What do you think?
Rate this book
Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands
Life was good for Jorge Newbery. A high school dropout and serial entrepreneur, he had built a real estate empire of over 4,000 apartments across the USA. Taking risks and working tirelessly were the ingredients to his rise. But, he took one risk too many. An ice storm on Christmas Eve 2004 triggered his collapse. He was maligned, publicly shamed, and financially gutted – even arrested. He lost everything and ended up $26 million in debt. As he struggled to regain his footing, he spent what he could to get others to lift him up. But no one did. He discovered that there was only one person who could build him back up. To move forward, he crafted a new life’s to help others crushed by unaffordable debts rebuild themselves. Burn Zones is a story of playing life’s bad hands and overcoming adversity against the greatest of challenges. It’s an inspirational story of a man who was pushed to his mental and physical limits, and came out the other side even stronger. And, most of all, it’s a lesson that you can do the same.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2015
52 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Jorge P. Newbery
7 books41 followersJorge P. Newbery is a successful entrepreneur, distressed debt and real estate investor, endurance athlete, and author. He turned around some of the country's most troubled housing complexes in amassing a portfolio of 4,000 apartments across the USA from 1992 - 2005. However, a natural disaster triggered a financial collapse in which he lost everything and emerged over $26 million in debt. He never filed bankruptcy. Instead he developed strategies to gain leverage over creditors to settle debts at huge discounts, or simply did not pay them at all. He is a veteran of dozens of court battles, once fighting a creditor to the Missouri Court of Appeals. The entire debt (over $5,800,000!) was inadvertently extinguished due to sloppy legal work.
As an athlete, Newbery raced bicycles for a living from 1986 - 1990 as a Category 1. He competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials and was 4th in the Spenco 500, a nonstop 500-mile bike race televised on ESPN. He also raced for the Costa Rican National Team in the Tour of Mexico, was 2nd in the 1987 Southern California State Championship Road Race, plus held the Green Jersey in the 1987 Vulcan Tour. Newbery also runs and has completed over 70 marathons and ultramarathons. In 2012, he was the overall winner of the Chicago Lakefront 50K. At 46-years-old, he was double the age of the 24-year-old second-place finisher.
Today, Newbery helps others crushed by unaffordable debts to rebuild their lives. Jorge is Founder and CEO of American Homeowner Preservation (AHP), a socially responsible hedge fund which purchases nonperforming mortgages from banks at big discounts, then shares the discounts with families to settle their mortgages at terms many borrowers find "too good to be true." Jorge's response to the nation's mortgage crisis creates meaningful social and financial returns for investors, while keeping families in their homes. AHP's mission is to facilitate win-win-win solutions for homeowners, investors and lenders.
"Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands" is Jorge's autobiographical account of how he was pushed to his physical and mental limits during his time of strife, and how he overcame the challenges he faced. "Debt Cleanse: How To Settle Your Unaffordable Debts For Pennies On The Dollar (And Not Pay Some At All)" shares Jorge's strategies and provides step-by-step instructions to get out of debt.
Jorge is a regular contributor to Huffington Post and other publications, and speaks regularly on debt, investing, finance and housing issues.
As an athlete, Newbery raced bicycles for a living from 1986 - 1990 as a Category 1. He competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials and was 4th in the Spenco 500, a nonstop 500-mile bike race televised on ESPN. He also raced for the Costa Rican National Team in the Tour of Mexico, was 2nd in the 1987 Southern California State Championship Road Race, plus held the Green Jersey in the 1987 Vulcan Tour. Newbery also runs and has completed over 70 marathons and ultramarathons. In 2012, he was the overall winner of the Chicago Lakefront 50K. At 46-years-old, he was double the age of the 24-year-old second-place finisher.
Today, Newbery helps others crushed by unaffordable debts to rebuild their lives. Jorge is Founder and CEO of American Homeowner Preservation (AHP), a socially responsible hedge fund which purchases nonperforming mortgages from banks at big discounts, then shares the discounts with families to settle their mortgages at terms many borrowers find "too good to be true." Jorge's response to the nation's mortgage crisis creates meaningful social and financial returns for investors, while keeping families in their homes. AHP's mission is to facilitate win-win-win solutions for homeowners, investors and lenders.
"Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands" is Jorge's autobiographical account of how he was pushed to his physical and mental limits during his time of strife, and how he overcame the challenges he faced. "Debt Cleanse: How To Settle Your Unaffordable Debts For Pennies On The Dollar (And Not Pay Some At All)" shares Jorge's strategies and provides step-by-step instructions to get out of debt.
