I Am the Storm: Inspiring Stories of People Who Fight Against Overwhelming Odds – Everyday Heroes, Courage, and Hope

by Janice Dean

New York Times bestselling author Janice Dean shares the journeys and lessons she’s learned from everyday heroes taking on long odds.  After her acclaimed memoir, Mostly Sunny , Janice Dean figured she was done trying to survive or bring down awful men. Then she found herself taking on Governor Andrew Cuomo on social media and then at rallies. What at first seemed like a futile fight ended with Cuomo’s historic resignation. But it caused Janice to wonder: What fuels someone’s resolve to go up against a powerful opponent? And how can ordinary people make the world a better place? In  I Am the Storm , Janice shares the stories of others who stood like David against Goliath, choosing to fight for what was right rather than take the easy path. In the book, she shares stories from ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as: * a California chef who went up against the government to help restaurants and restaurant workers *an American college hockey team that beat Soviet champions *a mother taking on the opioid crisis after her daughter dies *a gymnast working to reform a broken and abusive system *a courageous southern nurse who headed to NYC at the height of the pandemic These and other true stories will reveal what it takes for real people to go through life’s storms. And sometimes, those storms leave permanent damage. You may need a box of tissues as you read about a veteran who lost his hearing and sight to an IED, or a Minnesota mom who took up the fight against the opioid epidemic after losing her own daughter. But even in our darkest seasons, Janice shows, we can still have hope, resilience, and perseverance.  I Am the Storm  is an uplifting call to be brave like David no matter what Goliaths we face. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Inspirational

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 17, 2023

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It starts off with the author's fight for answers during the spring of 2020 after she lost her husband's parents in nursing homes, and then transitions into other inspiring stories of people going up against the odds to try and fight for just causes. I especially loved revisiting the Miracle on Ice Story, the nurse who came from Georgia to take care of patients at the beginning of the pandemic. And the D-Day story about the woman who helped forecast the invasion was incredible too! It's not just the author's story, its so many others who rise up to try and make a difference.

[Stephanie Seymore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great encouraging David vs Goliath stories.

[Kym Gamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of inspirational stories from the main weather person at Fox News. Don't let yourself be troubled by the fact that she is with Fox. This is totally stories about people who fought back against their Goliath. It is good to know that people are making a difference. She spoke about the New York politician Andrew Cuomo and his putting people with COVID into nursing homes where there had been no cases and people started to die. She also came out against Roger Ailes when Meghan Kelly accused Ailes of sexual harassment. These are just two of the stories about finding the silver linings in this world. People who would risk coming out against those in our society who don't care about anyone but themselves and their wishes. I recommend this book if you want a little boost of caring and hope.

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

While all the stories were inspiring, and each individual is amazingly brave, I only give this book 3 stars. It was informative, but told from the perspective of a New Yorker, it spent a few too many stories and mentions of Andrew Cuomo. While I agree with her assessment that he and his pompous attitude are vile, she gives him too much credit. Most of America, outside of New York, don’t care about him. His attitude is despicable, and he should be held accountable, but I found the stories about others much more inspiring. The world does not begin and end in New York.

[Tim Roegner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were inspiring, others, not so much. I could have done without the interspersed political commentary.

[Lynsee Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring series is stories and causes that people have decided their life to. Many of them orbit the topic of COVID 19, and even the others were all drawn back to the cause of the author. Because of this it felt a little bit like a book on the mismanagement of the pandemic, still a solid read.

[Trevor Rosine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was more political than I wanted it to be.

[Tj N · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of the book was exciting, but it fell short of delivering anything of substance. the bulk of the book was about the pandemic & frankly not that intriguing.

[Bookish207 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book includes many stories about succeeding against great odds, and in that aspect the book is great and inspiring. However, the author over-emphasizes her fight against Andrew Cuomo, so much that it is reflected or commented on in almost every story in the book, which is overkill. It frankly makes the book less enjoyable, and it feels like the author is trying to justify why she can write a book like this. She doesn’t need a justification and the stories and interviews are great.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

While some of the stories were interesting and inspirational, there was way too much focus on Andrew Cuomo, USA gymnastics, and COVID. I understand that those might have been hot issues at the time of writing, but it clearly makes it a niche book. Also, the author inserts herself and her life experiences within each story, which served to take away from message.

[Andy]

DNF. If you're on Fox and you're on a mission to destroy Democrat Darling Andrew Cuomo, then I don't think you are putting your career at risk. That's not really a heroic, punching up, David vs. Goliath story. But she keeps coming back to that story about herself. Annoying. The Democratic state legislator going after the Governor from his own party--that's punching up. She could have told that story without making it about herself and it would have made sense given what the book is supposed to be about.

There's also stuff about people just doing their jobs. Why?

Alternatives:
Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing in an Age of Fraud
Beautiful Souls: Saying No, Breaking Ranks, and Heeding the Voice of Conscience in Dark Times
Twisted: The Story of Larry Nassar and the Women Who Took Him Down

[Rosanne Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just one in the piles of amassed books that claim this one person fought against the injustices she was facing at the hands of a megalomaniac and their associated industry and, little by little, made enough of a difference that it was noticed. And that attention gained momentum enough that the little person was finally about to topple a giant. What differentiates this story from others is that she couched her ‘look at me’ success around the narratives of others who did it, too, so it wasn’t all about her. The premise around the intent was good. And I get what she was trying to do. All her feel-good friends told her, over wine and accolades, that she should tell her story. But I think there was a disconnection from the story when she made it about herself. She could have told the story as if it was happening to someone else as she did with the rest of the stories, and made it all about the same theme throughout the book, and then shocked and surprised the readers afterward by saying… oh, by the way… this one story was me. THAT would have made it go from another… pile of books… to a stand-out, wow!

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is deceiving. Yes, there are David and Goliath stories, but there were 3-4 chapters of just her life through the COVID-19 pandemic. And almost every chapter has, what I would call, a self-centered-ness where Dean talks about something in her life that relates to the story she is telling. This may not be a turn off for some readers, but it was for me. I almost DNFed after chapter 6.

2.5 stars, but rounded up giving her the benefit of the doubt.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually listened to this book on Audible but for some reason there was not an option for that on goodreads.
As always Janice Dean finds people as remarkable and positive as she is to tell their stories. I ove that it is read by her because she is so positive and full of emotion.

[val andrewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story

I watched all of what Janice related on TV as it happened.. The backstory is incredible and heartbreaking. I want to personally thank her for writing a terrifically moving story. And good for her. Godspeed in her work to get justice from those who failed to do the right thing and hurt so many people.

[betty pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes deeper than I expected. A view from inside the pandemic in the nursing home catastrophe in NY.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging David vs Goliath stories.

[Nkwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about overcoming adversity and letting life struggles set your direction. How one person can change the world. David and Goliath.

[Kingsley Sawtelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter is a short inspiring story! Nice read

[Jan Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.

This book gives you hope and let's us know there are still good people out there! It is a must read.

[carole smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story

Excellent read of stories of very brave People who can make a difference By just doing their job Thinking of others . An inspiring history lesson.

[Carol T. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a weather girl

I like her writing style. Of course I have been aware of her for some time, but, until this book, I wasn't aware how much more there was. Reading the book is well worth the time.

[Elizabeth Gail Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed the book and the stories of those who went up against tremendous odds.