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Permission to Dream Lib/E
In the spirit of The Last Lecture, The Secret, and The Alchemist, this small book presents BIG ideas for turning your “one day” into today, including the generational transfer of a dream and a powerful blueprint for a masterpiece life—from the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir and major motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness. On a winter’s day, Chris Gardner set off with his nine-year-old granddaughter Brooke to find the harmonica of her dreams. The search sends them North “beyond the wall” into a foreboding Chicago neighborhood and, soon, on a harrowing adventure that will change both of their lives—and ours. Chris is still mourning the loss of his girlfriend to brain cancer. Her question haunts “Now that we know how short life can be, what will you do with the time you have left?” After five years, he feels an urgency—what he calls, “Atomic Time” in which every second counts—to find an answer, but is stuck. Even while giving Brooke permission to aspire to one day become President of the United States, he knows it’s time to reclaim his own permission to dream. Lost, Chris and his granddaughter board a bus, reminding him of earlier rides through dark times when dreams of a better life kept him alive. As the two wind through a changing cityscape, Chris reflects on past lessons that offer powerful guidance for dreaming your way to monumental success. At its heart, this book lays out a blueprint for building a dream-come-true life—even during uncertainty. Gardner delivers the secrets to achieving a prosperous career—from a method for identifying your ultimate dream to a playbook for becoming world class at it. His tools include the “new 3 R’s”—or the Rep, the Rap and the Rolodex—which reveal how to earn a stellar reputation, develop a rap for marketing yourself, and amass a Rolodex of rewarding relationships. No matter how much wealth you achieve, Chris notes, true success comes from enriching the lives of others—so all can still have access to the American Dream. Toward the end, Brooke observes that in Atomic Time it’s never too late for anyone to reinvent themselves and change their fortune. Chris, hearing her, realizes what his next pursuit will be—to go back to high school and give permission to dream to the next generation of problem solvers and change makers. A true fable, Permission to Dream is a timeless and timely manifesto for turning dreams into action—beginning right now.
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First published April 13, 2021
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September 30, 2025
رخصة للحلم كتاب لرجل الأعمال الأمريكي و المتحدث الملهم كريس جاردنر...
كريس جاردنر صاحب السيرة الذاتية 'البحث عن السعادة' التي حققت مبيعات هائلة وتحولت إلي الفيلم المعروف الذي قام ببطولته الممثل الأمريكي ويل سميث
"The pursuit of happyness"
يعرض الكاتب في الكتاب أفكاره في التنمية البشرية كما إنه بيسترجع ذكريات من سيرته الذاتية وكيف بدأ حياته المهنية وكل دة مكتوب بإسلوب سلس من خلال حوار ممتع مع حفيدته ..
الكتاب كله أفكار إيجابية و بيأكد مراراً وتكراراً إن لازم كل واحد يكون عنده حلم يؤمن به و يسعي بكل الطرق الممكنة لتحقيقه و يجب ألا نسمح تحت أي ظرف لأي شيء أو أي شخص بإبعادنا عن أحلامنا...
كتاب إيجابي وفي تفائل كدة ..صحيح إحنا بطلنا نتفائل من زمان وأحلامنا عادة بتتحول لكوابيس بس مازلت قراءة الكتاب كانت ممتعة:)
كريس جاردنر صاحب السيرة الذاتية 'البحث عن السعادة' التي حققت مبيعات هائلة وتحولت إلي الفيلم المعروف الذي قام ببطولته الممثل الأمريكي ويل سميث
"The pursuit of happyness"
يعرض الكاتب في الكتاب أفكاره في التنمية البشرية كما إنه بيسترجع ذكريات من سيرته الذاتية وكيف بدأ حياته المهنية وكل دة مكتوب بإسلوب سلس من خلال حوار ممتع مع حفيدته ..
