Don't Tell Me I Can't: An Ambitious Homeschooler's Journey

by Cole Summers

Imagine accidentally discovering a pending environmental disaster where you live, and having only eight years to try to stop it. That is precisely the situation Cole Summers finds himself in. A planned and preventable fiasco looms in his part of the Great Basin Desert, and it appears to be up to him to use his unique education to spread awareness, rally support, and rectify the situation before it is too late.

Cole is no stranger when it comes to rising to circumstantial challenges. Homeschooled and born into a poor rural family with disabled parents, he started his own farm by age 7. When he was 9 he purchased a 350-acre ranch, and when he was 10, a house. By the time he was 14, he’d forged a plan to tackle the environmental problems of industrial hay farming and aquifer depletion.

It would seem life has prepared Cole for this very calling. His journey through entrepreneurial unschooling has led him through an early path of conquering devastating setbacks on the way to his accomplishments. As you read his story, young Mr. Summers hopes that you find his writings equally eye-opening and inspiring for responding to your own challenges and calling in life.

Genres: Biography, Education, Parenting, Business, Memoir, Nonfiction

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2022

Reviews

[Ash Jogalekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book with a profound sense of loss combined with an inspired feeling of admiration for what young people can do. Cole Summers grew up in the Great Basin Desert region of Nevada and Utah with a father who had tragically become confined to a wheelchair after an accident in military training. His parents were poor but they wanted Cole to become an independent thinker and doer. Right from when he was a kid, they never said "No" to him and let him try out everything that he wanted to. When the four-year-old wanted to plant and grow a garden, they let him, undeterred by the minor cuts and injuries on the way.

Partly because of financial reasons and partly because there were no good schools available in their part of town, Cole's parents decided to homeschool him. But homeschooling for Cole happened on his terms. When they saw him watching Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger and Bill Gates videos on investing and business, they told him it was ok to learn practical skills by watching YouTube videos instead of reading school books. Cole talks about many lessons he learnt from Munger and Buffet about patience and common mistakes in investing. When other kids were reciting the names of planets, Cole was reading company balance sheets and learning how to write off payroll expenses as tax deductions through clever investing.

This amazing kid had, by the age of fourteen, started two businesses - one raising rabbits and one farming. He parlayed his income into buying a beat up house and a sophisticated John Deere tractor. He fixed up the house from scratch, learning everything about roofing, flooring, cabinet installation and other important aspects of construction from YouTube videos and from some local experts. He learnt, sometimes through hard experience, how to operate a tractor and farm his own land. He made a deep study of the Great Basin desert water table which is dropping a few feet every year and came up with a novel and detailed proposal to prevent water levels from declining by planting low-water plants. He came up with solutions to fix the supply chain problems with timber and farm equipment.

A week or two ago, Cole and his brother were kayaking and horsing around in a local reservoir when Cold drowned and died. He leaves behind a profound sense of loss at an incredible life snuffed out too young and some deep wisdom that most of us who have lived our entire lives still don't appreciate.

The main lesson in the book that Cole wants to leave us with is to let kids do what they want, not tell them they can't do things and give them the freedom to explore and spend leisurely time learning things in an unconventional manner. He rightly says that we have structured parenting in a such a way that every minute of a kid's day is oversubscribed. He is also right that many modern parents err on the side of caution.

It was certainly not the way my parents let me use my time when I was growing up, and I was free to explore the local hills looking for insects and libraries reading books and do dangerous experiments in my home lab from an early age; there is little doubt that this relaxed style of parenting on my parents' part significantly contributed to making me the scientist I am.

I strongly believe that if you let kids do what they want (within some limits, of course), not only will they turn out ok but they will do something special. Cole Summers seems to me to be the epitome of this ideal. May we all, parents and kids, learn from his extraordinary example and memory.

[Ann Checketts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this to my kids. I cried at the last sentence: “As wild as it is to have done enough unique things by age 14 to be able to write an autobiography, the truth is, I’m still just getting started.”

