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Finding Joe Adams: Overcoming Great Odds A Son Searches For His Father
From homelessness, hunger, and poverty to becoming a respected prosperous member of society, this is a story of overcoming huge obstacles. From beginning to end, you won’t be able to put the book down as Joe Field tells you his life’s story about finding spiritual guidance, a wife, and eventually a father he knew was out there, but had no idea where to start looking for.It’s a story that grabs you and keeps you wanting to read until it’s done. Field is one of those master storytellers that can pull you in without being aware of it.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 9, 2025
After reading Finding Joe Adams by Joe Field, I can say it’s one of the most emotionally honest and gripping personal stories I’ve come across in a long time. The book follows the author’s decades-long journey to find his biological father, a man he never knew and was never told about. What starts as a survival story, abandonment, poverty, abuse, and resilience, morphs into a powerful account of identity, faith, and redemption. We follow Joe from a harrowing childhood in foster care and public housing to his adult years as a lawyer, all while haunted by the mystery of his origins. The turning point comes at age 60, when he finally discovers his father and a whole new family, culminating in a reunion that was captured on national television.
Joe Field’s writing is raw, often unpolished, and deeply human. His tone is not literary, but it hits you hard with its sincerity. He’s trying to tell the truth, and that truth isn’t always easy to digest. What stuck with me was how vividly he remembers pain. Not just his own, but also the impact of his absence on others. His childhood recollections are intense. Some moments are outright heart-wrenching: hiding from foster parents, watching his belongings vanish after yet another eviction, or enduring violence while alone. And yet, he rarely lets bitterness win. Instead, what comes through is a surprising current of humor, humility, and faith.
More than just storytelling, the book carries deep reflections on identity, belonging, and forgiveness. I was particularly touched by how Joe navigated his faith journey, not through sermons, but through the small, often overlooked kindnesses of others and the slow realization that he was never alone. His emotions are never oversold, which somehow made them hit harder. There’s an undercurrent of hope through every hardship, and that’s what makes the book linger. You walk away thinking not about how hard life was for him, but how strong the human spirit can be when it's anchored by even the thinnest thread of hope.
I would recommend Finding Joe Adams to anyone who enjoys memoirs about resilience, family, and self-discovery. It's especially powerful for readers who’ve ever wondered about their roots or struggled to make peace with a chaotic past. It's a deeply personal story that feels universal in all the right ways. It’s not perfect, but then again, neither is life. And maybe that’s exactly what makes this book so worth reading.
Joe Field’s writing is raw, often unpolished, and deeply human. His tone is not literary, but it hits you hard with its sincerity. He’s trying to tell the truth, and that truth isn’t always easy to digest. What stuck with me was how vividly he remembers pain. Not just his own, but also the impact of his absence on others. His childhood recollections are intense. Some moments are outright heart-wrenching: hiding from foster parents, watching his belongings vanish after yet another eviction, or enduring violence while alone. And yet, he rarely lets bitterness win. Instead, what comes through is a surprising current of humor, humility, and faith.
More than just storytelling, the book carries deep reflections on identity, belonging, and forgiveness. I was particularly touched by how Joe navigated his faith journey, not through sermons, but through the small, often overlooked kindnesses of others and the slow realization that he was never alone. His emotions are never oversold, which somehow made them hit harder. There’s an undercurrent of hope through every hardship, and that’s what makes the book linger. You walk away thinking not about how hard life was for him, but how strong the human spirit can be when it's anchored by even the thinnest thread of hope.
I would recommend Finding Joe Adams to anyone who enjoys memoirs about resilience, family, and self-discovery. It's especially powerful for readers who’ve ever wondered about their roots or struggled to make peace with a chaotic past. It's a deeply personal story that feels universal in all the right ways. It’s not perfect, but then again, neither is life. And maybe that’s exactly what makes this book so worth reading.
September 17, 2025
A memoir so masterfully crafted that I couldn't put it down! Field has evidently tapped into his true vocation as an author, and I appreciate his decision to wield this God given gift to recount his extraordinary life adventures for us. The narrative is not just a recounting of events; it is a courageously candid, beacon of hope and inspiration, inviting readers to trust in God and embrace the possibilities of life.
Through the chapters, you become intimately acquainted with Joe Field, and it’s a pleasure to observe his journey toward locating his father. The qualities he embodies - humility, honesty, gratitude, determination, and resilience - radiate brightly, and it's clear that he would be a treasured member of any family; you truly can't help but root for him as you read.
His journey resembles a gripping work of fiction, making it hard to accept that it's real life at times. The emotional gravity of his tale brought tears to my eyes on numerous occasions as I pondered the hurdles he overcame in a tough childhood. Remarkably, these hardships did not dampen his spirit and his story serves as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to seek redemption or turn toward the Lord. Moreover, he exemplifies how being raised without a father does not dictate one's future, defying the statistics that often accompany such circumstances. His life is a powerful testament to the fact that God answers prayers and performs miracles, culminating in a wonderful ending that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.
Ultimately, Joe's memoir reassures us that God is always by our side, working all things together for good, and that every journey, no matter how challenging, can lead to extraordinary outcomes!
Through the chapters, you become intimately acquainted with Joe Field, and it’s a pleasure to observe his journey toward locating his father. The qualities he embodies - humility, honesty, gratitude, determination, and resilience - radiate brightly, and it's clear that he would be a treasured member of any family; you truly can't help but root for him as you read.
His journey resembles a gripping work of fiction, making it hard to accept that it's real life at times. The emotional gravity of his tale brought tears to my eyes on numerous occasions as I pondered the hurdles he overcame in a tough childhood. Remarkably, these hardships did not dampen his spirit and his story serves as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to seek redemption or turn toward the Lord. Moreover, he exemplifies how being raised without a father does not dictate one's future, defying the statistics that often accompany such circumstances. His life is a powerful testament to the fact that God answers prayers and performs miracles, culminating in a wonderful ending that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.
Ultimately, Joe's memoir reassures us that God is always by our side, working all things together for good, and that every journey, no matter how challenging, can lead to extraordinary outcomes!
July 20, 2026
*Finding Joe Adams: Overcoming Great Odds – A Son Searches for His Father* by Joe Field is a moving memoir that speaks to the power of perseverance, faith, and the search for identity. Joe Field shares his life story with honesty and humility, taking readers through the hardships of growing up in poverty, overcoming personal obstacles, building a life filled with love and purpose, and ultimately embarking on a decades-long journey to find the father he never knew. His story is both deeply personal and universally relatable, reminding us that our past does not have to define our future. One of the book's greatest strengths is its authenticity. The emotional moments feel genuine, and Joe's reflections on faith, family, and resilience add depth to every chapter. Rather than simply recounting events, he invites readers to see how hope and God's guidance can quietly shape a life, even when the path seems uncertain.
Whether you're drawn to inspiring true stories, memoirs of personal transformation, or faith-filled journeys of redemption, *Finding Joe Adams* is a heartfelt read that leaves a lasting impression. It's a powerful reminder that healing, forgiveness, and hope are always possible, no matter where life begins.
January 22, 2020
In finding Joe Adams, the author shares with us the tough experiences of growing up fatherless in the projects of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the ways that a God he didn’t know had his hand on Joe’s life. School was his escape, and eventually Joe graduated and went on to law school. Achieving his dream, even landing in the office he had coveted, didn’t satisfy. Along the way God brought godly men into Joe's life who showed him the good news of Jesus Christ in tangible ways even when he was at his lowest and introduced him to his heavenly Father. This is compelling reading that will have you cheering as Joe eventually teases out the clues as to who his father is and meets him face to face along with a whole family he didn’t know he had.
[I had a hand in editing this book and enjoyed both the author and the project very much.]
[I had a hand in editing this book and enjoyed both the author and the project very much.]
August 22, 2020
Found
This autobiography is a great read. The dramatic beginning draws you in with the description of a young man excelling in school but struggling with circumstances beyond his control. Not a perfect life..but a real life with twists and turns, ups and downs like we all experience. In spite of his unconventional beginning, he is also able to look back on his life and see how God had intervened..guided him, many times without his acknowledgement. Highly recommend this one.
This autobiography is a great read. The dramatic beginning draws you in with the description of a young man excelling in school but struggling with circumstances beyond his control. Not a perfect life..but a real life with twists and turns, ups and downs like we all experience. In spite of his unconventional beginning, he is also able to look back on his life and see how God had intervened..guided him, many times without his acknowledgement. Highly recommend this one.
January 7, 2022
Joe's story is inspirational and, at times, heartbreaking. From a childhood of hunger and poverty, Joe tells his story so that you get caught up in it without knowing. I stayed up reading just one more chapter for several nights.
It's a story of a boy deciding he wanted to know his father and a lifelong search for him. On the way, you get to know a man who made himself successful only to lose that success and fall back. Each time, Joe picks himself up and starts moving forward again.
It's a story of a boy deciding he wanted to know his father and a lifelong search for him. On the way, you get to know a man who made himself successful only to lose that success and fall back. Each time, Joe picks himself up and starts moving forward again.
June 16, 2020
Amazing
I found this story amazing. Not only the unusual life Joe had but also that just before I read it I found out that I have a 60 year old cousin who found the family thru DNA testing with a match to her Uncle. Her Dad is dead.Congratulations to Joe on finding his Dad and a woman for having found us. Good luck in finding your Mom
I found this story amazing. Not only the unusual life Joe had but also that just before I read it I found out that I have a 60 year old cousin who found the family thru DNA testing with a match to her Uncle. Her Dad is dead.Congratulations to Joe on finding his Dad and a woman for having found us. Good luck in finding your Mom
September 25, 2020
Republicans bull.
I was happy to read a book about a man finding his father. Not about a republican who talks about himself all the time. God talked to you in a bar, really. Also god loves everyone not just stupid Republicans. I wish I had not spent my hard earned democratic money on this terrible written book.
I was happy to read a book about a man finding his father. Not about a republican who talks about himself all the time. God talked to you in a bar, really. Also god loves everyone not just stupid Republicans. I wish I had not spent my hard earned democratic money on this terrible written book.
October 2, 2020
Very touching book
Searching for a father , survive a poverty stricken childhood with such a young mother. Succeeded in education and further education and the people who helped along the way all tell a touching story. Acknowledge God in your life and that church and praise music fills your soul. There are two sides to every story or more.
Searching for a father , survive a poverty stricken childhood with such a young mother. Succeeded in education and further education and the people who helped along the way all tell a touching story. Acknowledge God in your life and that church and praise music fills your soul. There are two sides to every story or more.
December 14, 2022
Right from the start I got caught up in this story of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. The author was brutally honest about his own failures in life. As his faith grew, so did his desire to find the father he never knew. From the compelling opening to the satisfying conclusion, this was an enjoyable story of faith and perseverance.
January 23, 2020
Exceptional Story that Touches the Heart
Joe’s story of his childhood, his battles through life, and his Christian view of life make this an exceptional read; the thing that made it better was his never ending quest to find his father.
Joe’s story of his childhood, his battles through life, and his Christian view of life make this an exceptional read; the thing that made it better was his never ending quest to find his father.
July 8, 2021
I ENJOYED THE INFORMATION HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO FINALLY GET CONNECT WITH HIS BIOLOGICAL DAD. I AM TRYING TO CONNECT WITH MY DAD'S FAMILY AND FIND OUT ABOUT HIS MEDICAL HISTORY. I AM TRYING TO REACH OUT AND AWAITING FOR A CONNECTION MYSELF.
October 28, 2021
A memoir triggered by a son finding his father for the first time at age 60, this true story chronicles the rawness of life's difficulties, particularly for a single parent, Hispanic mother raising three children. But it is the innocent overcoming attitude of the author which in the end shouts out hope for those similarly situated in the midst of a rough world. Triumph over adversity, with a developing faith journey, sets up the climatic ending of the author finally finding and meeting a dad he longed to know. A Readers Favorite Bronze Medal winner in 2020 in the category of Christian Non-Fiction.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews