Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Penguin Books (2001), Edition: Reissue, Paperback, 260 pages
Description
Mr. Dawson, a 101-year-old man who learned to read when he was 98, shares his life story and his "insights into humanity, history, America ... parenting ... [and] attitude."--Jacket.
Subjects
Language
Physical description
260 p.; 5.45 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member vernefan
Born in 1898, the grandson of slaves, George Dawson was raised on a small town Texas farm at a time that was unfavorable to be black. As a child he worked from sun-up to sundown on his daddy’s farm, by the time he was 12 he had witnessed the power of the Klu Klux Klan, and saw his best friend
Until he was old enough to try life alone, he spent his boyhood days picking cotton, and crushing sugar cane, ending each day snuggling up to 7 siblings in a one-room cabin holding one bed that kept 8 children warm. Although George would have loved to attend school, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day as a hard working young man helping his father tend to the crops that put food on their table.
This is the story of an incredible man whose life became memorable as he lived each day to the fullest, always content if he had survived each day with food in his belly and a roof over his head. When George Dawson became a man at 21, he ventured out into the world and spent the rest of his life traveling, working, and experiencing life as if each day was a wonder to behold. This quiet soul saw the dawning of the 20th century and for 103 years, led a diverse and wise life. His resume today would read; dairy farmer, logger, builder of railroads. To tame the mighty Mississippi he built levees, roaming the rodeo circuit he broke horses taming broncos. George Dawson was an amateur baseball player who cheered when Jackie Robinson became the first major league black baseball player. He witnessed the introduction to all the modern marvels such as automobiles and airplanes. He survived the stock market crash, the Great Depression, and saw his friends go off to war. He worked the mill yards, did gardening for white plantation owners, enjoyed the jazz life as he walked down New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, and crossed the border into Mexico where segregation was an oddity. He rode the rails as a hobo, traveling both as vagrant as well as proud ticket holder, and saw the nation drink more alcohol during the prohibition era than they ever did before. George’s nightly radio informed him of Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, Hitler’s evil reign, and he listened in silence the day John F. Kennedy was brutally assassinated. His views on Nixon and the Watergate trials, the hypocrisy of all Americans who harshly judged Bill Clinton, and many other newsworthy famous historic events, will have any reader wowed as they read about his amazing long life full of stories to tell and lessons to be learned.
After George retired at 65 years old, his life never stopped. As he continued to work odd jobs and make a living to get by, life had one more surprise for George when one day he was approached by a man who was teaching adult education. From that day forward, at the age of 98, George Dawson went to school for the first time in his life. For three years straight, he never missed a day, and finally made his lifelong dream come true. He learned to read. When his 100th birthday arrived, he could finally read his own birthday cards, sign his own name, and learn about the wonders of the world through the magic of books.
In this charming and insightful biography, George’s narrative awes the reader with his wit, wisdom and charm as he details 101 years of his fruitful life that made him always feel that “ Life is So Good!” You will laugh, cry, and your jaw will drop at the endless pride, dignity and tenacity this man upheld for himself throughout 103 years of his life. Amazing. This book, his story, his life, is just simply amazing. To become an author at the age of 100, after a century of being illiterate, is the stuff of legends.
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lynched for a crime he did not commit. His parents told him he must keep his head down and follow the rules, but riding on the back of the bus and not being able to sit down to eat with white folk sat poorly is George’s mind. Segregation in the early 1900s was a prominent law black people had to quietly endure or there would be hell to pay. Until he was old enough to try life alone, he spent his boyhood days picking cotton, and crushing sugar cane, ending each day snuggling up to 7 siblings in a one-room cabin holding one bed that kept 8 children warm. Although George would have loved to attend school, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day as a hard working young man helping his father tend to the crops that put food on their table.
This is the story of an incredible man whose life became memorable as he lived each day to the fullest, always content if he had survived each day with food in his belly and a roof over his head. When George Dawson became a man at 21, he ventured out into the world and spent the rest of his life traveling, working, and experiencing life as if each day was a wonder to behold. This quiet soul saw the dawning of the 20th century and for 103 years, led a diverse and wise life. His resume today would read; dairy farmer, logger, builder of railroads. To tame the mighty Mississippi he built levees, roaming the rodeo circuit he broke horses taming broncos. George Dawson was an amateur baseball player who cheered when Jackie Robinson became the first major league black baseball player. He witnessed the introduction to all the modern marvels such as automobiles and airplanes. He survived the stock market crash, the Great Depression, and saw his friends go off to war. He worked the mill yards, did gardening for white plantation owners, enjoyed the jazz life as he walked down New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, and crossed the border into Mexico where segregation was an oddity. He rode the rails as a hobo, traveling both as vagrant as well as proud ticket holder, and saw the nation drink more alcohol during the prohibition era than they ever did before. George’s nightly radio informed him of Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, Hitler’s evil reign, and he listened in silence the day John F. Kennedy was brutally assassinated. His views on Nixon and the Watergate trials, the hypocrisy of all Americans who harshly judged Bill Clinton, and many other newsworthy famous historic events, will have any reader wowed as they read about his amazing long life full of stories to tell and lessons to be learned.
After George retired at 65 years old, his life never stopped. As he continued to work odd jobs and make a living to get by, life had one more surprise for George when one day he was approached by a man who was teaching adult education. From that day forward, at the age of 98, George Dawson went to school for the first time in his life. For three years straight, he never missed a day, and finally made his lifelong dream come true. He learned to read. When his 100th birthday arrived, he could finally read his own birthday cards, sign his own name, and learn about the wonders of the world through the magic of books.
In this charming and insightful biography, George’s narrative awes the reader with his wit, wisdom and charm as he details 101 years of his fruitful life that made him always feel that “ Life is So Good!” You will laugh, cry, and your jaw will drop at the endless pride, dignity and tenacity this man upheld for himself throughout 103 years of his life. Amazing. This book, his story, his life, is just simply amazing. To become an author at the age of 100, after a century of being illiterate, is the stuff of legends.
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LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
This is an excellent book!
I wish I'd met George. I am not much of a REreader of books but I decided to read this one again. Glad I did.
Found myself wishing not only that I'd known him but that we could have given him the money for a new roof...
I wish I'd met George. I am not much of a REreader of books but I decided to read this one again. Glad I did.
Found myself wishing not only that I'd known him but that we could have given him the money for a new roof...
LibraryThing member ludies
One of the most inspiring books I've ever read, not saccharine in the least, this is the story of a man who has lived a good life, but was too busy to learn to read. Like the fictional characters in The Color Purple, Mr. Dawson overcame tremendous obstacles and retained a sense of hope in the face
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of adversity. Like Erma Calderon (Erma), he worked in less-than-ideal jobs to sustain himself and his family. SO uplifting to see his virtue rewarded. Recommend this to anyone struggling with life and, especially, to new literates. It is brief and pithy and will catch them up before they know it. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarolynSchroeder
George Dawson is an amazing man, plain and simple. Through acts of kindness, being a good person and loving the people around him, he has lead an awe-inspiring life ... many times, in the face of extreme racial hatred and prejudice. My life has gained from reading about him. I loved the book
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overall, but found it fizzled a little bit at the end because it got so repetative. Although the relationship between Dawson and Glaubman is somewhat interesting, it pales in comparison to Dawson's life and his own family. I wish there was more about that. The beginning, the years up until about 1930 are vivid and detailed, then it just drops off and focuses on Dawson's schooling. Dawson's parents, grandparents and great grandmothers were so utterly fascinating, strong and kind, I felt like I wanted to know a whole lot more about them. But that said, it was a book about George Dawson. Highly recommended overall. Show Less
LibraryThing member Book_Shelter
Did you ever read one of those books? You know the ones...not best sellers, or some great work of art? But Oh the lessons for life. I've read many such books and this is one such book.
Before I give you a favorite passage from the book, ponder these thoughts. Have you ever found yourself
In this book I found a quote from the author that sums it all up for those of us that really wanted a way to express it.
The author is speaking about the Columbine High School tragedy.
"Children killing children. That's a terrible thing."
"What do you think has gone wrong?"
"Its not just the children. It's the grown-ups too. Some People are growing children, not raising children, and there's a big difference."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, People grow hogs. You give them a place to live, give them all the food they need to keep growing, and make sure that they don't get sick on you. With children you got to raise them. Of course, you feed and clothe them. But a parent has to take the time to teach them right and wrong. A parent has to discipline them. And a parent got to be there to listen to them, help them with their problems. I think most people do their best, but there are some parents these days that are growing children, not raising children.
"It's a sad thing. These children have everything they need to grow up, but they are missing something inside. They must hurt awful bad and no one has shown them the way to live. Buying them their food or even fancy clothes or a car ain't going to help if a child is hurting inside. We all need the same things."
Good read, great life lessons!!!
Before I give you a favorite passage from the book, ponder these thoughts. Have you ever found yourself
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complaining about kids these days? "They just don't show respect, they have no work ethic....I could go on and so could you.In this book I found a quote from the author that sums it all up for those of us that really wanted a way to express it.
The author is speaking about the Columbine High School tragedy.
"Children killing children. That's a terrible thing."
"What do you think has gone wrong?"
"Its not just the children. It's the grown-ups too. Some People are growing children, not raising children, and there's a big difference."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, People grow hogs. You give them a place to live, give them all the food they need to keep growing, and make sure that they don't get sick on you. With children you got to raise them. Of course, you feed and clothe them. But a parent has to take the time to teach them right and wrong. A parent has to discipline them. And a parent got to be there to listen to them, help them with their problems. I think most people do their best, but there are some parents these days that are growing children, not raising children.
"It's a sad thing. These children have everything they need to grow up, but they are missing something inside. They must hurt awful bad and no one has shown them the way to live. Buying them their food or even fancy clothes or a car ain't going to help if a child is hurting inside. We all need the same things."
Good read, great life lessons!!!
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LibraryThing member nluvwithx
George was a true man of strength, determination, and bravery! His life was just as extraordinary as he was. Mr. George learned to read literally,but I felt as though he had learned how to read life and people very well during his 100+ years on this earth. George had so much to teach us . I am glad
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that the young man who journey with George down memory lane and learn what life was like during a time when african american people wer trying to carve their way through following post slavery. Iam so glad that this man was courageous enough to share his story and to do what most of dont have the courage to do. That is to tell the truth. George was a loyal man and was determined to set the record straight about alot things that went on during the era he lived and the town he was raised in. How he managed to stay in Texas is beyond my imagination. It was obvious that George believed in a power higher than himself and was able to put GOD first in everything Show Less
LibraryThing member librarianbryan
Sappy, but valuable. Puts Kerouac to shame.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
George Dawson is more than 100 years old as he reflects back on his life. He worked on his family’s farm at an incredibly young age. At 12 he was sent to live on another farm so he could help make money to support his family. He has such a sincere and wonderful view of life. The man who wrote the
He always wanted to learn how to read, but instead he worked so his younger siblings could go to school. The race issues in the book are heartbreaking. He knew how dangerous it was to be a black man growing up in the newly freed south. He grew up listening to the stories of slavery from his grandmother who lived through the Civil War. At one point he meets as soldier that has just returned from fighting in France during WWII. The man tells George that in Paris you could eat in a restaurant right next to a white man, but he couldn’t do that in the country that he was fighting for.
The book is more about his entire life than it is about him learning to read, which is what makes it so fascinating. He worked in dozens of jobs, moved about, tried new things, etc. He just lived such a full and generous life. It wasn’t that he did anything that remarkable, it‘s the sheer fact that he lived such a long life and saw so much. The book is full of the simple wisdom that can only come from a life of experiences.
BOTTOM LINE: It’s a quick read and a beautiful reminder that life really is so good.
“Unless a man asks for advice, he don’t really want it. He isn’t gonna thank you for something he don’t need yet. See, I might think I know what’s best for him, but I don’t know what is really in that man’s heart.”
“People forget that a picture ain’t made from just one color. Life ain’t all good or all bad. It’s full of everything.”
“A man is supposed to work and take pride in what he does no matter what the work is.”
“People that wouldn’t even be speaking to each other can talk on a train.”
“Be generous in your dealings, but always have something saved for rainy weather.”
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book with him, Glaubman, has “book learning,” but he doesn’t know everything George knows about the way the world works, etc. He always wanted to learn how to read, but instead he worked so his younger siblings could go to school. The race issues in the book are heartbreaking. He knew how dangerous it was to be a black man growing up in the newly freed south. He grew up listening to the stories of slavery from his grandmother who lived through the Civil War. At one point he meets as soldier that has just returned from fighting in France during WWII. The man tells George that in Paris you could eat in a restaurant right next to a white man, but he couldn’t do that in the country that he was fighting for.
The book is more about his entire life than it is about him learning to read, which is what makes it so fascinating. He worked in dozens of jobs, moved about, tried new things, etc. He just lived such a full and generous life. It wasn’t that he did anything that remarkable, it‘s the sheer fact that he lived such a long life and saw so much. The book is full of the simple wisdom that can only come from a life of experiences.
BOTTOM LINE: It’s a quick read and a beautiful reminder that life really is so good.
“Unless a man asks for advice, he don’t really want it. He isn’t gonna thank you for something he don’t need yet. See, I might think I know what’s best for him, but I don’t know what is really in that man’s heart.”
“People forget that a picture ain’t made from just one color. Life ain’t all good or all bad. It’s full of everything.”
“A man is supposed to work and take pride in what he does no matter what the work is.”
“People that wouldn’t even be speaking to each other can talk on a train.”
“Be generous in your dealings, but always have something saved for rainy weather.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member librarianbryan
Sappy, but valuable. Puts Kerouac to shame.
LibraryThing member homeschoolmimzi
I'm re-reading this book. I read it 2 yrs ago.I'm needing a pick-me-up book now, and I know this one will do the job. I hope I like it as much this time as the first time I read this.
Other editions
Life Is So Good by George Dawson (Paperback)
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Pages
260