Jorge is a regular contributor to Huffington Post and other publications, and speaks regularly on debt, investing, finance and housing issues.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 3, 2019
It was easy to read this autobiography.
I liked it.
I liked it.
April 15, 2020
Burn Zones: Playing life’s bad hands is an autobiography written by Jorge P. Newbery, or Jorgie, as his father calls him. It is a story about a man who managed to become rich and successful early in life. Also, it is a story about how quickly that man lost all the money he had. It gives a scary insight into how much debt a person can accumulate (hint: millions of dollars). Lastly, this is a story about a man who finds his way back into success after financial ruin.
The underlying philosophy of this book is that Jorge managed to become successful because he learned to work through burn zones in his short-lived bicycle career. Burn zones are described as the moment towards the end of a bicycle race where your legs hurt and you're exhausted, unable to go on. Everyone around you is giving up. The cyclist who manages to push through the burn zone and continues will win the race. Those ‘burn zones’ can be found in every aspect of life. Jorgie wants to show with this book how he became successful by pushing through his own burn zones. In that way, he also attempts to inspire the readers.
What I liked about this book is the insight into real estate development. Most of Jorgie’s exploits are linked to that. It is either renovating apartment buildings or housing bonds, both of which I didn’t know anything about. Jorgie goes into so much detail in this autobiography that I feel confident to hold my end in a conversation about those topics. It is a good thing to add a lot of detail to an autobiography because it gives the book context and makes it feel more alive.
What I didn’t like about this book is the writing style. It is an enumeration of all the things Jorgie did with little flair, embellishment or description. This made it difficult to get into the book and to develop sympathetic feelings towards the protagonist. This is a shame because, looking at all the things he did for other people, he is an admirable man. I feel this book should have been inspiring, but it wasn’t.
In the end, I am not sure who to recommend this book. The book is a 2 out of 4 stars for me. Not because there is anything wrong with this book, but because there was also not much to this book which made it memorable. If you love inspirational (auto-)biographies there are better ones out there, like Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. If you want to learn about real estate there are better textbooks.
The underlying philosophy of this book is that Jorge managed to become successful because he learned to work through burn zones in his short-lived bicycle career. Burn zones are described as the moment towards the end of a bicycle race where your legs hurt and you're exhausted, unable to go on. Everyone around you is giving up. The cyclist who manages to push through the burn zone and continues will win the race. Those ‘burn zones’ can be found in every aspect of life. Jorgie wants to show with this book how he became successful by pushing through his own burn zones. In that way, he also attempts to inspire the readers.
What I liked about this book is the insight into real estate development. Most of Jorgie’s exploits are linked to that. It is either renovating apartment buildings or housing bonds, both of which I didn’t know anything about. Jorgie goes into so much detail in this autobiography that I feel confident to hold my end in a conversation about those topics. It is a good thing to add a lot of detail to an autobiography because it gives the book context and makes it feel more alive.
What I didn’t like about this book is the writing style. It is an enumeration of all the things Jorgie did with little flair, embellishment or description. This made it difficult to get into the book and to develop sympathetic feelings towards the protagonist. This is a shame because, looking at all the things he did for other people, he is an admirable man. I feel this book should have been inspiring, but it wasn’t.
In the end, I am not sure who to recommend this book. The book is a 2 out of 4 stars for me. Not because there is anything wrong with this book, but because there was also not much to this book which made it memorable. If you love inspirational (auto-)biographies there are better ones out there, like Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. If you want to learn about real estate there are better textbooks.
July 20, 2019
I would give it five stars if it weren't dragging from the page 200 as much as it was fast paced at the start. I recommend the book to young adults for its inspirational, motivationl value. It says a lot about overcoming adversities, problem solving, perseverance, work ethics ...It's emotional and intense...Reads like fiction...
July 16, 2019
Overall, I rate the book 4 out of 5, because I loved the story, it's theme and message but I can't ignore its shortcomings in its writing style. It might not have had any grammar issues, but good writing is more than just correct grammar. Newbery is an entrepreneur, investor, athlete, and author. In other words, he's all sorts. His book is bound to make a brilliant read for all, and given his particular set of “burn zones” it's a very inspirational one.
Find my entire review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
Find my entire review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
July 2, 2020
Jorge P. Newbery has created a guide on how to overcome the hard patches in life. The moments when things start to fall apart or grow difficult are what he calls burn zones. He describes both his personal and business burn zones that he has experienced in life. Jorge’s narrative carries the information in an easy to understand and engaging manner. He doesn’t hesitate to expose some of his toughest burn zones and how he managed to pursue despite the obstacles against him.
This book also gives readers a good insight into the risks they may be taking. It is always best to look at all angles before jumping into new endeavors. This is something the author himself doesn’t always do and admits that he learns from his mistakes. But no matter what life throws at you, there are ways to continue to grow and reach for the next investment. Reading this book just might help you achieve what you’ve been reaching for.
The full review can be seen at Online Book Club: Burn Zones
This book also gives readers a good insight into the risks they may be taking. It is always best to look at all angles before jumping into new endeavors. This is something the author himself doesn’t always do and admits that he learns from his mistakes. But no matter what life throws at you, there are ways to continue to grow and reach for the next investment. Reading this book just might help you achieve what you’ve been reaching for.
The full review can be seen at Online Book Club: Burn Zones
February 28, 2021
Review written for OnlineBookClub.org, it can be found here- https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
October 5, 2015
This is an autobiography, and for me, to be of value for those outside the immediate family of the author, the book must illustrate society at the time, or the author should have done something of general interest. On the other hand, for those within the immediate family, the book should illustrate the person. Of course there is no reason not to include both groups, but the former group does require the author to have done something outside the ordinary.
From about the age of eight, Jorge Newberry appears to have been driven exceptionally by the desire to make money, and the book starts with the young boy on a paper run. It then follows him through selling ice cream, pausing to try his hand as a professional cyclist, then finding his niche as a loans broker and property developer. Scattered through this are glimpses of some of the seedier aspects of American society through the 1970s to very recent times.
The highlight of this book, (or what Jorge would call the lowlight) occurred when Jorge had ventured into the development of social housing for the underprivileged. From his account, he was doing an extremely valuable job, but in one city he had sunk too much into a massive run-down building that was on land that others desired. When a snowstorm came, the resultant damage, and when the attentive crows of society descended on him for pickings, he tried to fight back. What we see is the downfall of someone through no serious fault of his own, but, as he notes, in retrospect he could have done better. I can empathize with him, because I too have been through a similar situation. This book is valuable for budding entrepreneurs, because if you understand what Jorge has written you might see the warning signs in time. Some say there is no such thing as luck and those who succeed do so through hard work. Yes, hard work is required, but the assertion is nonsense. Some never meet genuinely bad luck, but it does not hurt to be prepared.
From about the age of eight, Jorge Newberry appears to have been driven exceptionally by the desire to make money, and the book starts with the young boy on a paper run. It then follows him through selling ice cream, pausing to try his hand as a professional cyclist, then finding his niche as a loans broker and property developer. Scattered through this are glimpses of some of the seedier aspects of American society through the 1970s to very recent times.
The highlight of this book, (or what Jorge would call the lowlight) occurred when Jorge had ventured into the development of social housing for the underprivileged. From his account, he was doing an extremely valuable job, but in one city he had sunk too much into a massive run-down building that was on land that others desired. When a snowstorm came, the resultant damage, and when the attentive crows of society descended on him for pickings, he tried to fight back. What we see is the downfall of someone through no serious fault of his own, but, as he notes, in retrospect he could have done better. I can empathize with him, because I too have been through a similar situation. This book is valuable for budding entrepreneurs, because if you understand what Jorge has written you might see the warning signs in time. Some say there is no such thing as luck and those who succeed do so through hard work. Yes, hard work is required, but the assertion is nonsense. Some never meet genuinely bad luck, but it does not hurt to be prepared.
Read
January 10, 2022REVIEW OF BURN ZONES: PLAYING LIFE'S BAD HANDS BY JORGE NEWBERY
Reviewer -- Susan Swanson, Author of Rebirth In Acadi
Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands by Jorge Newbery isn't just an inspirational self-improvement autobiography. It’s also a story about family, bicycling, punk rock (a very unfamiliar world to this octogenarian reader), and Newbery's work ethic. AND -- a big plus -- the memoir includes pictures. Beyond that, it is about Mr. Newbery's seeming need for new challenges in his life and, ultimately, his goal of managing distressed real estate while keeping unfortunate renters and owners in their homes. His story reveals itself over the span of many years and includes not only childhood business ventures, but work organizing hedge funding to buy pools of defaulted mortgages.
The author, citing both personal ambition and zeal for community improvement, negotiates a wild roller coaster of a life that reaches its high point when he achieves real estate mogul status
and plunges to a devastating low after a freak ice storm ruins a property to which he has devoted his life. When that roller coaster ride threatens disaster is when Newbery employs what he terms "burn zone," the strategy of pushing himself to physical and mental limits. This strategy, he claims, separates winners from losers.
Using spare and simple language, Newbery has written an easy-to-read memoir that, though not a work of memorable prose, draws the reader in. On the upside, I really liked Jorge's enormous ambition, innate intelligence, and daring boldness - and even his long-standing aversion to strip clubs -- and I found myself rooting for him to the end. Rooting for him even though I realized his real estate acquisitions were over-leveraged bets funded by the same banks he protested against later in life when he organized Occupy Cincinnati, a protest based on the success of Occupy Wall Street. On the downside, the bicycle portion of the book was boring, characters' quotes were poorly executed, his anti-police sentiment got old, and the attempt at humor through his exasperation at his father's use of "Jorgie" was overdone. (As a reader, each time I saw "Jorgie" coming I cringed.)
Newbery is an empathetic, decent-seeming guy whose philosophy is that people generally treat you the way you treat them. Further, if you work hard and push through hard times, you will in the end be gratified. His story is about how he has overcome adversity by maintaining a positive attitude supplemented by that "burn zone" push that got him through the roughest times. The volume is really not a self-help book; I found little actual advice. Nor is it complicated. Nor emotional. What it is is a thought-provoking book with a message. And that message is: in order to turn a problem into a solution one must work diligently and concentrate on doing well by doing good.
As Newbery said, quoting Nelson Mandela, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” This book is for those who share that philosophy.
I give Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands 4 out of 5 stars. I didn't give the book a five because it could have used some professional editing.
Reviewer -- Susan Swanson, Author of Rebirth In Acadi
Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands by Jorge Newbery isn't just an inspirational self-improvement autobiography. It’s also a story about family, bicycling, punk rock (a very unfamiliar world to this octogenarian reader), and Newbery's work ethic. AND -- a big plus -- the memoir includes pictures. Beyond that, it is about Mr. Newbery's seeming need for new challenges in his life and, ultimately, his goal of managing distressed real estate while keeping unfortunate renters and owners in their homes. His story reveals itself over the span of many years and includes not only childhood business ventures, but work organizing hedge funding to buy pools of defaulted mortgages.
The author, citing both personal ambition and zeal for community improvement, negotiates a wild roller coaster of a life that reaches its high point when he achieves real estate mogul status
and plunges to a devastating low after a freak ice storm ruins a property to which he has devoted his life. When that roller coaster ride threatens disaster is when Newbery employs what he terms "burn zone," the strategy of pushing himself to physical and mental limits. This strategy, he claims, separates winners from losers.
Using spare and simple language, Newbery has written an easy-to-read memoir that, though not a work of memorable prose, draws the reader in. On the upside, I really liked Jorge's enormous ambition, innate intelligence, and daring boldness - and even his long-standing aversion to strip clubs -- and I found myself rooting for him to the end. Rooting for him even though I realized his real estate acquisitions were over-leveraged bets funded by the same banks he protested against later in life when he organized Occupy Cincinnati, a protest based on the success of Occupy Wall Street. On the downside, the bicycle portion of the book was boring, characters' quotes were poorly executed, his anti-police sentiment got old, and the attempt at humor through his exasperation at his father's use of "Jorgie" was overdone. (As a reader, each time I saw "Jorgie" coming I cringed.)
Newbery is an empathetic, decent-seeming guy whose philosophy is that people generally treat you the way you treat them. Further, if you work hard and push through hard times, you will in the end be gratified. His story is about how he has overcome adversity by maintaining a positive attitude supplemented by that "burn zone" push that got him through the roughest times. The volume is really not a self-help book; I found little actual advice. Nor is it complicated. Nor emotional. What it is is a thought-provoking book with a message. And that message is: in order to turn a problem into a solution one must work diligently and concentrate on doing well by doing good.
As Newbery said, quoting Nelson Mandela, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” This book is for those who share that philosophy.
I give Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands 4 out of 5 stars. I didn't give the book a five because it could have used some professional editing.
January 31, 2024
Burn Zones, Playing Life's Bad Hands by Jorge P. Newbery is an entertaining but somewhat lightweight autobiography.
The first third of the book is the story of Jorge's rise, starting as a paperboy at age seven. Jorge wasn't offered the job. He was internally driven to be a business man and this was the first opportunity he saw for himself. Jorge continues driving himself onward and upwards and as this first part of the book concludes, he has moved from a Loan Originator to partner in a new mortgage firm to "real estate mogul", as he calls himself.
The middle of the book is the story of Jorge's downfall as he buys and tackles his biggest project, an 1,100 unit apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio. At first glance, this project appears as if it will be the feather in Jorge's cap. Yet an ice storm in the middle of winter that knocks out power to the complex, and much of Columbus, is the catalyst that will bring down Jorge and erase his personal wealth, forcing him to liquidate most of his holdings. Pride keeps Jorge from filing for bankruptcy.
The last part of the book is about the next chapter in Jorge's life, as he starts a new business venture, marries and takes some time to spend with his family, particularly his ailing father.
The beauty of an autobiography is that you get to reveal as much as you want, paint yourself as you wish. The title of the book "Burn Zones" is taken from Mr. Newbery's time as a professional cyclist. He refers to "burn zones" as the "relatively short periods of extraordinary effort that separated the winners and losers". As Jorge grows and starts his entrepreneurial career, each new project/career choice has at least one burn zone that Jorge needs to navigate to be successful. And he succeeds in all but one. Until that point, Mr. Newbery paints himself as naive and optimistic. I can't help but feel the reader needs to be as well.
The book is an easy and entertaining read. In fact, it's not a long read. One can't help but feel there's more to the story, that these chapters are an outline for a larger story.
There are a few discordant notes that don't seem to fit the general narrative. For example, there are numerous references to racism, although Jorge's last mention of it applying to him seems to be in high school. Peculiarly, he mentions the Georgia Supreme Court's 1869 ruling on the differences between races even though he and his black bride are getting married in one of the most liberal of all states, California, in 2012. Huh?
Putting these issues aside, the book is a good quick outline of Jorge P. Newbery and his drive to create something of himself. Enjoy.
The first third of the book is the story of Jorge's rise, starting as a paperboy at age seven. Jorge wasn't offered the job. He was internally driven to be a business man and this was the first opportunity he saw for himself. Jorge continues driving himself onward and upwards and as this first part of the book concludes, he has moved from a Loan Originator to partner in a new mortgage firm to "real estate mogul", as he calls himself.
The middle of the book is the story of Jorge's downfall as he buys and tackles his biggest project, an 1,100 unit apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio. At first glance, this project appears as if it will be the feather in Jorge's cap. Yet an ice storm in the middle of winter that knocks out power to the complex, and much of Columbus, is the catalyst that will bring down Jorge and erase his personal wealth, forcing him to liquidate most of his holdings. Pride keeps Jorge from filing for bankruptcy.
The last part of the book is about the next chapter in Jorge's life, as he starts a new business venture, marries and takes some time to spend with his family, particularly his ailing father.
The beauty of an autobiography is that you get to reveal as much as you want, paint yourself as you wish. The title of the book "Burn Zones" is taken from Mr. Newbery's time as a professional cyclist. He refers to "burn zones" as the "relatively short periods of extraordinary effort that separated the winners and losers". As Jorge grows and starts his entrepreneurial career, each new project/career choice has at least one burn zone that Jorge needs to navigate to be successful. And he succeeds in all but one. Until that point, Mr. Newbery paints himself as naive and optimistic. I can't help but feel the reader needs to be as well.
The book is an easy and entertaining read. In fact, it's not a long read. One can't help but feel there's more to the story, that these chapters are an outline for a larger story.
There are a few discordant notes that don't seem to fit the general narrative. For example, there are numerous references to racism, although Jorge's last mention of it applying to him seems to be in high school. Peculiarly, he mentions the Georgia Supreme Court's 1869 ruling on the differences between races even though he and his black bride are getting married in one of the most liberal of all states, California, in 2012. Huh?
Putting these issues aside, the book is a good quick outline of Jorge P. Newbery and his drive to create something of himself. Enjoy.
February 15, 2022
Burn Zones: Playing Life’s Bad Hands, by Jorge Newbery, is an autobiography about a self-made entrepreneur, the infinite potential of success, and the risks and imminent downfall associated with it. From a young age, Newbery had the makings of an entrepreneur. Attracted by the possibilities of business, he started with a paper route, then an ice cream business, then a record company before finally settling in real estate and mortgages. Newbery bought up old buildings, renovated them, and either flipped them into affordable housing or he sold them. Newbery quickly became a prominent real estate investor and mogul before a natural disaster caused everything to fall apart. Amassing huge amounts of debt, he was forced to give up everything he had built his life upon. Burn Zones is the incredible story of one man pitted against the trappings of his own life and his struggle to find his place in the world.
Positive highlights of the book include excellent editing, extremely well-written writing, and an exceptional coming-of-age story. The book is edited very well and there are no apparent mistakes. The writing is perfectly written. Finally, arguably the most important aspect, is that of the entire story. This is one of the most exceptional autobiographical books I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every chapter. Newbery’s life is an example to all of us of how we can always get back on our feet, even when the situation seems impossible. Our problems may even seem quite trivial compared to Newbery’s! After amassing a gigantic amount of debt, more than most will ever see in their bank account, he was still able to get back on his feet. Not only did he stay afloat, but he started a nonprofit to help others get affordable mortgage and loan rates. This book offers many wonderful life lessons!
I do not have any applicable negative comments to make about this book. Burn Zones was a wonderful read and I cannot find any reason to make a negative comment about the book.
For the reasons listed above, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was certainly a unique autobiography and one that I will remember.
I would recommend this book to those who love an excellent coming-of-age story. This book offers so many lessons to all of us and I highly recommend it. If you are interested in business or real estate I would also specifically recommend this book to you. It offers a real-life example of the risks and challenges that entrepreneurs face daily, but also the rewards. Highly recommended!
Positive highlights of the book include excellent editing, extremely well-written writing, and an exceptional coming-of-age story. The book is edited very well and there are no apparent mistakes. The writing is perfectly written. Finally, arguably the most important aspect, is that of the entire story. This is one of the most exceptional autobiographical books I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every chapter. Newbery’s life is an example to all of us of how we can always get back on our feet, even when the situation seems impossible. Our problems may even seem quite trivial compared to Newbery’s! After amassing a gigantic amount of debt, more than most will ever see in their bank account, he was still able to get back on his feet. Not only did he stay afloat, but he started a nonprofit to help others get affordable mortgage and loan rates. This book offers many wonderful life lessons!
I do not have any applicable negative comments to make about this book. Burn Zones was a wonderful read and I cannot find any reason to make a negative comment about the book.
For the reasons listed above, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was certainly a unique autobiography and one that I will remember.
I would recommend this book to those who love an excellent coming-of-age story. This book offers so many lessons to all of us and I highly recommend it. If you are interested in business or real estate I would also specifically recommend this book to you. It offers a real-life example of the risks and challenges that entrepreneurs face daily, but also the rewards. Highly recommended!
May 7, 2020
From the cover of this book, I thought it would be about cycling. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much more than just that. It is a first person monologue narrating the story of Jorge Newbery who is an ambitions and driven man. The Burn Zones in the book title refers to periods of personal endeavor and Jorge's life was full of these periods.
He started work at seven as a paper delivery boy and went on to be a busboy. Despite objections from his parents, he left school at sixteen. Like most teenagers in his day, he was a fan of Punk music. He started up a company called, Youth Manifesto, combining his love of music with making money. He organised music events, interviewed group members and made and distributed music cassettes.
Jorge identified with the Punk musicians, thought he didn't do drugs. This gave him a sense of belonging for the first time. He'd always felt like an outsider before. He was mixed race with an Argentinian father and a British mother and suffered racial abuse in his native USA.
Jorge's family were very supportive and a bit un-conventional. They welcomed Jorge's Punk friends into their home, much to the disapproval of the neighbors.
Jorge's cycling career lasted only a few years but, like everything in his life he put great effort into it. He then became an entrepreneur, buying and selling distressed properties and turning them around. He made millions but never lived an extravagant lifestyle. He was more like a social worker than a landlord and cared for the welfare of his tenants. He identified with the gangs that hung around his properties helped them improve their lives.
His humanitarianism resulted in problems with authorities resulting in his loosing all his money but wasn't long before he got back on his feet again.
Jorge comes over as a very caring but anti authoritarian man. His commitment to helping the underdog was more important to him that the money he made a very inspiring read.
He started work at seven as a paper delivery boy and went on to be a busboy. Despite objections from his parents, he left school at sixteen. Like most teenagers in his day, he was a fan of Punk music. He started up a company called, Youth Manifesto, combining his love of music with making money. He organised music events, interviewed group members and made and distributed music cassettes.
Jorge identified with the Punk musicians, thought he didn't do drugs. This gave him a sense of belonging for the first time. He'd always felt like an outsider before. He was mixed race with an Argentinian father and a British mother and suffered racial abuse in his native USA.
Jorge's family were very supportive and a bit un-conventional. They welcomed Jorge's Punk friends into their home, much to the disapproval of the neighbors.
Jorge's cycling career lasted only a few years but, like everything in his life he put great effort into it. He then became an entrepreneur, buying and selling distressed properties and turning them around. He made millions but never lived an extravagant lifestyle. He was more like a social worker than a landlord and cared for the welfare of his tenants. He identified with the gangs that hung around his properties helped them improve their lives.
His humanitarianism resulted in problems with authorities resulting in his loosing all his money but wasn't long before he got back on his feet again.
Jorge comes over as a very caring but anti authoritarian man. His commitment to helping the underdog was more important to him that the money he made a very inspiring read.
