Nonagenarian wit and wisdom
Written: Feb 10 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Inspirational, funny, beautifully written, and thought-provoking
Cons: Not for the close-minded or impatient
The Bottom Line: Entertaining, witty, and thought-provoking. It may even give you inspiration for your own small or big task.
|
|
|
| tl098711's Full Review: Granny D Walking Across America in My 90 Books |
I first heard about Doris "Granny D" Haddock on NPR. She was a 90-year old woman who was walking across the country to raise awareness about campaign finance reform back in 1999-2000. My imagination and admiration were sparked, and I followed her progress on her web site and was anxious to get her book once it came out.
If you do not support campaign finance reform, have no stomach for liberal or progressive politics, your first instinct would probably be to avoid this book. But to classify this as strictly a political book on campaign finance reform would be to ignore the best facets of the book.
Granny D's "Crazy Idea" was to walk 10 miles a day across the country. The book is a collection of her journal entries and speeches along the way. The chapters wend through recollections of her childhood and rebellious school and college days, vivid and meditative reflections on the natural beauty of the plants and landscape she traversed, colorful commentary about the people she met (including some not-too-enthusiastic politicians), and stirring and articulate speeches she gave en route to D.C. Throughout the book, her voice comes through as if she sitting in your room, sipping tea and relating the day of walking she had just completed.
I was really impressed with her speeches, stirring and thoughtful, but always respectful and intelligent. With her age and experience, one might expect a lecture, or the ranting of a passionate, but out-of-touch elder yearning for the way things used to be. Instead, Haddock is well-informed, intelligent, and practical. She offers her perspective in a no-nonsense, thoughtful, humorous, and respectful way, never taking herself too seriously. One cannot help but be won over by her wit and kindness.
Her story is inspirational. How many people of any age do you know would have the ability and discipline to walk across the entire United States? Granny D succeeded despite her age, emphysema, arthritis, 105-degree deserts, tornados, and a snowstorm (the last she pluckily tackled by strapping on cross-country skis). Her story gives one a gentle push to stop complaining and start doing.
Still need some convincing? You could check out her website at www.grannyd.com and read some speeches and essays.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tl098711
|
|
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 5 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.