الكتاب كله أفكار إيجابية و بيأكد مراراً وتكراراً إن لازم كل واحد يكون عنده حلم يؤمن به و يسعي بكل الطرق الممكنة لتحقيقه و يجب ألا نسمح تحت أي ظرف لأي شيء أو أي شخص بإبعادنا عن أحلامنا...
كتاب إيجابي وفي تفائل كدة ..صحيح إحنا بطلنا نتفائل من زمان وأحلامنا عادة بتتحول لكوابيس بس مازلت قراءة الكتاب كانت ممتعة:)
April 13, 2021
If you are a reader who enjoys self-help/personal growth nonfiction this short book on steps that can help you manifest your dreams is one you'll want to check out. I don't tend to read these types of books and I was able to appreciate this short and enjoyable book. One of the things that I appreciated the most is Gardner's message of creating and maintaining positive and meaningful relationships as measure of success, happiness, and fulfillment. That money is only part of what makes someone wholly successful.
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
April 22, 2022
I rarely read self-help or non-fiction books and when I do, it usually takes me a while to get through them. This book was recommended to me and I am so glad I read it because it’s now one of the two self-help books I’ve ever read and loved almost instantly. I looked forward to reading this whenever I had breaks between classes.
I love Chris Gardner’s writing style and the way he continues to switch between the stories he tells throughout the book. He goes from talking about the current situation to explaining things he experienced in the past. I wasn’t confused at any point in this book because he did such a good job at switching stories, and explaining and phrasing what he was trying to say. I would recommend this book to everyone because it has so much to offer and isn’t targeted at any specific person. There are so many messages in this that we could all learn from.
Some of my favourite quotes include:
“everyone has a treasure map inside. It’s the knowledge that everything we dream has been turned into reality before. Everything that seems impossible to overcome or to achieve has been done before.”
“You know what your great-grandmother used to tell me about the public library? She said it was the most dangerous place possible because you could go in there and learn how to do anything. You want to be world-class, go to the library.”
“Dreams - if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride - may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progressions. Rarely do we have the option to move along from A to B to C. But no matter how much uncertainty and hardship comes our way, we have to be mindful of the smallest blessings that can ignite the biggest fires in us all.”
I love Chris Gardner’s writing style and the way he continues to switch between the stories he tells throughout the book. He goes from talking about the current situation to explaining things he experienced in the past. I wasn’t confused at any point in this book because he did such a good job at switching stories, and explaining and phrasing what he was trying to say. I would recommend this book to everyone because it has so much to offer and isn’t targeted at any specific person. There are so many messages in this that we could all learn from.
Some of my favourite quotes include:
“everyone has a treasure map inside. It’s the knowledge that everything we dream has been turned into reality before. Everything that seems impossible to overcome or to achieve has been done before.”
“You know what your great-grandmother used to tell me about the public library? She said it was the most dangerous place possible because you could go in there and learn how to do anything. You want to be world-class, go to the library.”
“Dreams - if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride - may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progressions. Rarely do we have the option to move along from A to B to C. But no matter how much uncertainty and hardship comes our way, we have to be mindful of the smallest blessings that can ignite the biggest fires in us all.”
May 28, 2021
I really really enjoyed this book.
April 5, 2021
I have not read any of Gardner’s previous works but I have seen the movie based in his book The Pursuit of Happyness. So I was familiar with his story. I found that this book does retell bits and pieces of that story while adding in what he learned in order to be able to pursue his dreams. I though this was a worthwhile read that will make you stop and think about your own journey when it comes to fulfilling your future goals. I appreciated how the story was weaved together with his journey to buy his granddaughter a harmonica. He was able to capture the moments of that day and tie them into the bigger lessons he wanted her to learn. He did preface the story saying he took a little bit of liberty with the reality of that day but I think what he chose to embellish or change made the telling of the story more impactful. My oldest daughter is graduating high school this year. I think this would make a perfect gift for anyone who is about to enter a state of transition such as that. I will be passing my copy along to her in hopes of inspiring her on her next phase of life. I’m very glad that I read this and will be seeking out his other books in the future.