What an amazing young man. I loved reading about the way his mind worked. My kids were enthralled the whole time, many times with their jaws hanging open at Cole’s accomplishments. What a tragic loss for this world.

I’m grateful Cole wrote this when he did, so our hearts and minds can be expanded and inspired by him.

[T.]

Heard about from Bari Weiss here: https://www.commonsense.news/p/how-to...

Excerpt:

Social media is mostly garbage. My own feed is crammed with doomsday predictions and ads for scammy diets. But every once in a while, between the hashtags and the hysteria, a jewel presents itself.

Like Cole Summers.

I never met Cole Summers in real life. But I was completely floored by what I learned about him—and from him—online.

At first, to be honest, I worried this kid was just too good to be true.

Here’s what I mean: When he was six, Cole—whose family owns a farm in Beryl, Utah—started taking on the repair and maintenance for his family’s vehicles. Both of his parents are disabled: his father is a wheelchair-bound veteran; his mother is partially blind.

He started his first business, breeding and selling rabbits, at age seven. At nine, he started paying his own taxes. By ten, he had bought and was running a 350-acre farmstead where he raised goats and turkeys. For his eleventh birthday he bought himself a tractor.

Also: he transplanted trees; he wrote a feature-length film; he bought a run down house and renovated it himself. Oh, and he was a Bitcoin enthusiast, but also found a lot to admire in Warren Buffett. During his free time, he watched YouTube videos of Buffett and other business people talking about their achievements. He had never been to a movie theater.

I wasn’t the only one who thought it was unbelievable.

Cole posted a video two months ago on Twitter. The blonde boy stood in front of his own property addressing the camera. “Not everybody thinks I am me, so here I am! I really am a 14 year-old homeschooler,” he said. “I really do spend all my time trying to work toward changing the business model of desert farming to quickly stop aquifer depletion while keeping thousands of acres from being turned into dust bowl farmlands.” Here’s how the video ended: “I am who I say I am.”

I reached out to Cole to see if he wanted to write a piece for Common Sense. He delivered a few weeks ago; it was sitting in my inbox waiting to be edited.

I could never have imagined that the next time I would hear from Cole, it would be his dad DMing me on Twitter telling me that his son had died. The 14 year-old—whose real name was Kevin Cooper; he wrote under a pseudonym—drowned last Saturday in the Newcastle Reservoir in Utah while kayaking with his older brother.

Cole had plans. He was excited to get his driver’s license. He had his eye set on six properties made up of almost 7,000 acres in the Great Basin where he lived. He was passionate about the environment, water conservation, and reducing gas emissions. He wanted to buy thousands of acres of farmland to help avoid an environmental supply chain disaster.

He knew he would take care of his autistic brother who is three years older than him. He wrote in his book: “I want to raise my own kids here one day. I want my kids to enjoy watching the wild rabbits, deer, and pronghorn that live here. I want them to look forward to seeing bald eagles migrate in and live here every winter, just like I do.”

In his short life, Cole managed to cultivate two qualities that are rare even among most adults. He was at home in the real, physical world and he took great pleasure in it. And: he was completely unafraid to try.

You can buy Cole’s autobiography, “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t: An Ambitious Homeschooler’s Journey,” here. And you can help his family get through this unimaginable tragedy by donating to them here.

I’m really proud to publish this piece about his philosophy on unschooling and entrepreneurship below.

Share this one with your children. And if you appreciate pieces like this please become a subscriber today. — BW

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten stars! Holy smokes, this kid blew my mind. The world is worse with his passing and my heartfelt condolences go to anyone lucky enough to have known him; I’m certain they miss him.

I want so much more information about his Great Basin Green plan to try to revitalize (instead of fallowing) farmland and try to bring the aquifer back into balance. I would love to know which low-water fodder plants he decided were worth trying after all of his research. I hope someone can find out the three target farms he wanted to start with and try to make his ideas a reality.

I would also love to buy his books to teach his favorite lessons in business to homeschoolers.

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, easy to read book that reads easily. I was tempted to give it 4 stars but then I realized that temptation was because of the bittersweetness of knowing the author tragically died so soon after writing it.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable story about a remarkable young (14) entrepreneur.

Only after writing this review did I discover that he died shortly after the book's completion in a kayaking accident. Very sad indeed.

[Kieren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Cooper is an incredible kid, with an incredible story and incredible dreams. I am honored to have read his autobiography. It breaks my heart that he left so much unfinished.

Thank you, Kevin, for inspiring me to learn more and attempt impossible things. I newly marvel at the hidden potential in each of my amazing children and wonder if they are being stifled by mediocrity.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best and most inspiring book I’ve ever read!It hooked me from the introduction and kept me sucked in until the very end. I read it in almost one sitting! It’s at the very top of my list of favorites now.

[Nicole (Williams) Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic autobiography of one spectacular young boy. May he rest in peace.

I feel moved by his practical environmentalism. I hope my children will feel just as inspired to action by Cole’s discipline and creativity. And I hope they’re able to read in while being homeschooled too.

[Anthony Cappoferri · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever there were a clarion call for what is truly possible in the education of children, this would be it.

For anyone interested in the education of children specifically, or education in general, this is an absolute must read.

I unfortunately learned about this wunderkind through reading about his tragic death that occurred only several weeks ago at the end of June 2022. Let me just say that the world lost an incredible young man. Below are just a few of his accomplishments in his short life:

Born to disabled and poor parents who were apprehensive about sending Cole to public school, they allowed him the freedom to pursue areas of study that interested him. This resulted in:

At age 6, his parents handed him the reins to his own education, giving him the freedom to choose what to study. (He chose Warren Buffet videos on YouTube, because he wanted to learn how to get rich).

At age 7, he started his own business, breeding meat rabbits and selling them to restaurants. He set up a corporation and became the majority shareholder, just like a Silicon Valley startup.

At age 8, he got his first truck through trade with a neighbor—and discovered that an 8-year-old can in fact get a vehicle titled in their name.

At age 9, he bought a 350-acre ranch for $130 per acre to expand his business into breeding meat goats.

At age 10, he bought a house, which he then renovated and sold for a profit. He learned flooring, roofing, cabinet making, painting, and electrical work – again, from YouTube.

At age 14, he wrote an autobiography about his education called Don’t Tell Me I Can’t, a fitting title for what is essentially an ode to kids pushing the limits of what adults think is possible.

Wow. What the resume. And this book, Don’t Tell Me I Can’t is a gift to us all. Cole’s simple and plain spoken style is a clarion call to educators everywhere of what is possible if kids are allowed to be kids and pursue their interests alongside of caring supervision.

For any homeschooling parents, for those interested in home schooling, for any educators, and for anyone interested in the limitless possibilities that exist in every human being, especially from a young age, I cannot recommend Don’t Tell Me I Can’t more highly. Truly inspirational, a gift to us all, and a lasting legacy to a remarkable young man.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short book, 14-year-old Cole Summers shares his life journey thus far. From growing up poor with 2 disabled parents, to homeschooling, to becoming a success at a very young age, Cole shows what can happen with hard work, the desire to learn, and the freedom to try new things. Cole admits his learning style and his parents’ training style is not for everyone, and that he is “weird” and “different” from other children. But you can’t look at an ambitious, responsible teen who has worked hard to own multiple vehicles, properties, and businesses (all a result of his unique education) and think they did something wrong. He also seems to stay humble, taking his parents advice and not feeling smarter than anyone else, just given more opportunities in certain areas and a desire to go against the flow. And then he takes on his biggest challenge yet – solving the problem of the rapid decline of the aquifer of the Great Basin Desert that threatens his home and livelihood.
I thought Cole’s story was absolutely amazing. He accomplished in a few short years what most people don’t do in a lifetime – and all before entering high school. I easily read the 120 or so pages in a day and went to Amazon to buy the book to support his continuing ventures. The Amazon listing indicated that Cole (real name Kevin Cooper) passed away in an accident in June 2022, just the month after this book released, at age 14. A quick Google search provided many links to articles, obituaries, and his facebook page. My heart is broken to read about this bright young man gone too soon. He has written other books, including books on business for children, that the family plans to eventually publish. I hope for the chance to read them someday. The audio book is also available on Audible. Cole finished recording it himself just days before he died.
This concise book is a must read for any adult or teen, especially homeschoolers, who want to consider out-of-the-box education and be inspired to make a difference right where they are. I recommend purchasing this book in support of his family and his ongoing influence. May some of our children push against the nay-sayers and status quo and carry on his legacy.
*I received a free copy of this e-book from NetGalley and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this kid accomplished a lot by the age of 14! He bought hundreds of acres of property, renovated a run-down home, purchased a John Deere tractor and installed miles of fencing, made money off of meat rabbits and goats, repaired vehicles, and so much more- even while his parents were poor and unable to help him beyond offering emotional support. He was an incredible kid.

Sadly, if you follow his social media account, you'll read that he passed away in a freak kayaking accident after writing this book. It's so sad to know that he won't be releasing another book full of crazy accomplishments...yet I'm grateful that his parents gave him the freedom to hold the reigns of his own education and pursue his dreams while he was still here. He lived a life of adventure.

My opinion about unschooling remains about the same after reading this book- on the one hand, we are doing our kids a great disservice by not providing them with at least some opportunity to indulge in what excites them. On the other hand, like any other homeschooling method, it isn't perfect. For example, although the author wrote a great book, it could have used a bit of editing- he didn't know how to use the plural possessive form of "parent." (He repeatedly wrote "parent's" instead of "parents' ".) It's not a big deal, and I still greatly admire his self-led education. His stories were awesome.

The book is short. I think most people would find it interesting. I'd recommend it to anyone curious about unschooling, how parents with disabilities can still give their kids great opportunities, agricultural practices in desert regions, finding motivation for DIY projects, and business philosophy inspired by Warren Buffet.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful reminder of what’s possible when we stop believing in limitations

Don’t Tell Me I Can’t is more than a memoir — it’s a manifesto for defying expectations. Cole Summers’ story is astonishing not just because of his youth, but because of his unwavering commitment to what can be done, rather than what supposedly can’t. Raised in challenging circumstances, Cole carved a path for himself as a rancher, entrepreneur, and author before most kids even consider their first job. His mindset is the real star of this book — one that refuses to bow to conventional limitations, perceived obstacles, or the low expectations of others.

This book is a timely call to reject excuses and rediscover the boundless resourcefulness that lies dormant in many of us. Cole reminds us that talent and ability are not dictated by age, background, or circumstance — but by belief, action, and resilience. His journey is not sugar-coated; it’s gritty, practical, and often profoundly moving.

Reading this left me wondering: how much more could we all achieve if we weren’t taught to settle? Cole proves that when we stop identifying with our limits, we make space for something extraordinary.

Highly recommended for anyone who’s ever been told to “be realistic” — and especially for those who’ve started to believe it.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave fourteen year old Kevin Cooper's autobiography, written under his pen name, Cole Summers, a rare five stars. His story truly is unusual. He wrote, both to inspire other young people and to create yet something else of value that could benefit his family whose circumstances are discussed with frank and yet discrete and respectful diplomacy and great love.
The title might suggest rebellious energy to some, but that is not the spirit in which this young man lived; he respected the "can't" limits of legality, morality and physics.
It is a short book. You are likely to read it in a day, not only because it is only 118 pages, but because it is compelling. This is a story about taking hold of who you are, where you are and doing what you can do. This book was published a few months before Kevin's death in a kayaking accident...it is noteworthy how much this kid poured into fourteen years. Buy his book...search the internet for the news articles being written about him and ponder his lived intentions to be a regenerative force of hope and good will. While his young death is inescapably sad, his story is victorious.

[Jennifer Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow! This young man was on fire—researching business and investing strategies and tax and corporate law from age 6, purchasing a house and a ranch, fixing cars, raising rabbits, turkeys and goats. Helping his disabled father who could no longer provide. Thinking outside of the box and beyond himself to solve issues in his community. Devastatingly, this 14 year old young man passed away earlier this year in a drowning accident—the impact he had on the world around him in such a short time. Learning and doing according to his passions driven by his environment. Parents who took away limitations where they could and provides opportunities where they could. So inspiring. I want every young man of this generation to read this short autobiography that he wrote. I told my 13 year old son about it, and he immediately jumped into reading it right in the car. He jumped to the chapter where this young man had bought the house because he wanted to know how he did it. My son is home schooled as well, and he reminds me of how this young man thinks in some ways; hopefully, it will inspire him in a new way.

[Nico Perez]

A great read that you can easily finish in 1 hour. The Kindle version is only 73 pages, but it does a great job at showing what young people can do if you allow them freedom to follow their curiosity.

I found this book through highagency.com, and I completely agree that this kid was the definition of high agency. One of the quotes from the book perfectly encapsulates his attitude:

"Don’t ever take 'can’t' as the answer unless you’ve verified that it is against the law or against the laws of physics. People told me I can’t legally own property. The agent said I can’t buy it for such a cheap price. They were wrong."

"Bad luck sometimes just falls in our laps no matter what we do, so they expect good luck to do that too. From everything I’ve read and grown ups I’ve talked to, good luck almost never works like bad luck. Good luck requires us to do something on purpose to earn it. We either have to make sure we’re ready to use it when it does come, or go out looking for it."

you gotta play in traffic if you want to get hit

[Ed Sellier]

“I’ve been able to achieve a lot more than most kids my age, and there is absolutely no way I could have done it on my own. My family doesn’t have much money to contribute, but they’ve been the team helping me with their time on every crazy project I take on.”

Remarkable memoir about an unschooled child defying the adult system, never put off by grown ups saying “you can’t” (whether that was starting a business, learning to manage taxes or building a ranch). At the very least this is an inspiration for anybody with a growth mindset looking to maximise their own ability and potential in whatever their field of work and / or passion. This particular child (faced with a unique set of challenges from his father’s disability and mother’s need to care for him) found his calling in problem solving and finding a way to build a profitable business and vision for sustainable farming in the dust bowl. All home-schooled, learning from experts on YouTube. That algorithm, eh?

[Kristen Herbst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth reading, not only to understand the heart and mind of this amazing kid, but to be inspired to do great things to change the world around us. Adults and kids alike can learn from this book which is simply written in the voice of a 14 year old kid who challenged himself more than most adults. He accomplished great things in his short life and no doubt he would have done so much more. My prayer is that his tragic death somehow allows his message to spread farther and wider than it ever would have. May God inspire others through his book (and hopefully his future children's books) to carry on his mission. Kevin aka Cole certainly proved that kids can do so much more than we give them credit for!

[Karen Russell]

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE

I wish we had a lot more youngmen like Kevin. Obviously his parents have done a great job raising him. Kdz used to work alongside grown family members and share the family problems and joys. There was a generational respect for the land. That's been lost over recent years. Greed and narrowmindedness have taken over. This young man has a gift for seeing the big picture and finding a way to fix problems.
I'm so sorry to hear about the accident. Kevin will be remembered and hopefully his legacy of land restoration will be carried to fruition. My condolences to his family...

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book that inspires! I learned about Cole after his passing in summer 2022, and wanted to support his life efforts by purchasing this book. I am an experienced homeschooler, and Cole's celebration of his unschooling life is heart-warming and encouraging! Reading this book continues to support my belief that interest-led learning has the greatest power to educate and empower youth! I hope his legacy and passion loves on through those who continue to support his big ideas and also reject the idea that something can't be done. Indeed, Cole proves that with hard work and refusing to be deterred by failure...anything is possible! Read this book!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating book that tells the story of Cole Summers, a young man who discovers an impending environmental disaster in his community and takes it upon himself to prevent it. The book is a powerful testament to the power of perseverance and determination, showcasing Cole's unique upbringing and entrepreneurial spirit as he navigates the challenges of taking on such a daunting task. The writing is engaging and inspiring, and readers are sure to find themselves rooting for Cole as he fights for what he believes in. This is a must-read book for anyone looking to make a positive impact on the world.

[Vikki Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is inspiring, heartbreaking and written with a maturity beyond his years, Cole Summers tells his story well!
The storyline outlines a young man’s journey, his determination and ability to do what he set his mind to. I found myself turning the pages to hear what else Cole could do!
Cole learns his life skills at home, following his dreams and leaving anyone who reads this book pondering their own life skills and dreams!
An amazing story of an incredibly talented young man!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share this amazing book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lara McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Proof that kids can do more than we realize and give them credit for. As a parent I found it difficult to just let my child do things I thought he was too little to do. We have been progressively becoming more and more protective of our children and it is to their detriment. They can do amazing things when left to their own devices. We may never know how much knowledge was lost when this young man died at the age of 14. What problems may he have solved or be working on by the time he was 20 or 30 years old? Think about it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my boys read this then picked it up for myself. I’m so glad I did. Young Cole Summers’ autobiography tells of his successes, losses, unschooling, businesses, and a plan to help the Great Basin Desert slow its looming environmental destruction.
I recommend this book to homeschool and public school families. The writing is basic but the content is inspiring and gives a different perspective on education.
Tragically, Summers passed away not long after this book was published. He had a bright future with incredible ideas.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring book that will leave readers feeling empowered and motivated to pursue their dreams. The story of Cole Summers is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination, and his journey serves as a reminder that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. The writing is engaging and relatable, and readers are sure to find themselves drawn into Cole's story and inspired by his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. This is a must-read book for anyone looking to overcome adversity and pursue their own calling in life.

[Dani JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow. Imagine if more kids (and adults) had this can-do attitude, optimism and perseverance to follow their dreams and make them happen. This is probably the most inspiring book I've ever read! it's amazing how much a kid can accomplish with the right support and determination. I hope his legacy lives on forever. 🕊️

At the end of the book he shares his social media so you can keep up with his ventures, my excitement turned into shock and heartbreak to find out he passed away at 14. Not long after finishing the audio version of this book.. I cried so much

[Karen Terrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Cooper (Cole Summers) lived his life without limitations. He was bright and gifted, yes, but it was his approach to life that inspired me. He had hope for the future. He saw ways he could make the world a better place, and he believed he could make a better world for the children he hoped to have one day. He was only on our planet for fourteen years, but he accomplished in those fourteen years what most people who live to a ripe old age never accomplish.

(He provided us with a blueprint for bringing back the top soil, and life, to the American desert in this book. I hope our political leaders will read this book.)

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An autobiography written by a 14 year old boy who was being (self) home schooled. What an amazing young man. This should be required reading for all who are home schooled ... and really ... it ought to be required reading for all students. Absolutely fantastic!

Published May 2022. Many thanks to NetGalley for making available again for the opportunity to review in exchange for the advance read copy.

[Peter Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a copy of the paperback version and am glad I have it.

This book was inspirational. The fact that the young author passed away unexpectedly right after (before?) its release gave the book a bit of a somber feel.

It may be a book that I go back to the next time I feel like there is some big goal I want to accomplish that feels daunting. It is a short read, and accessible for readers as young as middle school age.

[Matthew Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’ll make you realize how much potential you have

Read it.

Cole summer’s writing is surprisingly informative and humorous. Perhaps because it’s short or because he uses simple words, the story is engaging and keeps you turning the page, excited to see what happens next. If you’re looking for a great story, inspiration for your next project, an example of just how much agency you have in this world, read this book.