for your question, Liza! I am always excited to chat with readers of "The Optimistics" and those looking to learn about their journey.

What compelled me to tell the story of the individuals in "The Optimistics" was something I view now as a hidden calling waiting for me to discover. Call it fate, a religious awakening, or simply the fact that I uncovered a part of my soul that needed healing through the lessons of "The Optimistics."

My journey began in 2022. I attended the annual Walk To End Alzheimer's in Baltimore with a dear friend of mine, who, a few months prior, lost his father to a tumultuous battle with Alzheimer's. That day, I was not only walking for my friend's father, but I was also honoring my grandmother and my wife's grandmother as well. Since I was a child and watched my grandmother (my Bubbe) face Alzheimer's and dementia, the images of the disease have stayed with me. Yet, on that day, my entire purpose for attending the walk took my passion for raising awareness for Alzheimer's in a completely new direction.

During the opening ceremony, before the walk, various speakers presented the importance of the day. One person in particular, Dennis, moved the crowd with his openness, honesty, and, shockingly, his positivity around dementia. Two years prior, Dennis was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia (YOD), which affects people in their 40s to early 60s. At the time of diagnosis for YOD individuals, the majority of them have full careers, families, and responsibilities they plan to continue into their elder years. However, Alzheimer's doesn't play favorites. Its dark claws rip people from their full lives at will, leaving only depression, isolation, and questions in its wake—many, many questions.
How much time do I have left?
What will happen to my family?
When will I forget my loved ones and friends?
Also, what do I do now?
Dennis discussed how he felt lost and concerned for his future and his family's well-being after receiving the diagnosis. His feelings would change, though, when he attended a support group for YOD individuals called YES. There, Dennis met two men with YOD: Mike and Jim. Dennis told the crowd that it was because of Mike and Jim that he realized he was not alone anymore in his battle. The three men leaned on one another, cried together, and quickly went from strangers to brothers. Now, being able to find the beauty in living every moment to its fullest - for however long that may be - they dubbed themselves "The Optimistics" to show people there is hope, even when living with an incurable disease.

When Dennis left the stage, my mind kept telling me I had to hear more about The Optimistics. I did not know what I was searching for, yet as any writer will tell you, some events you witness have a more significant impact than others. I felt compelled to tell their story, almost as if my body was pushing me towards them with some strange mystical force; I had to search out the "Why?" of The Optimistics. I know that sounds bizarre, yet it is the only explanation that makes sense to me to this day.

I debated reaching out to Dennis for weeks. Finally, I saw his wife, Judi, on Facebook, and it turned out we had similar friends. Later, I learned that Dennis and Judi lived on the same street as my wife when she was a child. Their daughters, who are younger than me, went to the same high school as I did. Also, Dennis lived less than two miles from my house all this time. Again, call it a sign or simply the proper placement of us both, I took it as a positive notion I was in the right direction.

After reaching out to Judi on Facebook, I was able to talk to Mike and Jim, as well as their family members, about my vision to share their stories with the world. I had no idea where my time with The Optimistics would take me, yet I quickly realized their journey involves more than just the individual with YOD. Alzheimer's is a family disease that takes more than one household to survive.

Also, how are they doing since you wrote the book?

When people tell me the topic of Alzheimer's is scary and can be too emotional to read, I reply, "It is scary…but 'The Optimistics' is a love story." Yes, Alzheimer's ends in only one way; however, the beauty of compassion that occurs between diagnosis and death is beyond poetic. Throughout the entire process of writing "The Optimistics" and its release, this journey changed everyone involved. For me, I had a front seat to see people I now call family change by the day. So, "How are they doing?" is a question that gives a new answer with each day. There are good days and bad, yet as one care partner/spouse told me, "It's the little moments that matter most." Those tiny sparks in tender moments ignite a fire of hope in each family, which they work to keep burning.

Also, asking how they have been doing since I wrote the book is difficult due to one inevitable fact: no one pretends Alzheimer's has a happy ending.

With The Optimistics, death is not the elephant in the room; rather, it is a silent partner that sits beside an Alzheimer's individual at all times. Making peace with that notion, I knew that no matter how long it took me to write "The Optimistics," the majority of people in the book would not be able to properly appreciate how valuable their insight was due to Alzheimer's toll.

At first, I thought "The Optimistics" would be only a story about Dennis, Mike, and Jim. However, when I attended a YES! meeting with them a month or so later, I also met dozens of others living with YOD. Adults of all YOD age ranges, severity in their conditions, professional backgrounds, and religions saw in each other that they were not alone. I witnessed then that "The Optimistics" was not just a gathering—it was a movement.

When I left that first YES meeting, I cried in my car. I don't even remember for how long or who else may have seen me in the parking lot.

Not only did I feel the need to share Dennis, Mike, and Jim's stories, but I also had many more lives to showcase. As a result, I spent almost two years interviewing Dennis, Mike, and Jim, along with over seven dozen other care partners and YOD individuals. Each chapter is a new and unique story of a different YOD individual's true story of fighting the darkness of their diagnosis.

Everyone I spoke to changed differently over the years. It could be physical, such as their movements becoming slower and more delicate or some being unable to walk on their own. Some individuals had their speech altered so much that it stopped them from engaging with others entirely. Some people in "The Optimistics" went from high fives and hugs when I saw them to being unable to recognize my face or voice. Some, like Jim, now reside in an assisted living facility. And yes, I also witnessed individuals in The Optimistics leave this world way too soon. Less than 40 days after I interviewed a powerful young woman of 24 about her mother living with YOD, I received a call that her mother had passed away the night before.

I say this not to cast a shadow of doubt over the mantra of hope The Optimistics have created, yet as I said, we all know where Alzheimer's takes its victims. Knowing that point, I had to fight for them when they could no longer do so. I knew they would change, yet I did not expect such an immense change in me. From my view on parenthood to my career focus and my own take on optimism, The Optimistics transformed every aspect of my world.

I'm reminded of their impact on my life daily. On my desk, I keep three words written on a Post-It next to my computer. These words were what Dennis said to me in an email after we first met: "Time is important." Because of who they are - and their ability to face death in the eyes - it has made my mission to never go quiet about The Optimistics' journey. After all, Dennis was right: time is not only important but also only as valuable as you decide to make it.
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Average rating: 3.33 · 219 ratings · 49 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	REPLY ALL...and Other Ways to Tank Your Career: A Guide to Workplace Etiquette 3.09 avg rating — 158 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Where The Heart Left Off 4.19 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Optimistics 4.18 avg rating — 11 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Quick and Dirty Tips for Life After College by Mignon Fogarty (Goodreads Author), Monica Reinagel (Goodreads Author), Stever Robbins 2.82 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Maddy and Cole Vol. 1: The Food Truck Grand Prix 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Snowballs For Severance: The Terrifically True Story of Dane Best and the Snowball Ban 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Terple: Always Dream Bigger liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Terple (Terple The Turtle Book 1) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Reply all...and Other Ways to Tank Your Career 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Richie Frieman: Reply All... and Other Ways to Tank Your Career (Paperback); 2013 Edition by Richie Frieman (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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“The Assignment” is a cultural and literary wake-up call for how some areas of the education system in the US still openly tolerate bigotry. This is a story about heroes, and a fight that still goes on today, for communities constantly overlooked. Ye ...more
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Richie Frieman answered Liza Wiemer's question: Hi Richie, I am fascinated about The Optimistics and look forward to reading it. What compelled you to tell their story and where/how did you hear about this group? Also, how are they doing since you wrote the book? What compelled you to tell their story and where/how did you hear about this group? Thank you for your question, Liza! I am always excited to chat with readers of "The Optimistics" and those looking to learn about their journey. What compelled me to See Full Answer
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Richie Frieman rated a book it was amazing The Optimistics by Richie Frieman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Welcome to "The Optimistics"! I hope you enjoy my debut memoir, about the true story of three men, Dennis, Mike, and Jim, who were all diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia (YOD) in their 50s. To escape the isolation and depression of their diagnosis, ...more
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“It's time we rethink the idea that you can't balance being mannerly and being cool or current--as if one might necessarily exclude the other.”
― Richie Frieman

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“It's time we rethink the idea that you can't balance being mannerly and being cool or current--as if one might necessarily exclude the other.”
― Richie Frieman

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