April 14, 2024
I really wanted to like this, given the author’s well-known, impressive personal story, but it was a rambling mess. The primary plot devices didn’t quite work, the fleeting references to famous friends felt more like humblebrags than purposeful inclusions, and it tried to opine on every major issue of this day and age (without breaking new ground) vs. narrowing its focus. Save your time and read or listen to something else.
July 25, 2024
This was a great book! I loved the stories he told throughout.
“Your self worth should never be equated with your net worth”
“I was so low down that kneeling was a step up for me” —- speaking on finding religion again….
This book made me cry and laugh. A lot of the stories told made me think of my time with my grandparents.
Would highly recommend.
“Your self worth should never be equated with your net worth”
“I was so low down that kneeling was a step up for me” —- speaking on finding religion again….
This book made me cry and laugh. A lot of the stories told made me think of my time with my grandparents.
Would highly recommend.
June 27, 2021
The storyline felt just a little bit forced, but the ideas were solid and the last page or two where he shared the questions God (however you define God) would ask you was really inspirational.
January 27, 2026
Permission to dream is an aspiring memoir, talking about the importance of a dream and how you have to work hard for it
May 17, 2022
The book was intended to be a mixture of a memoir, novel and self-help non-fiction on personal development, and as a result it's a poor example of all three.
The author is trying to sell American dream which is long known to be fiction for so many social groups. He mentions important issues of systemic racism, homelessness and income inequality which he experienced himself, but instead of discussing them in depth he give us universal 'remedy': dream big, work hard and you're gonna get where you want. The author clearly has survivorship bias, but instead of acknowledging it, he wrote the whole book to reinforce it.
He argues that in order to solve all your problems you need to become 'world-class' at anything, including 'at sweeping streets', although I don't see how this title would allow you buy your first Ferrari (which is apparently a symbol of success for the author) or pay the bills. He admits that himself saying that up to 60% of homeless people have full-time or part-time job, but fails to see the contradiction here.
Moreover, he totally overlooks ethical questions of such ideology. Dreams of many people are mutually exclusive and a priori cannot be fulfilled at the same time. If a girl wants to save the environment and another guy wants to earn millions off fossil fuels, how are these dreams compatible? And if someone has an ambitious dream of starting wwIII, should we cheer for him and chant 'go for it, you can do it! Just follow your dream and ignore everyone who says you must give up on it'? Well, we see what happens in this case.
Not to mention that the very idea of having THE BIG DREAM is very problematic. Some people are lucky to know what they want to do with their lives, but many don't. And it's fine. I'm 30 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Reading books like these as a teenager gave me huge inferiority complex and constant anxiety that haunts me since then. Uncertainty about my future made me feel worthless, hopeless and pathetic because 'how dare I not having my big dream when everyone else seems to be conquering the world at this very moment?'. I hate to think that some young folk might read this book and feel the same.
Finally, he capitalizes the idea of necessity to work hard every second of your life and drills in the importance of maintaining impeccable reputation since adolescent period, so that in the end his little granddaughter gets apprehensive about she's saying or doing. Ugh. Don't even get me started on that.
Such book would look less awkward maybe fourty years ago when its ideas wouldn't be challenged so much, but now when this approach is widely considered as narrow-minded and exclusive, I don't see why one would want to have it on their bookshelf.
My dad has worked at oilfields for more than 30 years, and at early days of his career he used to be given entire boxes of canned milk because it was thought to be helpful against toxicity of the working environment. After reading the book I feel I deserve some free milk too.
The author is trying to sell American dream which is long known to be fiction for so many social groups. He mentions important issues of systemic racism, homelessness and income inequality which he experienced himself, but instead of discussing them in depth he give us universal 'remedy': dream big, work hard and you're gonna get where you want. The author clearly has survivorship bias, but instead of acknowledging it, he wrote the whole book to reinforce it.
He argues that in order to solve all your problems you need to become 'world-class' at anything, including 'at sweeping streets', although I don't see how this title would allow you buy your first Ferrari (which is apparently a symbol of success for the author) or pay the bills. He admits that himself saying that up to 60% of homeless people have full-time or part-time job, but fails to see the contradiction here.
Moreover, he totally overlooks ethical questions of such ideology. Dreams of many people are mutually exclusive and a priori cannot be fulfilled at the same time. If a girl wants to save the environment and another guy wants to earn millions off fossil fuels, how are these dreams compatible? And if someone has an ambitious dream of starting wwIII, should we cheer for him and chant 'go for it, you can do it! Just follow your dream and ignore everyone who says you must give up on it'? Well, we see what happens in this case.
Not to mention that the very idea of having THE BIG DREAM is very problematic. Some people are lucky to know what they want to do with their lives, but many don't. And it's fine. I'm 30 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Reading books like these as a teenager gave me huge inferiority complex and constant anxiety that haunts me since then. Uncertainty about my future made me feel worthless, hopeless and pathetic because 'how dare I not having my big dream when everyone else seems to be conquering the world at this very moment?'. I hate to think that some young folk might read this book and feel the same.
Finally, he capitalizes the idea of necessity to work hard every second of your life and drills in the importance of maintaining impeccable reputation since adolescent period, so that in the end his little granddaughter gets apprehensive about she's saying or doing. Ugh. Don't even get me started on that.
Such book would look less awkward maybe fourty years ago when its ideas wouldn't be challenged so much, but now when this approach is widely considered as narrow-minded and exclusive, I don't see why one would want to have it on their bookshelf.
My dad has worked at oilfields for more than 30 years, and at early days of his career he used to be given entire boxes of canned milk because it was thought to be helpful against toxicity of the working environment. After reading the book I feel I deserve some free milk too.
July 18, 2021
“When you think there’s absolutely no way you can make it and you’re about to give up on your dream, it takes just one person — you — to make a difference.”
~ Chris Gardner
If you’re in the mood for an inspiring novel filled with gems to give you the push you need to continue pursuing your dreams then Permission To Dream by Chris Gardner is perfect for you!
Permission To Dream begins with beautiful dialogue between Gardner and his girlfriend, Holly, who is terminally ill. It’s in these bittersweet moments that she asks him, “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?” If we’re certain about anything, it’s that tomorrow is not promised and we cannot get back the time that has passed. As Gardner sets to create the blueprint for the rest of his life, his conversations with his granddaughter lead to him discovering what his goals are and what he needs to do to get there.
This novel was so much more than I expected. In both my personal and professional life, I will be focusing on ways to improve my 3R’s - The Rep, The Rap and The Rolodex - which focus on our reputations, ability to communicate our ideas, and the relationships we create. I will be graduating next May and creating a blueprint for where I want to be and how I’ll get there will significantly impact my ability to achieve my goals. Permission To Dream is definitely a book I will be referencing often during challenging moments and when I’m thriving.
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @amistadbooks for the gifted copy!
~ Chris Gardner
If you’re in the mood for an inspiring novel filled with gems to give you the push you need to continue pursuing your dreams then Permission To Dream by Chris Gardner is perfect for you!
Permission To Dream begins with beautiful dialogue between Gardner and his girlfriend, Holly, who is terminally ill. It’s in these bittersweet moments that she asks him, “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?” If we’re certain about anything, it’s that tomorrow is not promised and we cannot get back the time that has passed. As Gardner sets to create the blueprint for the rest of his life, his conversations with his granddaughter lead to him discovering what his goals are and what he needs to do to get there.
This novel was so much more than I expected. In both my personal and professional life, I will be focusing on ways to improve my 3R’s - The Rep, The Rap and The Rolodex - which focus on our reputations, ability to communicate our ideas, and the relationships we create. I will be graduating next May and creating a blueprint for where I want to be and how I’ll get there will significantly impact my ability to achieve my goals. Permission To Dream is definitely a book I will be referencing often during challenging moments and when I’m thriving.
