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17 Cents & a Dream: My Incredible Journey from the USSR to Living the American Dream
“Through pure determination, fortitude and attitude, Daniel pulled out of impossibly difficult situations. His story is true, his story is a personal inspiration to me and I hope it will inspire you too to maximize your potential and go for the greatest of dreams.” - Mark Victor Hansen, Bestselling Author, Chicken Soup for the Soul.
“Powerful and inspiring, Daniel Milstein’s story is a testament to following your dreams and never taking no for an answer.” - Seth Green Actor, Writer/Director
On a cold December night in 1991, a young boy with seventeen cents in his pocket first set foot in the United States. Twenty years later that young man found himself the founder and CEO of a Multi-Million dollar corporation. Daniel Milstein’s harrowing story about how his mother, father and brother escaped the oppressive government of the U.S.S.R and immigrated to the United States and carved out a life for themselves has been described as the quintessential immigrant story of the era.
17 Cents and a Dream begins with a candid, gripping account of the Milstein family’s tough life in Kiev, Ukraine under the oppressive government of the former Soviet Union. He recalls how he and his family were affected by the 1986 explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant: Daniel was ten years old, and the disaster took place only 78 miles from their home, killing 100,000 people and spreading poisonous radiation throughout the environment. A few years later the family, struggling against poverty, government oppression, and anti-Semitism, made a secret plan to flee to America. After a narrow escape, the family arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan with no understanding of English and few belongings. Young Daniel had only seventeen cents in his pocket, given to him by a friend to cover the cost of a postage stamp so Daniel could send him a letter. In the ensuing years, Daniel endured extreme poverty, endless hunger, relentless bullying from his new classmates, and cruel mistreatment while working long hours mopping floors and cleaning toilets.
“The never-ending sense of hunger in the pit of my stomach,” he writes, “became a part of me and manifested into the drive to do more, to be more, so my family could eat without worry.”
That hunger, plus the work ethic instilled in him by his grandfather, fueled Milstein’s determination; after graduating from college, he worked for various financial institutions and was consistently promoted because of his strong work ethic.
But perhaps most inspiring is Milstein’s courage and sheer willpower as he began to build upon his success in the world of finance, working harder and longer than anyone else until eventually opening and growing his own multimillion-dollar company, Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group.
"17 Cents and a Dream: My Incredible Journey from the USSR to Living the American Dream" is both a true American success story and a manual for anyone who dreams of becoming successful in today’s competitive world of finance and sales.
DANIEL MILSTEIN is founder, president and CEO of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group. He has been recognized as the #1 loan officer in the United States; has achieved more than $3 billion in personal mortgage originations; and is one of the top 40 finance professionals in the nation, ranked by National Mortgage Professional Magazine. Milstein led the company to the Inc 500 list and one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. Gold Star has over 500 employees in 43 offices across the U.S. and has been named a Top Workplace in Michigan for three years by the Detroit Free Press. Milstein holds an honorary doctorate and BBA in business management from Cleary University, Ann Arbor, from which he graduated with honors. He is the author of The ABC of Sales: Lessons from a Superstar, which in March 2012 sold 10,000 copies and became the #1 sales book on Amazon.com and the thirty-first top seller of all ebook sales.
“Powerful and inspiring, Daniel Milstein’s story is a testament to following your dreams and never taking no for an answer.” - Seth Green Actor, Writer/Director
On a cold December night in 1991, a young boy with seventeen cents in his pocket first set foot in the United States. Twenty years later that young man found himself the founder and CEO of a Multi-Million dollar corporation. Daniel Milstein’s harrowing story about how his mother, father and brother escaped the oppressive government of the U.S.S.R and immigrated to the United States and carved out a life for themselves has been described as the quintessential immigrant story of the era.
17 Cents and a Dream begins with a candid, gripping account of the Milstein family’s tough life in Kiev, Ukraine under the oppressive government of the former Soviet Union. He recalls how he and his family were affected by the 1986 explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant: Daniel was ten years old, and the disaster took place only 78 miles from their home, killing 100,000 people and spreading poisonous radiation throughout the environment. A few years later the family, struggling against poverty, government oppression, and anti-Semitism, made a secret plan to flee to America. After a narrow escape, the family arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan with no understanding of English and few belongings. Young Daniel had only seventeen cents in his pocket, given to him by a friend to cover the cost of a postage stamp so Daniel could send him a letter. In the ensuing years, Daniel endured extreme poverty, endless hunger, relentless bullying from his new classmates, and cruel mistreatment while working long hours mopping floors and cleaning toilets.
“The never-ending sense of hunger in the pit of my stomach,” he writes, “became a part of me and manifested into the drive to do more, to be more, so my family could eat without worry.”
That hunger, plus the work ethic instilled in him by his grandfather, fueled Milstein’s determination; after graduating from college, he worked for various financial institutions and was consistently promoted because of his strong work ethic.
But perhaps most inspiring is Milstein’s courage and sheer willpower as he began to build upon his success in the world of finance, working harder and longer than anyone else until eventually opening and growing his own multimillion-dollar company, Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group.
"17 Cents and a Dream: My Incredible Journey from the USSR to Living the American Dream" is both a true American success story and a manual for anyone who dreams of becoming successful in today’s competitive world of finance and sales.
DANIEL MILSTEIN is founder, president and CEO of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group. He has been recognized as the #1 loan officer in the United States; has achieved more than $3 billion in personal mortgage originations; and is one of the top 40 finance professionals in the nation, ranked by National Mortgage Professional Magazine. Milstein led the company to the Inc 500 list and one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. Gold Star has over 500 employees in 43 offices across the U.S. and has been named a Top Workplace in Michigan for three years by the Detroit Free Press. Milstein holds an honorary doctorate and BBA in business management from Cleary University, Ann Arbor, from which he graduated with honors. He is the author of The ABC of Sales: Lessons from a Superstar, which in March 2012 sold 10,000 copies and became the #1 sales book on Amazon.com and the thirty-first top seller of all ebook sales.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
60 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 29, 2013
“Through pure determination, fortitude, and attitude, Daniel” has become “the No. 1 mortgage loan officer in the world,” says Mark Victor Hansen in his introduction to Daniel Milstein’s short work 17 cents and a dream. Which makes me start reading the book with a serious feeling of yes, but. On the back cover Matthew Roslin describes the book as “a blueprint for success that any motivated professional can follow.” But the author himself writes of earlier mentors and friends, “I owe my success as much to them as I do to my natural born family,” and describes how his “natural talent for sales” would not have been enough without “the human touch.”
17 cents and a dream adds a little of that human touch to the author’s success, describing his loss of his grandfather to the aftermath of Chernobyl, his flight from the Ukraine and the persecution of Jews, and his family’s struggles to keep food on the table and clothes on the children’s backs when they first arrived in America. Driven to succeed, determined to help support his family, Daniel takes whatever jobs he can find and does his best, but a lucky entry into finance opens doors and sales become his passion. Succeeding beyond most people’s wildest dreams, he wonders how his grandfather would feel and remembers happiness and family come first--I end up wondering what else, or who else, the author has lost on his way.
This book contains some wise aphorisms, most notably always to be the best “me” I can be. And the author’s personal experience (briefly told) of American prejudice, teen cruelty, the mockery of fellow employees and the impersonal rejection of teachers lends balance to an initially idealized view of an almost perfect America. Perhaps the US is not the “only” place where rags can turn to riches (as advertized in the book), but Daniel Milstein’s rags certainly did and his writing brooks no disagreement. Perhaps dreams do come true for the fortunately talented and lucky, though clearly not for all, and perhaps the author’s daughter really can live here without fear of prejudice, though I'm others can’t (and even she appears only as a cipher in a tale that never mentions marriage or a mother). America isn’t perfect though, and the story’s progression gives a more honest view than its earlier chapters—a human tale of one man misfortune followed by hard work and good luck, and not a blueprint for success after all.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book as part of its recent promotion.
July 18, 2018
I thought this was a very good an interesting book. I really have a hard time describing how I feel about it but in a good way. When you are growing up and you hear about a disaster in another country you don't really know how it affects people. After reading Daniel's story of going through Chernobyl - I just can't imagine. Then after reading what his life was like and the things he had endured really makes you thankful for what you do have and have had in your life. We take a lot for granted in our country. Reading this book also proves that if you really want something and you work hard enough you can achieve it.
December 28, 2023
This was okay for me. It was a good story but I didn’t fully engage with the author, either because size of the writing style or the “I’m so great” theme. The parts about his life in the USSR and his McDonalds stint were interesting to me, but other parts were just average in my opinion.
January 21, 2013
Having worked hard to overcome the challenges of coming from abroad and facing the seemingly unsurmountable challenges of a radically different culture, I find it easy to appreciate the hunger for success, and the incredible drive it takes to achieve it in spite of all the difficulties you find at each step of the way. "Everything was different; the food, the clothing, and even the 33 letters of the alphabet I was used to." But as hinted by the title, 17 Cents and a Dream, this book presents much more than the author's advice as the No. 1 mortgage loan officer in the world to "work smart and aim high"; and much more than a self-serving description of his struggle to the top.
At its core, this book frames Daniel Milstein's life as a link in a three-generation chain, coming full circle with the past. It is about the preparation for his life journey, which Daniel Milstein received from his hero, his grandfather who died from radiation poisoning after the Chernobyl accident in the USSR, Dr. Joseph Khiterer. This preparation set a dream before the author's eyes, and braced him with sheer grit to reach for it. At the same time it is about dedicating his journey to his daughter Julie, whom he lovingly describes as a girl with chocolate eyes, and with a scent of candy, soap, and innocence that warms his heart.
On the day he left the USSR as a youth, Daniel Milstein had in his pocket the sum of seventeen cents that a friend had given him for postage to mail a letter back. By holding to that 'fortune' he was taking a risk. If caught, he could have faced serious repercussions. When it was his turn to undergo the inspection, the seventeen cents jingled just slightly as the officer patted him down. The officer paused--but then let Daniel and his family board the plane.
By the end of the narration, the author finds himself placing an order at the MacDonald's cash register, a place all too familiar to him for having mopped the floors there so many years ago. It is there that he is faced with a familiar face: Roger, his boss at that establishment, who stayed stuck in that position while Daniel climbed on to success. It is when Roger hands the change, that the amount becomes symbolic of the journey.
Seventeen Cents.
This is an uplifting book that offers inspiration. Some minor editing is needed (such as the use of 'me' and myself' instead of 'I' in a couple of places.)
Five stars.
At its core, this book frames Daniel Milstein's life as a link in a three-generation chain, coming full circle with the past. It is about the preparation for his life journey, which Daniel Milstein received from his hero, his grandfather who died from radiation poisoning after the Chernobyl accident in the USSR, Dr. Joseph Khiterer. This preparation set a dream before the author's eyes, and braced him with sheer grit to reach for it. At the same time it is about dedicating his journey to his daughter Julie, whom he lovingly describes as a girl with chocolate eyes, and with a scent of candy, soap, and innocence that warms his heart.
On the day he left the USSR as a youth, Daniel Milstein had in his pocket the sum of seventeen cents that a friend had given him for postage to mail a letter back. By holding to that 'fortune' he was taking a risk. If caught, he could have faced serious repercussions. When it was his turn to undergo the inspection, the seventeen cents jingled just slightly as the officer patted him down. The officer paused--but then let Daniel and his family board the plane.
By the end of the narration, the author finds himself placing an order at the MacDonald's cash register, a place all too familiar to him for having mopped the floors there so many years ago. It is there that he is faced with a familiar face: Roger, his boss at that establishment, who stayed stuck in that position while Daniel climbed on to success. It is when Roger hands the change, that the amount becomes symbolic of the journey.
Seventeen Cents.
This is an uplifting book that offers inspiration. Some minor editing is needed (such as the use of 'me' and myself' instead of 'I' in a couple of places.)
Five stars.
January 28, 2013
Although this book was not as introspective as I would have expected for a memoir, in some ways I thought that made it better. Rather than wasting time on mundane details of his everyday life, Daniel Milstein has taken the opportunity in writing this book to not just offer his readers a simple rags to riches story, but to really express his disbelief and gratitude for his life in America and the chance at a prosperous career that he has taken full advantage of.
While reading his story, I was reminded that not all of us are lucky enough to simply be born, go to school, continue our education in college and move into our place in this world. I liked the raw way he spoke of his earlier life. I found the voice he has written this in to be personable and easy to appreciate. I never got the opinion that the author was bragging, simply sharing his story for others to appreciate.
This book was a relatively short read, but I thought it had a lot of substance. There are also photos included in this memoir, which I thought added to the human element of this work. I would encourage others to pick up a copy of this book. It might make you think about the success we achieve as Americans, and how we tend to forget that when things don't go exactly as planned. I liked it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. There was no further compensation and my opinions are my own.
While reading his story, I was reminded that not all of us are lucky enough to simply be born, go to school, continue our education in college and move into our place in this world. I liked the raw way he spoke of his earlier life. I found the voice he has written this in to be personable and easy to appreciate. I never got the opinion that the author was bragging, simply sharing his story for others to appreciate.
This book was a relatively short read, but I thought it had a lot of substance. There are also photos included in this memoir, which I thought added to the human element of this work. I would encourage others to pick up a copy of this book. It might make you think about the success we achieve as Americans, and how we tend to forget that when things don't go exactly as planned. I liked it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. There was no further compensation and my opinions are my own.
May 18, 2013
A quick good read. read this on my e-reader.Kindle. Daniel Milstein wrote a fine memoir of his life so far.Daniel lived in Kiev until he was 17 his family were victims of Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. he saw the results of that with his own family and townspeople. his grandfather ended up dying for complications of the radioactive poison. his family struggled in Kiev very poor not enough to eat. at 17 they found a way to escape and come to America. his family ended up in Michigan. a small apartment for his family of five. Daniel spoke no english and had little to eat even with food stamps it was not enough. he went to high school in Ann Arbor and soon got a job at McDonald eventually with hard work got offered manager. soon after he got a job at a bank wanting to learn and earn more money he worked his way up. and learned about lending in banks eventually he was so successful he ended up one of the top lenders in the country.he is now a millionaire is boss over 500 employees at only 37. a good rags to riches book and a true one. good for Daniel showing that hard work and determination can lead to success.I am from Michigan myself. so liked reading about a person who ended up in Michigan.
February 22, 2013
"17 Cents and Dream" was a First Reads win that I was especially interested in because the author is a fellow Ann Arbor resident. While our paths have never crossed, the author's personal story of his boyhood in Kiev and his family's immigration to the United States kept my attention. What resonates throughout this book is the author's sheer determination to be successful in whatever work he could find, not only for his own sake but for the sake of his family as well.
Told very simply, the author's successful career is a powerful story. I am glad that he wrote this book and shared his experiences. He has much to be proud of.
Told very simply, the author's successful career is a powerful story. I am glad that he wrote this book and shared his experiences. He has much to be proud of.
March 14, 2013
I received a copy of 17 Cents and a Dream through the First Reads program.
This is a simple yet uplifting book. Milstein surprisingly skips a lot of autobiographical details, which is odd for a memoir, and focuses primarily on his message of inspiration. If you're looking for a straight memoir, you'll be disappointed.
It's sappy at times, but even as someone who tends to cringe at that, I still enjoyed it. It's hard not to root for Milstein. It's worth a read, but don't expect it to blow you away.
This is a simple yet uplifting book. Milstein surprisingly skips a lot of autobiographical details, which is odd for a memoir, and focuses primarily on his message of inspiration. If you're looking for a straight memoir, you'll be disappointed.
It's sappy at times, but even as someone who tends to cringe at that, I still enjoyed it. It's hard not to root for Milstein. It's worth a read, but don't expect it to blow you away.
May 1, 2013
Autobiography of a young man whose family was impacted by Chernobyl and life in the Ukraine. They came to Ann Arbor, Michigan while he and his younger brother were young students. Poor, couldn't speak English, no work .... He took on the task of supporting the family as a janitor for McDonald's while in high school. An amazing chronicle of his determination and courage to do what it takes to follow his dream to financial and personal success.
January 20, 2013
It was a privilege working on this remarkable story. If you feel like you're being beat down and your dream is impossible to reach, then you have to read this book.
November 24, 2013
This book shows the true grit of an immigrant/refugee from the Soviet Union who was able to succeed without ever forgetting his values.
November 30, 2019
I love stories by and/or about people who started with absolutely nothing and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. The author's parents moved the family from the Ukraine to the U.S. when Daniel was a teen and so - at that very difficult social age when kids can be so mean - he arrived in Michigan with one suitcase and 17 cents his friend gave him in order to send a letter to this friend in the Ukraine. Unable to communicate in English, with not the best wardrobe, and not the best home, Daniel's path to success, starting from cleaning toilets in McDonald's, to running his own nationwide company, is so inspirational. For anyone who says they can't achieve their dreams for lack of money or lack of time or lack of breeding or lack of... whatever... this is a story that proves that anyone's determination can overcome the humblest of beginnings. It's a very fast and easy read. I really enjoyed his story.
April 15, 2020
Daniel Milstein's story is interesting and it is a true rags to riches saga. The book was not well written and it was not an autobiography. It is interesting to read about the pre 1990's USSR and the communist regime that Milstein lived under. He has an interesting story to tell and I'm glad he told it. This is a quick read.
February 5, 2020
Inspiring
The story of Daniel Milstein is a study in what hard work and dedication can lead to especially in a place like the United States. It has inspired me to take some strategic risks and work ever harder to see dreams fulfilled.
The story of Daniel Milstein is a study in what hard work and dedication can lead to especially in a place like the United States. It has inspired me to take some strategic risks and work ever harder to see dreams fulfilled.
July 26, 2020
I like Dan's really direct and unsophisticated way of retelling - because I found it actually authentic. Dan reminds us of some of the fundamental values that we grew up with that sometimes get lost in contemporary way of life.
July 18, 2021
It is an inspiring story...a touch hyperbolic at times, and seemingly not much appreciation for the capitalistic society that contributed to his success -- and supplied the food stamps!
January 14, 2025
inspiring
Hard work, willingness to listen to others, flexibility, resilience, determination, humility
Great lessons if we are willing to learn from this account
Hard work, willingness to listen to others, flexibility, resilience, determination, humility
Great lessons if we are willing to learn from this account
March 6, 2013
April 26, 1986 an explosion tore through the Nuclear Power Plant at Chernobyl and, as it did for hundreds of thousands of others, ripped through the life of a young boy named Daniel Milstein. The long range impact of this explosion has yet to be measured, and probably won't be for generations. How it changed the life of young Daniel can be measured in this notable work of a young man who came here to the States with 17 cents in his pocket.
Leaving that country at that time was a treacherous undertaking; never knowing if, or when, the officials would intervene, crunching hopes, dreams, lives in their grip. It brings to mind the emotions of our veterans of Viet Nam, holding their collective breath, waiting for that Freedom Bird to be airborne.
