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Mi Vida: A Story of Faith, Hope and Love
In Forest Gump, Sally Fields says, Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what youre gonna get.
MI VIDA is like a Latino Forest Gump story. However, it is the true-life story of Jos his challenging childhood; Army enlistment as a cook but eventually ending up a Paratrooper, Airborne Ranger then Green Beret; obtaining and losing success, and ultimately finding out what matters most in life.
Around 56 A.D., the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians about the importance of faith, hope and love.
Harris takes the reader along on his life's journey on the road to finding peace, love and happiness. Along the way, he works to strengthen his faith in God and his hope for the future.
At the end of the book, the reader may ask the question that Harris asks himself throughout, "Who Am I?" The reader may discover the answer, and find out today's meaning and importance of the three attributes that the apostle Paul wrote about, 2000 years ago.
MI VIDA is like a Latino Forest Gump story. However, it is the true-life story of Jos his challenging childhood; Army enlistment as a cook but eventually ending up a Paratrooper, Airborne Ranger then Green Beret; obtaining and losing success, and ultimately finding out what matters most in life.
Around 56 A.D., the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians about the importance of faith, hope and love.
Harris takes the reader along on his life's journey on the road to finding peace, love and happiness. Along the way, he works to strengthen his faith in God and his hope for the future.
At the end of the book, the reader may ask the question that Harris asks himself throughout, "Who Am I?" The reader may discover the answer, and find out today's meaning and importance of the three attributes that the apostle Paul wrote about, 2000 years ago.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
José N. Harris
2 books98 followersJosé N. Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 25, 1962. He lived there for several years before his family relocated to Juan Aldama, Zacatecas, Mexico and later the border town of Tijuana, Mexico. His mother, a migrant farm worker, would travel back and forth between Ventura County, California and Tijuana for work, sometimes taking José and his siblings with her.
José eventually ended up in and out of the foster care system. At the age of 17, He enlisted in the US Army where he obtained his GED and became an Army medic. He volunteered for and became a Paratrooper and an Army Ranger. Later he earned his “Green Beret” as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He served in Central America in the 1980s. He was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1987 and enlisted in the Army Reserves where he continued to serve in the 12th Special Forces Group.
Harris pursued his education at Santa Ana College, then at the University of California at Irvine where he received his B.A. in both Psychology (with Honor’s) and Psychobiology. He entered the University of California at Berkeley Psychology M.A. /Ph.D. program. He completed his Ph.D. in Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem/WUJS in Israel. He also completed post doctoral studies in behavioral neurology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the Hadassah Medical Center. He remained in Israel, where he had private practices in psychology and neuropsychology. He served as the Chief Neuropsychologist at the Sarah Herzog Memorial Hospital in the division of Neuropsychogeriatrics and in the Neurobehavorial Clinic, where he supervised psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists. He also taught as an Associate Professor, at both the Institute of Technology, Arts and Science, Holon and at The Technion University in Haifa, Israel.
Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Harris pursued a career in social services as a Family Law Mediator, Adoptions Specialist, and as a Program Director for multiple adoption and foster programs in the San Francisco Bay area. He also served as the chief operations officer at a large medical facility in Northern California.
A few years later, he began work on his book, MI VIDA: a Story of Faith, Hope and Love. He is currently working on his second book- UNDECLARED WARS: Central America in the 1980s. And also a Spanish translation of "MI VIDA."
José currently resides in Long Beach, California.
José eventually ended up in and out of the foster care system. At the age of 17, He enlisted in the US Army where he obtained his GED and became an Army medic. He volunteered for and became a Paratrooper and an Army Ranger. Later he earned his “Green Beret” as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He served in Central America in the 1980s. He was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1987 and enlisted in the Army Reserves where he continued to serve in the 12th Special Forces Group.
Harris pursued his education at Santa Ana College, then at the University of California at Irvine where he received his B.A. in both Psychology (with Honor’s) and Psychobiology. He entered the University of California at Berkeley Psychology M.A. /Ph.D. program. He completed his Ph.D. in Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem/WUJS in Israel. He also completed post doctoral studies in behavioral neurology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the Hadassah Medical Center. He remained in Israel, where he had private practices in psychology and neuropsychology. He served as the Chief Neuropsychologist at the Sarah Herzog Memorial Hospital in the division of Neuropsychogeriatrics and in the Neurobehavorial Clinic, where he supervised psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists. He also taught as an Associate Professor, at both the Institute of Technology, Arts and Science, Holon and at The Technion University in Haifa, Israel.
Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Harris pursued a career in social services as a Family Law Mediator, Adoptions Specialist, and as a Program Director for multiple adoption and foster programs in the San Francisco Bay area. He also served as the chief operations officer at a large medical facility in Northern California.
A few years later, he began work on his book, MI VIDA: a Story of Faith, Hope and Love. He is currently working on his second book- UNDECLARED WARS: Central America in the 1980s. And also a Spanish translation of "MI VIDA."
José currently resides in Long Beach, California.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 21, 2011
Mr. Harris' life story is sad, but at the same time, you feel joy that he overcame so many obstacles in his life and became a strong, funny, successful man. I include, funny, because so many people in his shoes would not ended up with such a good sense of humor. They would have been bitter and angry. Instead, Mr. Harris is able to see how his life turned him into the person he is today and shares his story with us, so that we might be encouraged to never give up hope.
December 26, 2011
This book brought back memories of growing up and just "being a kid". It made me realize many things. For one, how truly blessed I was with the parents I had. And that life truly is what we make of it. Mr. Harris did an incredible job of taking us, the readers on one heck of a journey! It reminded me that although life is not promised to be fair to no one, as long as we don't loose hope, that is what is important. I laughed and cried. In my humble opinion, this book can change your outlook on life. What could be better than that?!
November 22, 2011
De Oppresso Liber - For the true patriots it is a lifelong commitment to helping other people. Oppression exists in many different forms. LTC Grayson Giles (SF, ret) said, "Our greatest, and most valuable, exports are freedom, hope, and the... ideals of our liberal-democratic tradition. Ultimately, true soldiers war not against flesh and blood - but the true enemies of mankind: hate, intolerance, ignorance, greed, corruption, poverty, and political and theocratic tyranny in all forms." This freedom from oppression is more than just a physical one. It is freedom of the mind and the human soul.
Doc Harris is living by the SF Motto of "De Oppresso Liber." Through his book, he is touching lives and helping others see the struggles and challenges that life presents. His success story is an inspiration!
Great book!!!
Doc Harris is living by the SF Motto of "De Oppresso Liber." Through his book, he is touching lives and helping others see the struggles and challenges that life presents. His success story is an inspiration!
Great book!!!
October 7, 2011
What I read so far kinda takes me back to things I seen in movies and at times I can relate to some of the authors experiences. I love the fact that when reading this book I can relate and laugh, cry and can relate to some of the experiences the author wrote. Overall this book is good and I will definately recomeded to others to read. Especially those readers that have not experience what it is to be homeless and have questions about faith and hope. To author I say thank you for writing about your experiences and for sharing so many personal things. I promise to finish the book but am taking my time because I dont want it to end.
January 27, 2013
An incredible book and an incredible read. Jose says we all came from the same dirt, so we all have the same potential to succeed, fail and then recover from or mistakes. Our past does not need to define our future. He is the example. Read this book, I amy change how you look at life. Its a book about redemption. Our own redemption. Buy this book. You'll read it all in one shot. Its that good. You won't put it down.
August 7, 2011
Awesome read, could not put it down. Beautifully written, flows from chapter to chapter. I needed a box of Kleenix on several chapters. I found it interesting while reading that the author gave me a feeling of being there experiencing his life. Mixture of many stories rolled into 1 awesome read
January 27, 2012
Gentle, amazing, humbling. Ackwardly graceful. If you haven't had a chance to read it, buy it. It may change how you view life and our world. Strength and fragility. Love, loss and redemption. Buy it. You won't be dissapointed.
May 17, 2012
This book is amazing. I have read this book multiple times because of how inspiring it is. The author has a beautiful outlook on life and his writing style is wonderful. I liked it so much that I have given copies to friends.
Want to read
October 14, 2011Looking forward to read this after meeting you on Tuesday.
Bonnie
Bonnie
November 21, 2011
I read this book straight through, one day, because I did not want to put it down. Having served in Panama at Ft. Kobbe, I was anxious to read it. What took me by surprise was knowing what " doc" Harris life was like prior to the service, this was something I was not aware of. A truly amazing story in its self.Then he took me along on the ride that made me laugh, cry and laugh some more. It is a must read. I'm honored to have wore the same patch as this man. He is inspirational. Thanks for writing this, and for living it.
April 14, 2016
This book was written for you, the reader. If you have ever struggled or dealt with challenges in you life, I am hoping you will see how you are not alone. We are not alone. Keep hope!
April 26, 2014
I wrote MI VIDA to share with others who have struggled in life or are struggling. This book was written for you. I hope you like it!
May 3, 2015
MI VIDA is an amazing book by an amazing author. Truly an epic read. It helps us learn about the important things in life. It can change you perspective snd give you hope. Buy it. Read it
November 12, 2019
Rich in content
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews