Ben Carson

I probably like a lot of people had not heard of Ben Carson, M.D. before he showed up on the Republican presidential campaign. So I decided to find out more about him and this book was a good start. Free from political slant his autobiography gave me a good insight to his character and achievements in life and it is most impressive. If ever there was a role model for making something of oneself he is the guy. Thanks it large part to the guidance of his mother he went on to become a world show more renowned neurosurgeon impacting the lives of children, and how much better does it get then that? There is no doubt Carson is an exceptional man in a lot of ways. He has quite religious and often invokes God as coming through for him in many of the medical challenges he faced in the operating room. I am not a religious person yet I did have to wonder about some of these incidents. On the flip side a few of the failures were also related and the emotional wrenching these families faced as well as Dr. Carson were moving. Now that he is retired he takes on the political arena and will face a new world of challenges. Though his chances seem slim, I wish him the best and if anyone was up to that challenge it certainly would be Ben Carson, M.D.. show less

4.5 stars. I'm just really stingy with my fives. This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.

It's highly misleading of the synopsis to suggest that the mnemonic is the focus of the entire book. He doesn't even mention it until over halfway through! He spends the first half of the book explaining his own humble beginnings and tracing his path to success. Then he turns around and tells the reader how "you too can become a famous neurosurgeon by following this one simple show more trick!"

Haha, no, that's not what he says. Really, I think he just wanted a nice kind of gimmicky mnemonic to help people remember his advice. And let me just say, it's definitely solid. He traces his early life and career in what is, for those of us who have read any of his other books, partly a review. To be fair he did mention things I hadn't read in the other books, focusing more on his study habits than on his relationship with God this time around, but there was still quite a bit of overlap. I suppose for some this might be kind of annoying, but for me it was nice to get a refresher and see exactly what he did in his own life to become successful. I wasn't sure if he was going to be one of those people who becomes successful one way, then turns around and advises something completely different for those who want to get ahead in life. By showing his own life, and what worked and didn't for him, he proved to me (and to anyone else who reads his book) that he's not just making this stuff up - the ideas presented in T.H.I.N.K. B.I.G. really were the ones that helped him climb to the top.

As a teen, I found a lot of practical advice that I am definitely going to work on implementing in my own life. By putting the practical advice in the last few chapters, he makes it very easy to go back and reread concise instructions for applying each step in T.H.I.N.K. B.I.G. I'm in the middle of a book about study techniques entitled [b:Make It Stick|18770267|Make It Stick The Science of Successful Learning|Peter C. Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384016466s/18770267.jpg|26673128] that I have to say is probably the most rambling. boring nonfiction I've ever read. I'd have quit it long ago if it weren't for the fact I'm required to finish it for English. After reading the mess of advice, examples, and anecdotes running rampant in Make it Stick, I really appreciated the way that Carson separates his anecdotes from his advice in a way that actually makes his anecdotes interesting but separate from his advice.

Do you need to read this if you're an adult who has read his other books? Probably not, unless you've got a burning desire to read everything the man writes. Should you read it if you're a student or the parent of a student trying to prepare for academic success? Most definitely. While Carson's approach may not work for all of us (I think it's pretty obvious he's got a natural advantage in the brain department - pun intended!), there's still a lot of good info in there about study habits, choosing a career, and remembering to focus on God before all else.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for an honest review show less

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson is going to appeal to a wide range of people. If you love inspirational books, this one is definitely inspirational. If you are in high school and unsure about a career, Ben's strategies and tips, compliments largely to his amazing MOM with a third grade education, but a work ethic and drive like no other, could foresee what needed to be done to be successful in life and passed that on to both Ben and his older brother. If you like books with a Christian theme, show more once again this book does not disappoint. I was interested from the first until the last page. Be warned you will not want to stop reading it. I am looking forward to reading his other books as well. Enjoy! show less

I'd seen the movie based on this book, but wanted to read it for myself. In a nutshell, Dr. Ben Carson was put on this earth by God to save people. This man came from humble beginnings, was loved and supported by an amazing mother, and achieved the highest pinnacles of the medical profession possible. He was very close to falling prey to his volatile temper, but through strong faith, became a calm, articulate, and thoughtful man. When told something can't be done, Ben seems to be one of show more those folks who, with the help of others, finds a way.

"Gifted Hands" tells the story of a young boy from Detroit whose father left him, his brother, and his illiterate mother when he was very young. He overcame poor grades and the aforementioned temper to become a Yale graduate, and the preeminent pediatric neurosurgeon in the world. Carson credits his mother for her faith and her determination not to become a victim. He has carried these things with him as he navigates bigotry, false assumptions, and outright racism.

It's also important to understand that this book was written in 1990, so clearly it was long before he was encouraged to run for President.

Regardless of what you've read about him recently, this book proves many of the attacks on him are false. He clearly never says he applied to West Point. He does say he was offered a "scholarship" and has since proven that West Point was in fact offering "scholarships" specifically to young black kids who showed an aptitude for academics. And keep in mind, this isn't a book written to get him elected. Again, it was published in 1990.

To be fair, I must admit I support Ben Carson for president. Like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher before him, I truly believe God is working through Dr. Carson at a time when the country and the world needs him. He's spent his life saving children. Now it's time for him to help save our country. show less