Yet the veterans were going home. The Milstein family was leaving behind all they knew; their deep roots in a city founded in 882 when the Varangians, or Vikings, moved the capital city of Novgorod to Kiev to free it from under the hegemony of the Khazars. It is a city that lived through the Einsatzgruppen slaughters at Babi Yar,
Kiev had played a major role in Russian history; the very name Rus coming from the term for the Vikings. It was the only world young Daniel knew. To leave it meant giving up home, and passports; truly a move of no return.
The Milstein family took the chance at emigration and were fortunate to make it out from under the thumb of oppression, radiation, food shortages.
They came here. They found it a hard go, taking much time to get on their feet financially; using a $ 125 a month food stamp allocation to try to survive, the mother walking miles in the cold of winter to find sales on left over foods; Daniel existing on mainly bananas, shuddering with the torments of others his age who are so often so quick to be vicious, uncaring, and unsympathetic, masking their own inadequacies.
There is usually the kind of young person who would, and did, steal Daniel's bananas. Ironically, those are the ones who often meet pay back in most unfortunate, but seemingly unconsciously, sought after ways.
Yet, for Daniel, there were extremely important motivators in his life. Anyone who has ever seen Gone With the Wind will never forget Katie Scarlet's “...I will never be hungry again...” on the earth of the plantation. Daniel had such motivation for his family, and for himself.
He also had something so deep rooted that one day he would return to Kiev for a very special reunion for both himself and his family.
He had a grandfather such as I did. Mine was not from Kiev, but from Armenia, but like Daniel's one whose love, whose courage, whose belief in us, has, and will continue to cross the bridges of time, death, and love.
From the Golden Arches of McDonald's, his scepter a mop, whose crook and flail were found in cleaning up, in manning the drive up window no matter how much cold air seeped in-and I wonder if that cold air has ever come to mind as we do the drive up orders-to lugging tires weighing more than him; to applying for a life changing position in a tee shirt and flip flops, we follow Daniel's bid for a place as king of his own economic sun.
But there is more to the story; a part of Daniel's tale that had to be taught him by a woman named Gail whose greatest attributes were compassion and communication. Those two attributes are part of what I call the Three C's: compassion, communication, and creativity.
How Daniel overcame all obstacles from radiation to rejection is an American Tale; one most of us still believe in despite those who would take away our opportunity to generate it.
But it is more than that. Daniel and his family's journey here reminds us of Emma's words:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
It should also remind us that, unless we are of Native American stock, we are all descendants of immigrants; immigrants who were once disparaged, abused, branded with quite non-complimentary names. Perhaps this is something of which we need to be reminded. Perhaps we need to look at the real history of the Southwest and it might give us a more compassionate view of those who want to cross borders we made under not quite want to write home to mom about means.
Although our Native Americans were here first, we still treat them as less than us; something else we need to give serious thought to.
Read 17 Cents and a Dream and ask yourself do you have what Daniel does; could you have made the dream coming from radioactive air and food, leaving behind all, with 17 cents to your name, a 'stranger in a strange land'?
If the answer gives you pause, help someone with a language problem to find their way. Do it today. If someone in a uniform looks lost, tired, war weary, say hello, extend a hand, a hug. We are all human. We all need to know that someone gives a d....
February 21, 2013
First formalities..I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.~ ok
Daniel Milstein's 17 Cents and a Dream was an amazing true story of someone who is "living the American Dream". I put that in quotes, because I, like many other people born in America, take for granted what we have here, and don't realize the opportunities that are here, if we want them enough, and are willing to work hard for them.
I think one of the reasons I liked his story, more than others I have read, is because most others I've read, all talk about a family and how they struggled for their American born children. Usually told by one of the children, or even the grandchild of an immigrant. While those stories are inspirational, I found this one more so.
Here, Daniel tells of his home of Kiev and living in the USSR. He clearly remembers his home country, and how living was there. He personally knows just what it was like, how terrifying it could be, how unbelievably cruel their government was. He knew what his life would be like if they stayed there. He knew the consequences if his family had gotten caught leaving. It is that aspect of the book, I feel, that made more of an impact than others. Most children of immigrants know what their parents/grandparents etc went through, and I would like to think that most of them all see the opportunities that lie in the U.S. versus where they came from, but I don't think, however, that they can truly understand just how bad it can be, without actually living it themselves.
Daniel walked us through some of the most terrifying moments of his life before leaving the USSR. I believe that Daniel, through his courage, determination, and the support of his family, had more ambition to make something of the opportunities offered here, BECAUSE he lived through it.
If more people born in the States realized honestly and truly how bad it could be, if more people had the ambition to make something of themselves, that they could be just as successful as Daniel Milstein. If people here in the States realized what they had here, and quit taking everything for granted, I don't think we would have the 'problems' they think we have here. We have the freedom to work where we choose, marry who we love, worship how ever we want to worship. We have food that we throw out - daily, that can feed small countries whose people don't get to eat daily. We have cars, running water, electricity, cable & satellite tv programs, cell phones, boats, homes, books, tablets, microwaves, washers and driers, etc. ... all of which there are people in the world that don't have those choices, and don't even know that some of those things exist.
Daniel's story is that of a pure, determined child who strives to make a life for his family, and himself, and it's heartwarming, to know he understands what most of us have forgotten, and that's that the United States is one of the best places to live, where your dreams can come true.
While I loved this book and his story, I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 just because I believe he should have put more of his struggles into his story. This book is very uplifting, and makes you smile at all his accomplishments, but the only thing he really talks about as a struggle is overcoming the language barrier, taking ridicule from his co-workers and peers, and proving people who said he couldn't do it wrong. I'm sure there's more to the story, and I would love to have heard it all.
Daniel Milstein's 17 Cents and a Dream was an amazing true story of someone who is "living the American Dream". I put that in quotes, because I, like many other people born in America, take for granted what we have here, and don't realize the opportunities that are here, if we want them enough, and are willing to work hard for them.
I think one of the reasons I liked his story, more than others I have read, is because most others I've read, all talk about a family and how they struggled for their American born children. Usually told by one of the children, or even the grandchild of an immigrant. While those stories are inspirational, I found this one more so.
Here, Daniel tells of his home of Kiev and living in the USSR. He clearly remembers his home country, and how living was there. He personally knows just what it was like, how terrifying it could be, how unbelievably cruel their government was. He knew what his life would be like if they stayed there. He knew the consequences if his family had gotten caught leaving. It is that aspect of the book, I feel, that made more of an impact than others. Most children of immigrants know what their parents/grandparents etc went through, and I would like to think that most of them all see the opportunities that lie in the U.S. versus where they came from, but I don't think, however, that they can truly understand just how bad it can be, without actually living it themselves.
Daniel walked us through some of the most terrifying moments of his life before leaving the USSR. I believe that Daniel, through his courage, determination, and the support of his family, had more ambition to make something of the opportunities offered here, BECAUSE he lived through it.
If more people born in the States realized honestly and truly how bad it could be, if more people had the ambition to make something of themselves, that they could be just as successful as Daniel Milstein. If people here in the States realized what they had here, and quit taking everything for granted, I don't think we would have the 'problems' they think we have here. We have the freedom to work where we choose, marry who we love, worship how ever we want to worship. We have food that we throw out - daily, that can feed small countries whose people don't get to eat daily. We have cars, running water, electricity, cable & satellite tv programs, cell phones, boats, homes, books, tablets, microwaves, washers and driers, etc. ... all of which there are people in the world that don't have those choices, and don't even know that some of those things exist.
Daniel's story is that of a pure, determined child who strives to make a life for his family, and himself, and it's heartwarming, to know he understands what most of us have forgotten, and that's that the United States is one of the best places to live, where your dreams can come true.
While I loved this book and his story, I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 just because I believe he should have put more of his struggles into his story. This book is very uplifting, and makes you smile at all his accomplishments, but the only thing he really talks about as a struggle is overcoming the language barrier, taking ridicule from his co-workers and peers, and proving people who said he couldn't do it wrong. I'm sure there's more to the story, and I would love to have heard it all.
January 29, 2013
3.5 stars and counting
Pros
This is a riveting story detailing the life of Dan Milstein and his family, who endured and survived Communist Occupied Russia. After the disaster at Chernobyl, his parents realize it is time to "strike out" and pursue their dreams in a new world: America. Why is this so important?
For those of us who have studied history, it wasn't just the Germans who held a deep distrust and hatred for the "Jewish Race." The Russians weren't as thorough as the Nazis in disposing of Jews, but the pogroms they instituted on the Jews were just as brutal and vicious. Dan's family has survived the battles of racial hatred, German occupation, the holocaust and now, a new breed of civil unrest. Somehow the Jews were responsible for the ills of the failing Russian economy and the Chernobly Nuclear implosion.
You just thought you endured hardships in your life.
Dan and his family finally find themselves on a plane headed for the land of "Milk and Honey." Or is it? America is the land of opportunity with no limits set. What do they find when they arrive? A hostile unfamiliar land. Dan finds himself wishing to be back in Kiev and wondering if his families decision to leave Russia was such a good one. Well, after much ridicule and badgering at high school, Dan is hired by McDonalds at minimum wage and does what many of us "Americans" don't do; he embraces the job and strives to be the best employee the company ever hired. Does he succeed? You'll have to read the book or Google his name for that answer.
The bottom line of the story is, life is what you make of it. You can complain about your circumstances or you can strike out, work hard, and take advantage of every opportunity (not matter how larger or small) comes your way.
Cons
There are some chronological issues that don't add up at times. I'm not going to list them as they don't detract from the story, but if you are a real historian, you will be tripped-up a few times and be scratching your head. A few minor formatting issues, but easily overlooked.
Overall, this is a great book for those of us who believe life has passed us by. It's never too late to work hard and pursue you dreams!
Pros
This is a riveting story detailing the life of Dan Milstein and his family, who endured and survived Communist Occupied Russia. After the disaster at Chernobyl, his parents realize it is time to "strike out" and pursue their dreams in a new world: America. Why is this so important?
For those of us who have studied history, it wasn't just the Germans who held a deep distrust and hatred for the "Jewish Race." The Russians weren't as thorough as the Nazis in disposing of Jews, but the pogroms they instituted on the Jews were just as brutal and vicious. Dan's family has survived the battles of racial hatred, German occupation, the holocaust and now, a new breed of civil unrest. Somehow the Jews were responsible for the ills of the failing Russian economy and the Chernobly Nuclear implosion.
You just thought you endured hardships in your life.
Dan and his family finally find themselves on a plane headed for the land of "Milk and Honey." Or is it? America is the land of opportunity with no limits set. What do they find when they arrive? A hostile unfamiliar land. Dan finds himself wishing to be back in Kiev and wondering if his families decision to leave Russia was such a good one. Well, after much ridicule and badgering at high school, Dan is hired by McDonalds at minimum wage and does what many of us "Americans" don't do; he embraces the job and strives to be the best employee the company ever hired. Does he succeed? You'll have to read the book or Google his name for that answer.
The bottom line of the story is, life is what you make of it. You can complain about your circumstances or you can strike out, work hard, and take advantage of every opportunity (not matter how larger or small) comes your way.
Cons
There are some chronological issues that don't add up at times. I'm not going to list them as they don't detract from the story, but if you are a real historian, you will be tripped-up a few times and be scratching your head. A few minor formatting issues, but easily overlooked.
Overall, this is a great book for those of us who believe life has passed us by. It's never too late to work hard and pursue you dreams!
December 20, 2014
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads program (what a fantastic program that is!). What I enjoyed about the book was hearing a perspective of history that isn't often found in American history books; Milstein offered us an insider's view of Soviet Russia shortly after the Chernobyl accident (April 26, 1986). His story revealed another facet of anti-Semitism that I didn't realize existed outside of Nazi Germany.
I'm sure it is challenging to share your personal story with others when it depicts a life of poverty and degradation. I appreciate Milstein allowing us a peek into what his family's life was like in Kiev, as well as when they were new immigrants to the United States. It was refreshing to hear someone speak of the monotonous janitorial work with such respect and as a launching point for greater opportunities down the road.
However, at times Milstein's humble beginnings were outshone by his lavish contemporary lifestyle and his great entrepreunurial successes. If you miss the fact that Daniel Milstein is the #1`residential lender in the world by the time you reach the last page, then I'm guessing you weren't reading very closely.
Perhaps it's a cultural difference or maybe it's just a personality difference, but the sweet tableau of visiting your dearly beloved grandfather's tomb is wiped clean and replaced by the self-promoting accolades of winning awards and giving millions to charity. Pehaps, though, it's simply his honest feelings that Daniel Milstein chose to share with us. I just know the content was, at times, contrary to what we're taught to say (write) about ourselves--a little too self-admiring, if you will. I could generally rationalize away his boastful tone by reminding myself what he had to go through to achieve such success and by recalling that he also acknowledged his business failures, as well.
Regardless, it was an interesting look at one person's journey through poverty and plenty of humiliating experiences and into a life of huge financial success. It's a good "airplane" book--a quick and easy read.
I'm sure it is challenging to share your personal story with others when it depicts a life of poverty and degradation. I appreciate Milstein allowing us a peek into what his family's life was like in Kiev, as well as when they were new immigrants to the United States. It was refreshing to hear someone speak of the monotonous janitorial work with such respect and as a launching point for greater opportunities down the road.
However, at times Milstein's humble beginnings were outshone by his lavish contemporary lifestyle and his great entrepreunurial successes. If you miss the fact that Daniel Milstein is the #1`residential lender in the world by the time you reach the last page, then I'm guessing you weren't reading very closely.
Perhaps it's a cultural difference or maybe it's just a personality difference, but the sweet tableau of visiting your dearly beloved grandfather's tomb is wiped clean and replaced by the self-promoting accolades of winning awards and giving millions to charity. Pehaps, though, it's simply his honest feelings that Daniel Milstein chose to share with us. I just know the content was, at times, contrary to what we're taught to say (write) about ourselves--a little too self-admiring, if you will. I could generally rationalize away his boastful tone by reminding myself what he had to go through to achieve such success and by recalling that he also acknowledged his business failures, as well.
Regardless, it was an interesting look at one person's journey through poverty and plenty of humiliating experiences and into a life of huge financial success. It's a good "airplane" book--a quick and easy read.
January 26, 2013
Daniel Milstein is a very successful business executive, author, and CEO of a 500 of a company named to the Inc. 500. He had a dream and never gave up.
When he lived in Kiev with his grandparent and parents and younger brother they survived not only the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown which killed more then 100,000 people including his grandfather whom he had a very special relationship. The family also survived “Kill the Jews” night and was lucky enough to survive and immigrated to the United States where they arrived in Dearborn, Michigan.
Daniel’s story is a real life “rags to riches” story. His family started on welfare with assisted housing, and often his only meal consisted of a banana or a bologna sandwich and that had to last all day. He was ridiculed in school but never gave up and always forced himself
to go the extra mile and work five times harder then anyone else. This was a motto he applied to school and work, which definitely paid off.
Mr. Milstein, got his first job at McDonalds washing floors and not discouraged and entered a contest that all McDonalds employees across the country entered and the winner would be given a sales training course. He worked on the papers he submitted whenever he had time and he felt sure he would win it and he did. From there he became Manager of the store he worked in and his life just kept going on.
He always wanted more and would not give up; when he started switching jobs it was to learn more. This is a man who had to buy his first suit at a thrift shop for $2 so he could work in the bank and now he has his suits custom made.
I found this story an inspiration, where anything is possible if you work hard enough and here is an immigrant who proved it. I was so taken back with this story I could not put it down and read it all in one sitting. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to make a change in his or her life, yes it is hard but it will be worth it in the end.
When he lived in Kiev with his grandparent and parents and younger brother they survived not only the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown which killed more then 100,000 people including his grandfather whom he had a very special relationship. The family also survived “Kill the Jews” night and was lucky enough to survive and immigrated to the United States where they arrived in Dearborn, Michigan.
Daniel’s story is a real life “rags to riches” story. His family started on welfare with assisted housing, and often his only meal consisted of a banana or a bologna sandwich and that had to last all day. He was ridiculed in school but never gave up and always forced himself
to go the extra mile and work five times harder then anyone else. This was a motto he applied to school and work, which definitely paid off.
Mr. Milstein, got his first job at McDonalds washing floors and not discouraged and entered a contest that all McDonalds employees across the country entered and the winner would be given a sales training course. He worked on the papers he submitted whenever he had time and he felt sure he would win it and he did. From there he became Manager of the store he worked in and his life just kept going on.
He always wanted more and would not give up; when he started switching jobs it was to learn more. This is a man who had to buy his first suit at a thrift shop for $2 so he could work in the bank and now he has his suits custom made.
I found this story an inspiration, where anything is possible if you work hard enough and here is an immigrant who proved it. I was so taken back with this story I could not put it down and read it all in one sitting. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to make a change in his or her life, yes it is hard but it will be worth it in the end.
July 30, 2014
I received 17 Cents and a Dream as a Goodreads giveaway from the author.
17 Cents and a Dream is the story of Daniel Milstein whose parents began to take steps to leave Russia soon after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. He immigrates to American from Russia as a young boy in 1991. They saw the effects of radiation on the animals, the food (potatoes that grew as big as watermelons), and the people including his grandfather, a dentist who was forced to go to Chernobyl and help the medical doctors with those that were exposed to the radiation when the plant exploded. Times were difficult for Daniel but he states that this and other tough times were the motivating forces behind his success.
Although it became tiresome to read how many times he was teased, bullied, and only had bananas or bologna to eat, it is a nice story of how individuals can succeed in America. “Yes, you have to balance dreams with reality. Always be careful of listening too closely to those who tell you your dreams are too wild, too impractical, and not possible.”
He goes on to found the Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, an Inc 500 company based in Michigan with more than 500 employees in 48 offices across the USA.
His advice in a commencement speech at his alma mater was, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” He acknowledged his struggles and failures but learned that, “Experience is always the hardest teacher, because it gives the exam first, and then teaches the lesson.”
It is a small book and a short book of less than 170 pages and a quick read. A nice story for those who like to read about how individuals become successful.
17 Cents and a Dream is the story of Daniel Milstein whose parents began to take steps to leave Russia soon after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. He immigrates to American from Russia as a young boy in 1991. They saw the effects of radiation on the animals, the food (potatoes that grew as big as watermelons), and the people including his grandfather, a dentist who was forced to go to Chernobyl and help the medical doctors with those that were exposed to the radiation when the plant exploded. Times were difficult for Daniel but he states that this and other tough times were the motivating forces behind his success.
Although it became tiresome to read how many times he was teased, bullied, and only had bananas or bologna to eat, it is a nice story of how individuals can succeed in America. “Yes, you have to balance dreams with reality. Always be careful of listening too closely to those who tell you your dreams are too wild, too impractical, and not possible.”
He goes on to found the Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, an Inc 500 company based in Michigan with more than 500 employees in 48 offices across the USA.
His advice in a commencement speech at his alma mater was, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” He acknowledged his struggles and failures but learned that, “Experience is always the hardest teacher, because it gives the exam first, and then teaches the lesson.”
It is a small book and a short book of less than 170 pages and a quick read. A nice story for those who like to read about how individuals become successful.
January 30, 2013
‘17 Cents and a Dream’ – My Favorite Horatio Alger Story
Although I consider myself a sophisticated reader for the most part I am still a sucker for a good Horatio Alger rags to riches story and I found a great one in 17 Cents and a Dream by Daniel Milstein.
In fact, I almost think that Milstein’s story of a Kiev immigrant turned multi-million super salesman and CEO is a better tale than the adventures and progressions of the original Horatio Alger.
As a Jewish family, the Milsteins are persecuted by the Russians in the Ukraine and are forced to flee to America to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The author tells what a great challenge it was to get by knowing very little English, to survive the taunts and bullying of classmates, and to even get an interview for a job to earn income to help support the family.
But as a high school student, Dan gets a job at McDonald’s where as a hard-working, loyal worker he is under-appreciated because he is an immigrant who talks and acts different. Nevertheless, Milstein perseveres and overcomes obstacles to be selected for the management training program. After working as a manager Milstein seeks to better himself with employment elsewhere and begins his dramatic rise upward to rise in the ranks of a bank and then join a mortgage company.
Milstein then forms his own company as a still young man and becomes so good that he is selling millions a year in real estate mortgages. Milstein grows his company until it is one of the top mortgage services company in the United States. I loved this story and am sure you will, too. All of us have a dream, but few of us start with only 17 cents.
Although I consider myself a sophisticated reader for the most part I am still a sucker for a good Horatio Alger rags to riches story and I found a great one in 17 Cents and a Dream by Daniel Milstein.
In fact, I almost think that Milstein’s story of a Kiev immigrant turned multi-million super salesman and CEO is a better tale than the adventures and progressions of the original Horatio Alger.
As a Jewish family, the Milsteins are persecuted by the Russians in the Ukraine and are forced to flee to America to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The author tells what a great challenge it was to get by knowing very little English, to survive the taunts and bullying of classmates, and to even get an interview for a job to earn income to help support the family.
But as a high school student, Dan gets a job at McDonald’s where as a hard-working, loyal worker he is under-appreciated because he is an immigrant who talks and acts different. Nevertheless, Milstein perseveres and overcomes obstacles to be selected for the management training program. After working as a manager Milstein seeks to better himself with employment elsewhere and begins his dramatic rise upward to rise in the ranks of a bank and then join a mortgage company.
Milstein then forms his own company as a still young man and becomes so good that he is selling millions a year in real estate mortgages. Milstein grows his company until it is one of the top mortgage services company in the United States. I loved this story and am sure you will, too. All of us have a dream, but few of us start with only 17 cents.
January 30, 2013
Daniel's story starts in Kiev in 1986, when I was 18 and I can remember the the political situation in Russia at that time and often I have wondered how the people really fared there amid the Chernobyl disaster. His story starts here and within the first chapter I had tears, and as Daniel's story progresses more tears came as he showed how he overcame adversity against great odds.
I found his story compelling and inspiring. The style was easy to read and conversational, which I like in an memoir. He told of the things he had to endure without going into too much detail but enough to let the reader know what it was like, which makes this story readable by all.
Like Daniel I too was an outsider when young and bullied because I was different so his story really appealed to me.
Robert Frost says:
'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.'
And this is true of Daniel he had two choices either stay where he was or better himself at the cost of ridicule by his peers. Daniel chose the less traveled road.
Even though I don't advocate striving after riches, we can learn some powerful lessions by reading Daniel's story namely as Walt Whitman summed up 'that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse', and what is Daniel's verse? He comes across as a kind and compassionate man and employer and a good father and son, and that is what counts, our relationships with our fellow human beings and in this book Daniel's verse is a good one.
What will you verse be?
I found his story compelling and inspiring. The style was easy to read and conversational, which I like in an memoir. He told of the things he had to endure without going into too much detail but enough to let the reader know what it was like, which makes this story readable by all.
Like Daniel I too was an outsider when young and bullied because I was different so his story really appealed to me.
Robert Frost says:
'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.'
And this is true of Daniel he had two choices either stay where he was or better himself at the cost of ridicule by his peers. Daniel chose the less traveled road.
Even though I don't advocate striving after riches, we can learn some powerful lessions by reading Daniel's story namely as Walt Whitman summed up 'that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse', and what is Daniel's verse? He comes across as a kind and compassionate man and employer and a good father and son, and that is what counts, our relationships with our fellow human beings and in this book Daniel's verse is a good one.
What will you verse be?
January 27, 2013
17 Cents and a Dream is an autobiographical account of Daniel Milstein's family escape from Kiev in the former USSR after the nuclear meltdown of Chernobyl. Being scared for their lives from both the health risks after the nuclear fallout that killed his own grandfather and further being targeted and persecuted for being Jewish, Daniel and his family found asylum in the United States where he worked his way from nothing to become one of the most successful businessmen in America.
The story he describes is the quintessential American Dream tale; however, it shows it in the raw, dirty, and heartbreaking journey that it was for him. He showed Americans to be be both cruel and heartless as he was working the lowest jobs to help his family, while the whole time he continued to see hope and opportunity in America. He continued to see his chances as a blessing, and he fate of his own making. The narrow mindedness and jealousy of others fueled his drive to be better and greater, never giving up.
Stories such as these have you inspired, but also reassessing your own life and struggles. It is a motivational book that causes you to wake up to the realities around you, reassessing what is truly a obstacle you cannot overcome. Daniel Milstein's book is a must read for adults and teenagers alike. This would be a perfect book to include in a middle or highschool english or social studies curriculum.
The story he describes is the quintessential American Dream tale; however, it shows it in the raw, dirty, and heartbreaking journey that it was for him. He showed Americans to be be both cruel and heartless as he was working the lowest jobs to help his family, while the whole time he continued to see hope and opportunity in America. He continued to see his chances as a blessing, and he fate of his own making. The narrow mindedness and jealousy of others fueled his drive to be better and greater, never giving up.
Stories such as these have you inspired, but also reassessing your own life and struggles. It is a motivational book that causes you to wake up to the realities around you, reassessing what is truly a obstacle you cannot overcome. Daniel Milstein's book is a must read for adults and teenagers alike. This would be a perfect book to include in a middle or highschool english or social studies curriculum.
May 27, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I honestly loved this book! I read it in less than 2 hours because I couldn't stop reading it! I was hooked from the start when it started out with the Chernobyl disaster, because I know that was a horrible moment for Ukraine and all of Europe.
When Daniel and his family came to America, they were struggling with the money thing. They had to eat bananas almost everyday because they couldn't afford real food. They were on welfare but didn't get enough food money to last a month. After a while, Daniel's parents got jobs after they learned to speak English. Daniel's English started to improve slowly and it also got him a job. After graduating from high school, Daniel went to a college and got a new job. He eventually transferred colleges and graduated from that. Years later, he went back to the McDonald's which he used to work in and found his old boss. They talk a little bit, and Daniel gives his order. Daniel's change is 17 cents, which is what he started out with in America. He gives the 17 cents to his daughter.
In the end of the book, Daniel visits his grandfather's grave back in Ukraine. He puts some flowers and a copy of his first book on his grave, and the book ends there.
I hope you enjoy this great book and my review of 17 Cents and a Dream by Daniel Milstein.
I honestly loved this book! I read it in less than 2 hours because I couldn't stop reading it! I was hooked from the start when it started out with the Chernobyl disaster, because I know that was a horrible moment for Ukraine and all of Europe.
When Daniel and his family came to America, they were struggling with the money thing. They had to eat bananas almost everyday because they couldn't afford real food. They were on welfare but didn't get enough food money to last a month. After a while, Daniel's parents got jobs after they learned to speak English. Daniel's English started to improve slowly and it also got him a job. After graduating from high school, Daniel went to a college and got a new job. He eventually transferred colleges and graduated from that. Years later, he went back to the McDonald's which he used to work in and found his old boss. They talk a little bit, and Daniel gives his order. Daniel's change is 17 cents, which is what he started out with in America. He gives the 17 cents to his daughter.
In the end of the book, Daniel visits his grandfather's grave back in Ukraine. He puts some flowers and a copy of his first book on his grave, and the book ends there.
I hope you enjoy this great book and my review of 17 Cents and a Dream by Daniel Milstein.
January 13, 2014
So far I'm having a hard time reading this. I realize their own country was ruff but to come to America and get free housing, free clothes, food stamps and the cost for the schools to teach the kids English or have a translator assigned to the kids so they can do normal classes is a huge expense to the American government.
I give Dan a lot of credit for getting his job to help the family and not just money for himself - you don't see that with kids raised in America.
I'm not sure why it took him 5 days to get from Russia to Michigan? And to say it was all without sleep is a bit of a stretch. People DO sleep in airports & airplanes all the time - they even give you pillows & blankets.
Myself - As a teenager in the 80's I had worked at McDonalds. It wasn't in Michigan but Massachusetts (still cold) we received a free meal on our breaks and working the drive through was nothing like Dan is explaining. I can't imagine a restaurant manager not fixing the register Immediately (when it was jammed) or making Daniel pay for the food the manager just handed the car waiting - if it was the registers fault for jamming...
I'm only 1/2 through & see a lot of 5 stars given for this book so I will press on to see how he becomes a success, but these little things are driving me nuts. It's like the stories of having to walk miles to school in 3 feet of snow, up hill - both ways!
I give Dan a lot of credit for getting his job to help the family and not just money for himself - you don't see that with kids raised in America.
I'm not sure why it took him 5 days to get from Russia to Michigan? And to say it was all without sleep is a bit of a stretch. People DO sleep in airports & airplanes all the time - they even give you pillows & blankets.
Myself - As a teenager in the 80's I had worked at McDonalds. It wasn't in Michigan but Massachusetts (still cold) we received a free meal on our breaks and working the drive through was nothing like Dan is explaining. I can't imagine a restaurant manager not fixing the register Immediately (when it was jammed) or making Daniel pay for the food the manager just handed the car waiting - if it was the registers fault for jamming...
I'm only 1/2 through & see a lot of 5 stars given for this book so I will press on to see how he becomes a success, but these little things are driving me nuts. It's like the stories of having to walk miles to school in 3 feet of snow, up hill - both ways!
April 27, 2013
For those readers who have only heard the name Chernobyl and something about Perestroika, but who never took a look into the history or just check the facts. I was able to read only half of the book and as an investigator, editor and as a local resident the same age as the author can say - too much fibs instead of facts. About Chernobyl and especially about "Kill the Jews" night. The last one is absolutely flam. I grew up in this city, my parents used to work at Kiev's high school where more then 50% of pupils and teachers were Jews in a district with big Jewish community. And we all (including our Jewish relatives) are very surprised and shocked with stories mr. Milstein is trying to present as real fact of late-soviet history. Dear readers, just try to check facts on your own! In 1970-1980s was difficult for Jews to enter to universities and military academies specially in big cities, but since the WWII there WAS NOT any Jewish pogroms or any similar incidents!
I expected to read interesting autobiography but got fake instead:( I do not want to waste my time to finish reading this tale for fools.
I expected to read interesting autobiography but got fake instead:( I do not want to waste my time to finish reading this tale for fools.
April 27, 2013
Surprising that I'm reviewing this book a few days after April 26, which is the anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion in Russia, which took place in 1986. This sets in motion Daniel's life. It changes everything for those who live in the area. Radiation makes it not safe. Jobs and lives are lost.
Daniel's story is the typical rags to riches story, but it's told in such a poignant way. Back in Russia, everyone told Daniel he was not to amount to anything. Except his grandfather. He knew Daniel could do it. Daniel's family immigrates to America. Leaving Russia at the time was a dangerous thing to do, but Daniel makes it with 17 cents in his pocket to mail his friend a letter back home.
Many hinderances get in Daniel's way, but he doesn't let anything stop him. He perserveres. He works hard. He knows what it's going to take and he's not afraid to do it.
This is the story of the No. 1 mortgage loan officer in the world. This is the story of hard work and dedication.
Daniel's story is the typical rags to riches story, but it's told in such a poignant way. Back in Russia, everyone told Daniel he was not to amount to anything. Except his grandfather. He knew Daniel could do it. Daniel's family immigrates to America. Leaving Russia at the time was a dangerous thing to do, but Daniel makes it with 17 cents in his pocket to mail his friend a letter back home.
Many hinderances get in Daniel's way, but he doesn't let anything stop him. He perserveres. He works hard. He knows what it's going to take and he's not afraid to do it.
This is the story of the No. 1 mortgage loan officer in the world. This is the story of hard work and dedication.
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