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @amistadbooks for the gifted copy!
May 24, 2021
3.75 ⭐️
On a blustery winter day in Chicago, Chris Gardner and his granddaughter set off into the city to find the harmonica of her dreams. Along the way Chris imparts his wisdom to creating the life of your dreams, while reminiscing with his granddaughter about his past, in turn discovering his own next life pursuit.
Did this book ever give me a little kick in the pants to make things happen in my life!
Going into this one I knew about Chris Gardner only from the movie, Pursuit of Happiness. I enjoyed learning more of his story. There’s also quite a bit of important history added in the mix. I wish all self-help books were written as this one. Wisdom passed on to his granddaughter on their day out in the city made this a really fun, interesting, and quick read.
I especially like that the message is simple yet powerful, and most importantly positive. This isn’t a way to get rich quick. This is the pursuit of your dreams and finding happiness, with a lot of emphasis on building meaningful relationships.
I enjoyed reading this inspirational story, that has me questioning my own life (in a good way), and searching for my next life pursuit. As the book says, every second counts.
*Thank you to Booksparks and Amistad for providing me with a copy.
On a blustery winter day in Chicago, Chris Gardner and his granddaughter set off into the city to find the harmonica of her dreams. Along the way Chris imparts his wisdom to creating the life of your dreams, while reminiscing with his granddaughter about his past, in turn discovering his own next life pursuit.
Did this book ever give me a little kick in the pants to make things happen in my life!
Going into this one I knew about Chris Gardner only from the movie, Pursuit of Happiness. I enjoyed learning more of his story. There’s also quite a bit of important history added in the mix. I wish all self-help books were written as this one. Wisdom passed on to his granddaughter on their day out in the city made this a really fun, interesting, and quick read.
I especially like that the message is simple yet powerful, and most importantly positive. This isn’t a way to get rich quick. This is the pursuit of your dreams and finding happiness, with a lot of emphasis on building meaningful relationships.
I enjoyed reading this inspirational story, that has me questioning my own life (in a good way), and searching for my next life pursuit. As the book says, every second counts.
*Thank you to Booksparks and Amistad for providing me with a copy.
April 15, 2021
PERMISSION TO DREAM by Chris Gardner, Mim Eichler Rivas
Do you like to read non-fiction? I want to but I don’t always read one. This is my first from Chris Gardner. I have heard about The Pursuit of Happyness so this book got me interested. The author narrates his encounter with his granddaughter. It’s quite engaging and cute but I am more interested in what he has learned and did based on that experience.
These questions in the book made me think:
What will you do with what you have been given?
How will you create your masterpiece in life?
I know that even in our simple day to day lives, doors can open for us to learn something new or to do something different. The short book imparts the message of pursuing our dreams despite hurdles and to acknowledge blessings in disguise.
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @amistadbooks .
Do you like to read non-fiction? I want to but I don’t always read one. This is my first from Chris Gardner. I have heard about The Pursuit of Happyness so this book got me interested. The author narrates his encounter with his granddaughter. It’s quite engaging and cute but I am more interested in what he has learned and did based on that experience.
These questions in the book made me think:
What will you do with what you have been given?
How will you create your masterpiece in life?
I know that even in our simple day to day lives, doors can open for us to learn something new or to do something different. The short book imparts the message of pursuing our dreams despite hurdles and to acknowledge blessings in disguise.
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @amistadbooks .
December 29, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up / this was a lovely, thoughtful, and touching before bed read. i was touched by my first time watching “the pursuit of happyness” years ago and to read about his story again through the lens of dreaming up the future you want for yourself was really empowering. it was such a delight to get this from my dad for christmas after he saw chris gardner give a talk. i’m torn between keeping this on my shelf and cherishing it or donating it so someone else can receive the gift of the permission to dream.