April 20, 2020
Read my full review here
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
Burn Zones by Jorge. P. Newberry is a fast-paced book stands out as an autobiography because the plot drips with instances of perseverance and hard work. The narrative is empathetic and humorous especially when every time he has to correct his father from calling him “Jorgie” and not “Jorge”. However, if you are a reader who love to learn something from a book every time you read then this might be the one if only you could read between the lines. There are some learnings to be taken while reading this cover to cover which Newberry has mentioned as the warning signs. Although being a struggling entrepreneur myself, I could relate to the hardships mentioned all along in this book but I felt a weak connection between the chapters as if the information is merely thrown on the paper for the readers to read.
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
Burn Zones by Jorge. P. Newberry is a fast-paced book stands out as an autobiography because the plot drips with instances of perseverance and hard work. The narrative is empathetic and humorous especially when every time he has to correct his father from calling him “Jorgie” and not “Jorge”. However, if you are a reader who love to learn something from a book every time you read then this might be the one if only you could read between the lines. There are some learnings to be taken while reading this cover to cover which Newberry has mentioned as the warning signs. Although being a struggling entrepreneur myself, I could relate to the hardships mentioned all along in this book but I felt a weak connection between the chapters as if the information is merely thrown on the paper for the readers to read.
April 20, 2020
Burn Zones was an amazing memoir by Jorge P. Newbery. A burn zone is the part of a race where you have to give it your all. It hurts, it's tough, you think you won't make it, but it separates the winners from the losers.
Newbery uses the Burn Zone discussion to take the reader through the events of his life. He starts his story with his first job, a newspaper delivery route. I loved reading about these early successes. He has a strong personality that shows through even during his youngest years. He continues his successful list of highs in life, as well as his lows...being 26 million dollars in debt. His story is an inspirational one that I really enjoyed.
I was provided a copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
You can read my full review at https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
Newbery uses the Burn Zone discussion to take the reader through the events of his life. He starts his story with his first job, a newspaper delivery route. I loved reading about these early successes. He has a strong personality that shows through even during his youngest years. He continues his successful list of highs in life, as well as his lows...being 26 million dollars in debt. His story is an inspirational one that I really enjoyed.
I was provided a copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
You can read my full review at https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
October 15, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Onlinebookclub.org in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not the demographic for this book, but honestly I'm not sure who this book is for. It reminds me of Girl Boss, that I know a lot of people loved, but to me reads like someone saying 'I did x, then y, and then z'. While there is some reflection and linear storytelling of overcoming hurdles, there isn't the depth I was expecting. The author focuses a lot on details like the call with his lawyer, but skims over areas that could be interesting, particularly when it comes to changing jobs and what drives him.
Overall the writing style wasn't for me, despite the content. It's not really a how-to guide, more of Newbery's story of overcoming his hurdles.
I'm not the demographic for this book, but honestly I'm not sure who this book is for. It reminds me of Girl Boss, that I know a lot of people loved, but to me reads like someone saying 'I did x, then y, and then z'. While there is some reflection and linear storytelling of overcoming hurdles, there isn't the depth I was expecting. The author focuses a lot on details like the call with his lawyer, but skims over areas that could be interesting, particularly when it comes to changing jobs and what drives him.
Overall the writing style wasn't for me, despite the content. It's not really a how-to guide, more of Newbery's story of overcoming his hurdles.
April 9, 2020
Read my full review here:
http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...
Newbery does a great job of relaying his trials and tribulations with emotional storytelling. I found his story quite compelling, as he did a great job of keeping the interest in building suspense up to the climax.
The story is strong because of its emotional ties to the author, yet there are some areas where the emotion is left out, or feels out of place.
Overall, I connected with this story and the struggles underwent by Newbery. This book is easy to read and I highly recommend this book to anyone undergoing their own ‘burn zones’, or just looking for an inspiring read.
http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...
Newbery does a great job of relaying his trials and tribulations with emotional storytelling. I found his story quite compelling, as he did a great job of keeping the interest in building suspense up to the climax.
The story is strong because of its emotional ties to the author, yet there are some areas where the emotion is left out, or feels out of place.
Overall, I connected with this story and the struggles underwent by Newbery. This book is easy to read and I highly recommend this book to anyone undergoing their own ‘burn zones’, or just looking for an inspiring read.
August 6, 2021
A compelling book for any entrepreneur
This book is not just about bike riding. You are on a race through Newbery's humble beginnings as a paperboy at age 7 to real estate mogul by the age of 24. Along the way he was a great many things. Above all else, he is a great person. The message and continuing theme of "burn zones", the extraordinary effort to preservere in times of trouble that separate the winners from the losers is truly inspiring. Well written, witty, and never boring, this book is something everyone can learn from and aspire to.
This book is not just about bike riding. You are on a race through Newbery's humble beginnings as a paperboy at age 7 to real estate mogul by the age of 24. Along the way he was a great many things. Above all else, he is a great person. The message and continuing theme of "burn zones", the extraordinary effort to preservere in times of trouble that separate the winners from the losers is truly inspiring. Well written, witty, and never boring, this book is something everyone can learn from and aspire to.
September 14, 2025
not what I expected
I’m not exactly sure what I expected with this book. It took some getting into it but it was really interesting. I must have misread that this was more of a life history I thought, for some reason it was loosely based on someone’s life but fictional. The way in which it was written was not quite like I would’ve expected with a fictional story, which is what threw me off. I know understand why it’s titled like it is in the picture is on the front like it is. It makes a lot more sense after reading the whole book and definitely is relatable to real life.
I’m not exactly sure what I expected with this book. It took some getting into it but it was really interesting. I must have misread that this was more of a life history I thought, for some reason it was loosely based on someone’s life but fictional. The way in which it was written was not quite like I would’ve expected with a fictional story, which is what threw me off. I know understand why it’s titled like it is in the picture is on the front like it is. It makes a lot more sense after reading the whole book and definitely is relatable to real life.
October 21, 2017
The book was good, but I thought it would have a different
I liked the Woodland Hills story, but I get the sense that the author is still affected to this day by what happened there, even though chronologically he may have moved on.
More than anything else, I was hoping that Mr. Newberry had experienced tremendous success after the Woodland Hills debacle, but such was not the case. I, ashamedly, was looking for a little more Hollywood and less reality.
I liked the Woodland Hills story, but I get the sense that the author is still affected to this day by what happened there, even though chronologically he may have moved on.
More than anything else, I was hoping that Mr. Newberry had experienced tremendous success after the Woodland Hills debacle, but such was not the case. I, ashamedly, was looking for a little more Hollywood and less reality.
December 5, 2020
Motivationally Captivating
Newbery goes from "Hero to Zero" in a matter of years while maintaining a positive attitude and coming out with his head more than above water. The work ethic and dedication that is demonstrated by Newbery is inspiring and motivating. He makes the reader feel like they are right there with him and that anything is possible. Even through all of the bad, they're can still be good.
Newbery goes from "Hero to Zero" in a matter of years while maintaining a positive attitude and coming out with his head more than above water. The work ethic and dedication that is demonstrated by Newbery is inspiring and motivating. He makes the reader feel like they are right there with him and that anything is possible. Even through all of the bad, they're can still be good.
November 9, 2019
Not quite a 5 but inspirational and a good read
A great story well told an if taken to heart it's basically a "how to book" on living a purposeful life, surviving and improving with challenges that are inevitable. In my opinion it could benefit from tighter editing. Slows and drags a bit on a couple of occasions.
I recommend this book
A great story well told an if taken to heart it's basically a "how to book" on living a purposeful life, surviving and improving with challenges that are inevitable. In my opinion it could benefit from tighter editing. Slows and drags a bit on a couple of occasions.
I recommend this book
April 27, 2020
This is a good read for someone who is interested in the real estate business. The author writes this memoir narrating all the obstacles he faced in life and the tactics he used to overcome them. He calls the obstacles the burn zones and tells us how we all face burn zones and have to navigate through them with hope and courage. This is a very inspirational book.
March 2, 2021
Newbery’s autobiography is an interesting account of his rise and fall, only to rise again. Kudos for getting back up! The warnings about risk, knowing when to throw in the towel and reaching out for moral support are important. So many of us keep our problems to ourselves, often a result of our pride and insecurities.
October 7, 2017
Easy to read and hard to out down
Excellent book all around. It was interesting hearing his story after hearing him on the Best Real Estate Advice Ever Podcast.
Excellent book all around. It was interesting hearing his story after hearing him on the Best Real Estate Advice Ever Podcast.
August 23, 2019
Great book!! Good personal lessons and a remarkable story about doing well and doing good!
January 24, 2020
Awesome read about overcoming adversities especially when one has been accustomed to success only to hit a low point in life.
April 21, 2020
I cried at the end.
I admire the author.
I feel motivated and this book is a good reminder that people should not give up.
I admire the author.
I feel motivated and this book is a good reminder that people should not give up.
June 5, 2020
3.5 stars
July 27, 2020
Probably the best memoir/autobiography I have read to date.
August 14, 2020
3.5 stars. Really interesting story, but it sometimes feels like he’s just responding to newspapers and naysayers who defaced him. Altogether a fun read but does come across as biased.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews