What I Like About This Book
Its writing is simple but also profound and engaging. The introduction alone- which was short- made my heart jump.
What I Found Interesting
This book is an interesting autobiography. It encompasses the author’s tragic upbringing and sad early life circumstances as well as his meteoric success in medicine and investing. The backdrop to this, the common denominator of the man’s success and happiness, is what he learned from a stranger in a magic shop at a young age.
This book shows just how much small acts of kindness can actually be life changing acts of compassion disguised in simple everyday actions. It speaks to the power warmth, love, and patience can have over young people at a cross roads.
I hope that this becomes standard reading in High School English.
A Quote From The Book
From Ruth:
“I think the magic trick works because people see only what they think is there rather than what’s actually there. This thumb tip trick works because the mind is a funny thing. It sees what it expects to see. It expects to see a real thumb so that’s what it sees. The brain, as busy as it can be, is actually very lazy. An yes, it also works because people are as you said, so easily distracted. but they’re not distracted by hand gestures. Most people who are watching a magic show aren’t really there watching the magic show. They are regretting something they did. yesterday or worrying about something that might happen tomorrow, so they’re not really at the magic show to begin with, so how could they see the plastic thumb at all?”
If you are interested…
in drawing connections between kindness, tragedy, and meaning in your life or the life of a loved one, consider setting up a consultation with me to discuss therapy.