May 31, 2022
Permission to Dream written by Chris Gardner and Mim Eichler-Rivas
Chris Gardner is inspirational & his life quite extraordinary to say the least. He uses the deep conversations he had with his 9 year old granddaughter on a blustery cold day in Chicago to illustrate his perseverance to achieve his dreams while teaching her life lesion along the way. While I found the story to be quite impactful, it wasn’t what I needed at this time in my life. I have achieved my dreams & in actuality did it in many of the ways Gardner points out.
Gardner had some really tough times in his life and came out a champion.
Chris Gardner is inspirational & his life quite extraordinary to say the least. He uses the deep conversations he had with his 9 year old granddaughter on a blustery cold day in Chicago to illustrate his perseverance to achieve his dreams while teaching her life lesion along the way. While I found the story to be quite impactful, it wasn’t what I needed at this time in my life. I have achieved my dreams & in actuality did it in many of the ways Gardner points out.
Gardner had some really tough times in his life and came out a champion.
June 8, 2021
Such a powerful incredible story! I loved this so much! It had me in tears a few times but honestly just made me realize how important life is and our dreams! Never stop dreaming, ever ❤️
July 23, 2023
“We don't have all the answers. But what we do have is the choice to live in our seconds, in our moments, and in our limited time in the world. We do have a choice as to how we use all that has been given to us.”
A book that was gifted from a friend always strikes my heart in a unique way. This book is a special one that I will continue to revisit throughout my life.
A book that was gifted from a friend always strikes my heart in a unique way. This book is a special one that I will continue to revisit throughout my life.
July 10, 2023
Just not my cup of tea really.
May 18, 2021
3.75 stars
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity. Much appreciated!
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity. Much appreciated!
May 12, 2021
I thought this was a good book to read considering we are in a pandemic. It causes you to think about what is important in life. More importantly it makes you think about how to achieve goal by dreaming about them.
August 14, 2021
Hey! My first review! I liked the plot of him with his granddaughter but the flashbacks were too long and boring. It was supposed to be inspiring but not typically my taste. I recommend this book to someone who is trying to start a business. That’s all for now xoxo <3
March 25, 2022
I added this to my audiobook queue because it looked cute. I didn't even read the synopsis. Turns out it wasn't really a story, but a "how to achieve your dreams" type book. It was written as a kind of memoir with an older guy talking to his 9-year-old granddaughter and a cab driver. The information was nice, but the delivery was quite unrealistic because he used the 9-year-old asking follow-up questions as a way to move the content forward. However, her questions and the cab driver's effusive participation in the conversation felt very contrived. If one can overlook that, it has some nice messages and ideas on how to improve one's ability to achieve sucess.
April 27, 2021
Are you a dreamer? A daydreamer? A goal setter? I think they all go hand in hand as you think about what you want for your life. I read Permission to Dream a couple weeks ago and wow it was just wonderful. It was such a great book to read with so many big changes going on in my life. It would also be great if you are ready for some changes in your life!
Chris Gardner (author of The Pursuit of Happyness- you might have seen the Will Smith movie) writes in his new book about turning those “one day” ideas into today. The book is not written like a self-help book, it is more of a story and such a good read. On a winter day, maybe one of the worst, he sets off with his 9-year old granddaughter, to find a harmonica. They head north in the snow, into a town in Chicago, that seemed like a good idea at first.
Throughout the story he talks about how all the things that day remind him of his past and he explains to his granddaughter that you have to give yourself permission to dream. And that it’s never too late to dream and you can do it starting right now! For a man who struggled with homelessness and became a wealthy stockbroker, he is certainly one to listen to when he talks about dreaming big!
Highly recommend this one for you or a gift!
Chris Gardner (author of The Pursuit of Happyness- you might have seen the Will Smith movie) writes in his new book about turning those “one day” ideas into today. The book is not written like a self-help book, it is more of a story and such a good read. On a winter day, maybe one of the worst, he sets off with his 9-year old granddaughter, to find a harmonica. They head north in the snow, into a town in Chicago, that seemed like a good idea at first.
Throughout the story he talks about how all the things that day remind him of his past and he explains to his granddaughter that you have to give yourself permission to dream. And that it’s never too late to dream and you can do it starting right now! For a man who struggled with homelessness and became a wealthy stockbroker, he is certainly one to listen to when he talks about dreaming big!
Highly recommend this one for you or a gift!
August 17, 2021
A very well-written account with some very appropriate insights. While I understand the addition of thoughts about current political climate, I wish those ideas were left out, in order to grant this book the potential to become a timeless classic. By adding those current political thoughts, I wonder if the more appropriate advice of granting and achieving one’s dreams might get lost in political disagreements. If you can put aside those political discussions, the book provides some amazing insight and encouragement to those individuals who struggle to dream, and those who struggle to achieve their dreams.
April 12, 2021
4 STARS. Really enjoyed this. More books helping to turn your dreams into reality exist, but not all of them transcend the written word and STICK. This is not one of those.
April 8, 2021
Chris Gardner is so refreshing, smart, and upbeat. The book 'Permission to Dream' is the same. I recommend it. I interviewed Chris for the Smithsonian Associates podcast I host, and he was fantastic.
November 19, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my review. Permission to Dream was written by Chris Gardner, who also wrote the New York Times best seller, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Mim Eichler-Rivas. This is a powerful book that will make you stop and think about your own dreams and the choices you are making in your own life. Gardner believes that fear is what holds most people back from not only achieving their dreams but also from even pursuing those dreams. His overriding wish is that kids believe in themselves and believe that anything is possible. Gardner thinks that people need a blueprint for their lives. This book is not all about becoming rich. According to Gardner the true measure of success is how much we help others. I highly recommend this book.
May 5, 2021
So inspirational!
Dream, plan your life’s blueprint, acquire and transfer skills. Then the 3R’s: The Rep (your accomplishment), The Rap (your way to communicate your dreams, and The Rolodex (your relationships with those who can help you and those you can help.)
One hand, one foot!
And always ask yourself…
1. If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything what would it be?
2. What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?
And remember every time you have a rough time “This has been done before. So why can’t I?”
Dream, plan your life’s blueprint, acquire and transfer skills. Then the 3R’s: The Rep (your accomplishment), The Rap (your way to communicate your dreams, and The Rolodex (your relationships with those who can help you and those you can help.)
One hand, one foot!
And always ask yourself…
1. If tomorrow I could wake up and be or do anything what would it be?
2. What did I do today that will lead to that tomorrow?
And remember every time you have a rough time “This has been done before. So why can’t I?”
May 2, 2021
Inspirational and engaging!
You will feel like you can take on the world after reading this book! The dialogue with his granddaughter is priceless! The author takes you on an existential journey while leaving you with practical advice to give traction to your dreams! Being a lifelong Chicagoan, I truly appreciated the Chicagoland geographical references.
You will feel like you can take on the world after reading this book! The dialogue with his granddaughter is priceless! The author takes you on an existential journey while leaving you with practical advice to give traction to your dreams! Being a lifelong Chicagoan, I truly appreciated the Chicagoland geographical references.
November 2, 2021
I randomly picked this up at the library with 0 expectations. Had I expected something like self help or a really great story, I may not have liked it. However, it was a sweet story that was sometimes over embellished. I understand that he exaggerated characters for effect, yet the taxi driver's responses and his granddaughter's responses were too implausible to take seriously.
Even so, it is a nice heartwarming book with a call to action. It just takes one person, one action in a day, and giving yourself permission to dream to make a difference. His story is inspiring and there are some great nuggets about how to be successful in this world in the ways that matter. Some themes of the book including making the most of this one life, the ability to dream is America's greatest export, people are here now because of our ancestor's ability to dream, and letting our life to be a masterpiece.
I appreciated the concept of the rep, the rap, and the rolodex. (Reputation, being able to communicate your ideas, and your relationships). I especially loved the emphasis on relationships here. I also want to come back to his mentioning of Dr. King's speech about having a blueprint for you life which includes sombeodiness, a dedication to excellence, and a commitment to love, beaty, and justice. Last, he left us with a question of what God or your higher power might ask you about what you've done with your life.
Some quotes that stand out to me:
"Dreams-if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride-may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progression. Rarely, do we have the option to move along from A to B to C"
"Your external circumstances are impossible to change when you lack the capacity to imagine possibilities that may not be right in front of you-yet."
"When you help someone else choose to believe in themselves and their most audacious, wildest dreams, you are also giving them permission to be different"
"The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can't tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they would probably say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work. "
"You have to make the choice as to whether you want to be the one signing the front of the check or the back of it".
...."there are some dreams you don't have to chase down but will come and find you. Let me encourage you to be receptive to opportunities that may not appear as such in the beginning. When the universe taps you on the shoulder and says there is something you can do for others, guess what-that might be your dream calling you. I tell you this as a reminder to give yourself daily doses of permission to accept the that is coming to you. I tell you this as a reminder that no matter how young or old you happen to be, you are a child of the universe, loved, and meant to be here, a person of worth and substance in this life. "
"We are pivoting away from the old paradigm of doing and being as we enter a period when what counts more are the values of being and becoming."
"Our masterpiece lives will come from taking on causes fully and allowing ourselves to be fully engaged to the nth degree in the passionate and collaborative pursuit of our new vision of the American dream".
Even so, it is a nice heartwarming book with a call to action. It just takes one person, one action in a day, and giving yourself permission to dream to make a difference. His story is inspiring and there are some great nuggets about how to be successful in this world in the ways that matter. Some themes of the book including making the most of this one life, the ability to dream is America's greatest export, people are here now because of our ancestor's ability to dream, and letting our life to be a masterpiece.
I appreciated the concept of the rep, the rap, and the rolodex. (Reputation, being able to communicate your ideas, and your relationships). I especially loved the emphasis on relationships here. I also want to come back to his mentioning of Dr. King's speech about having a blueprint for you life which includes sombeodiness, a dedication to excellence, and a commitment to love, beaty, and justice. Last, he left us with a question of what God or your higher power might ask you about what you've done with your life.
Some quotes that stand out to me:
"Dreams-if we are willing to let them unfold and take us on their ride-may require us to accept that the way forward will be one of nonlinear progression. Rarely, do we have the option to move along from A to B to C"
"Your external circumstances are impossible to change when you lack the capacity to imagine possibilities that may not be right in front of you-yet."
"When you help someone else choose to believe in themselves and their most audacious, wildest dreams, you are also giving them permission to be different"
"The truth is that there are many masters of their trade who can't tell you how they got there. They just do it effortlessly. The only thing they would probably say is that you have to be willing to grind in the early going. Learn the basics, improve, find mentors to challenge you, constantly ask questions, push yourself, and sacrifice. The harder you work work, the more real your dream will become. But always remember to work more than you dream, never dream more than you work. "
"You have to make the choice as to whether you want to be the one signing the front of the check or the back of it".
...."there are some dreams you don't have to chase down but will come and find you. Let me encourage you to be receptive to opportunities that may not appear as such in the beginning. When the universe taps you on the shoulder and says there is something you can do for others, guess what-that might be your dream calling you. I tell you this as a reminder to give yourself daily doses of permission to accept the that is coming to you. I tell you this as a reminder that no matter how young or old you happen to be, you are a child of the universe, loved, and meant to be here, a person of worth and substance in this life. "
"We are pivoting away from the old paradigm of doing and being as we enter a period when what counts more are the values of being and becoming."
"Our masterpiece lives will come from taking on causes fully and allowing ourselves to be fully engaged to the nth degree in the passionate and collaborative pursuit of our new vision of the American dream".
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