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More Alike Than Different: My Life with Down Syndrome
In this inspiring memoir, David Egan tells his own story, giving us a window into a life spent pushing boundaries. With a family undaunted by his diagnosis of Down syndrome, Egan learned early to speak up for himself. He has since become a powerful advocate for all people with disabilities.
His optimistic perspective rejected the limits of stereotypes and the expectations of others. He shares how the support of loving family and friends led him to overcome challenges and blaze new trails. It started with swimming and baseball, when he earned places on his neighborhood teams, competing fiercely and as a fully accepted teammate. He writes firsthand of the empowering feeling of being fully included in elementary school and at work as an adult.
Egan has earned positions at prestigious companies and a distinguished fellowship on Capitol Hill. He sits on the boards of influential advocacy organizations. He has addressed audiences worldwide and has played a powerful global advocacy role with Special Olympics.
He allowed himself to dream big, and he encourages everyone to do the same. His lesson to all of us is to focus on our shared humanity despite our differences--and our diagnoses. This hopeful memoir will encourage everyone to make the most of their lives.
His optimistic perspective rejected the limits of stereotypes and the expectations of others. He shares how the support of loving family and friends led him to overcome challenges and blaze new trails. It started with swimming and baseball, when he earned places on his neighborhood teams, competing fiercely and as a fully accepted teammate. He writes firsthand of the empowering feeling of being fully included in elementary school and at work as an adult.
Egan has earned positions at prestigious companies and a distinguished fellowship on Capitol Hill. He sits on the boards of influential advocacy organizations. He has addressed audiences worldwide and has played a powerful global advocacy role with Special Olympics.
He allowed himself to dream big, and he encourages everyone to do the same. His lesson to all of us is to focus on our shared humanity despite our differences--and our diagnoses. This hopeful memoir will encourage everyone to make the most of their lives.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published July 7, 2020
15 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2025
Met David recently at a conference and we had a long chat about the importance of research. Loved to see his passion for it again in this book. He is such an awesome person!!!
May 25, 2024
Amazing story. David is an inspiration, and I love reading more about his advocacy through Special Olympics and the NDSS!!
July 19, 2020
David Egan's story is beautiful, to say the least, and incredibly inspiring. Having Down syndrome is just apart of who he is, and he NEVER allowed it to stop him. His list of accomplishments is a mile long but what matters most to him is being an advocate for his community.
David's story is one that can resonate with anyone. He is proof that our labels can't limit us. No one can, for that matter. I hope everyone finishes this as uplifted and inspired as I feel right now. We can all do better, and David is here to lead the way.
David's story is one that can resonate with anyone. He is proof that our labels can't limit us. No one can, for that matter. I hope everyone finishes this as uplifted and inspired as I feel right now. We can all do better, and David is here to lead the way.
December 13, 2022
Very moving and inspiring, the first (maybe only) memoir by an adult with Down syndrome.
January 24, 2021
Enjoyed this glimpse into David's life and the impact he has had on so many people.
October 5, 2024
David does not have wrote a book him shelf has someone else wrote it for him . It's a waste of money to buy David books .? David lies in his book. Please do not buy Davids's book. He lies in the book! he said he only went to one school in his life. not true. He went to 3 schools Thoreau Middle School, Chantilly high school, McLane high schools. ask him he will tell you I only went to one school is McClane school I have the book. I think it is garbage and it should not be bought. Please do not bye his 3 new books, magazines, his family does not like him.
David book lies to everyone to all his book readers beautiful, to say the least, and incredibly inspiring. Having Down syndrome is just a part of who he is, someone else wrote the book. he just took credit for putting his name on a book he does not wright talk about why he lies to his book readers. he should wright about something he knows not he does not know about.
Please save your money buy and buy Zoey's book instead if you want to buy this kind of book instead not David's book waste of money instead Zoey's wrote her book from the start to finish too good book. not Davids's book is bad to buy. I buy Zoey's books before I buy David's books. good luck has a nice day More Alike Than Different: My Life with Down Syndrome
David book lies to everyone to all his book readers beautiful, to say the least, and incredibly inspiring. Having Down syndrome is just a part of who he is, someone else wrote the book. he just took credit for putting his name on a book he does not wright talk about why he lies to his book readers. he should wright about something he knows not he does not know about.
Please save your money buy and buy Zoey's book instead if you want to buy this kind of book instead not David's book waste of money instead Zoey's wrote her book from the start to finish too good book. not Davids's book is bad to buy. I buy Zoey's books before I buy David's books. good luck has a nice day More Alike Than Different: My Life with Down Syndrome
January 19, 2022
This was a book recommended to me by a grant program that I’m currently in. I really enjoyed reading this book especially since it’s by someone who personally deals with an intellectual disability. It gives you a personal viewpoint on what they have gone through and where they are at today. As a School Psychologist intern this book challenges me to be better at my job and it reiterates the fact that IQ does not show ability. I will definitely take a lot of the quotes from this book into my every day practice.
March 18, 2024
David Egan is a trailblazer and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. His inspiring story shows how hard work and determination can lead to pushing boundaries and finding meaningful work including a successful career as a speaker and advocate. More Alike Than Different offers not only encourgement but lessons learned on the journey for families, professionals and anyone wanting to know more about living a life with disabilities.
November 1, 2021
This was a helpful read to learn about Down Syndrome from the perspective of someone who has it. I was inspired by David's attitude and warmth for all around him. However I would have liked to learn if he has a faith, and there could have been less biographical information and more about how he felt.
November 8, 2020
I absolutely loved this book and recommend everyone to read David Egan’s memoir. I am also very happy to Know David Egan myself. His story inspires me.
January 27, 2026
David Egan is an amazing and accomplished person and worth reading about. This book starts to get very repetitive after a while though. Five stars for a life of purpose. Three for the book itself.
January 7, 2022
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A book that shows that all of us, given the opportunity, can contribute to society and have a fulfilling life
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“That’s why I am writing this book. I want to show that a big group of people who society underestimated and misunderstood [namely those with Down syndrome] has blossomed in thousands of ways as laws and attitudes changed…
With this book, I want to show how embracing abilities makes everyone’s life richer…
The one thing I would like you to walk away with after reading this book is also inspired by [the TV sci-fi show] “star Trek.” I want you to believe that no matter who you are, you can “boldly go where no one has gone before.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this inspiring and unique book by David Egan (with his mother, Kathleen). He is an inspirational public speaker who just happens to have Down syndrome. Egan is an advocate of the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. He has served as a Special Olympics Global Messenger and served as a Joseph Kennedy Public Policy Fellow. Egan also sits on the National Institutes of Health’s Down Syndrome Consortium as well as other various non-profit advocacy boards. He is now a community relations coordinator.
(Kathleen Egan, PhD, has retired from a career that spanned a range of leadership positions. Dr. Egan serves on the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Child Health & Human Development Council.)
Down syndrome or Down’s syndrome (named after British doctor John Langdon Down. 1828 to 1896), AKA Trisomy 21 [(female: 47, XX, +21) (male: 47, XY, +21)], is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. The extra chromosome is believed to occur by chance. The genetic cause of Down syndrome was discovered in 1959. There is no cure for it.
Major symptoms include delayed physical growth, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Life expectancy in the developed world with proper health care is 50 to 60 years old.
Down syndrome is one of most common chromosome abnormalities in humans.
In this book, Egan shares a unique and personal story that highlights his vision and the power of inclusion. His lesson to all of us is to focus on our shared humanity despite our differences.
This well-written memoir will encourage everyone to make the most of their lives.
Finally, there are more than fifteen glossy pictures found near the end of this book. My favourite has the caption: “I had the full attention of the room during my testimony for the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee in 2011. I told the senators that employment is a social responsibility and a good business decision.”
In conclusion, this is a powerful memoir written by a man with Down syndrome. Live long and prosper, David!!
(2020; introduction [v to xvi]; 9 chapters; main narrative 140 pages; acknowledgments; notes)
XXXXX
A book that shows that all of us, given the opportunity, can contribute to society and have a fulfilling life
XXXXX
“That’s why I am writing this book. I want to show that a big group of people who society underestimated and misunderstood [namely those with Down syndrome] has blossomed in thousands of ways as laws and attitudes changed…
With this book, I want to show how embracing abilities makes everyone’s life richer…
The one thing I would like you to walk away with after reading this book is also inspired by [the TV sci-fi show] “star Trek.” I want you to believe that no matter who you are, you can “boldly go where no one has gone before.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this inspiring and unique book by David Egan (with his mother, Kathleen). He is an inspirational public speaker who just happens to have Down syndrome. Egan is an advocate of the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. He has served as a Special Olympics Global Messenger and served as a Joseph Kennedy Public Policy Fellow. Egan also sits on the National Institutes of Health’s Down Syndrome Consortium as well as other various non-profit advocacy boards. He is now a community relations coordinator.
(Kathleen Egan, PhD, has retired from a career that spanned a range of leadership positions. Dr. Egan serves on the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Child Health & Human Development Council.)
Down syndrome or Down’s syndrome (named after British doctor John Langdon Down. 1828 to 1896), AKA Trisomy 21 [(female: 47, XX, +21) (male: 47, XY, +21)], is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. The extra chromosome is believed to occur by chance. The genetic cause of Down syndrome was discovered in 1959. There is no cure for it.
Major symptoms include delayed physical growth, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Life expectancy in the developed world with proper health care is 50 to 60 years old.
Down syndrome is one of most common chromosome abnormalities in humans.
In this book, Egan shares a unique and personal story that highlights his vision and the power of inclusion. His lesson to all of us is to focus on our shared humanity despite our differences.
This well-written memoir will encourage everyone to make the most of their lives.
Finally, there are more than fifteen glossy pictures found near the end of this book. My favourite has the caption: “I had the full attention of the room during my testimony for the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee in 2011. I told the senators that employment is a social responsibility and a good business decision.”
In conclusion, this is a powerful memoir written by a man with Down syndrome. Live long and prosper, David!!
(2020; introduction [v to xvi]; 9 chapters; main narrative 140 pages; acknowledgments; notes)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews