The Pursuit of Happyness (Abridged) cover art

The Pursuit of Happyness (Abridged)

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The Pursuit of Happyness (Abridged)

By: Chris Gardner
Narrated by: Andre Blake
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About this listen

 The astounding yet true rags-to-riches saga of a homeless father who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street.

At the age of 20, Chris Gardner arrived in San Francisco to pursue a promising career in medicine. However, he surprised everyone and himself by setting his sights on the competitive world of high finance. Yet no sooner had he landed an entry-level position at a prestigious firm, Gardner found himself caught in a web of incredibly challenging circumstances that left him part of the city's working homeless with his toddler son. Motivated by the promise he made to himself as a fatherless child to never abandon his own children, the two spent almost a year moving from shelters, "HO-tels", and soup-lines.

Never giving in to despair, Gardner makes an astonishing transformation from being part of the city's invisible to being a powerful player in its financial district. Here is the story of a man who breaks his own family's cycle of men abandoning their children, a story that appeals to the very essence of the American Dream.

©2006 Chris Gardner (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Business Professionals & Academics San Francisco Wall Street City

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Editor reviews

Andre Blake tells the true story of Chris Gardner, a Milwaukee African-American who escaped from his ex-convict mother and violent stepfather by joining the Navy and then becoming a San Francisco stockbroker, only to wind up as a homeless single father of a 19-month-old son. Read by the street-smart Blake, the story's colorful language and no-holds-barred humor make it captivating. It's a happy-ending morality tale that shows how ironclad determination can break negative cultural cycles and lead to financial and personal rewards. Beleaguered men from all dysfunctional circumstances will be inspired by the well-told story of this authentic American life. Few will forget it once they hear it.

Critic reviews

"Gardner is honest and thorough as he solidly depicts growing up black and male in late 20th-century urban America." ( Publishers Weekly)
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I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. It would have been great though if it was 'unabridged' rather than 'abridged'. I have watched the film 'The Pursuit of Happyness' staring Will Smith. However the film does not even compare to the content contained within Chris Gardener's autobiography. This audio book will show you that no matter how dark the road of life becomes, there is always hope and a brighter future. Happy listening.

An Extraordinary Story.

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I love this book. Really positive and motivated. This is absolutely amazing. I can read this over and over again .

motivating

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loved listening to this book was engaged right from the start. very good insight into the struggles of Chris Gardner

really good listening. Engaged from the start

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I'm glad I was able to listen to it instead as I hadn't much time to sit down and read. The narrative wasn't what I had in mind but give it a go and it'll give you a greater story.

Always wanted to read this book

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Made me laugh, made me cry but most of all it inspired me to be humble enough to learn from others.

Wow Wow Wow

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When things get tough, when you feel down and think everything is going against you! Then, is the time to read this, learn what Chris Gardner endured and overcame! And I have learnt from this; that the pursuit, no matter how difficult, is the only thing that can ultimately bring happiness! Chase life don't wait for it to happen to you! Love, love, love this incredible story!

Why does this always happen to me? Read this!

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I am really pleased I went through the book after watching the film, because there so much much more to the narrative beyond the Hollywood depiction of this tale. It is filled with razor sharp truths about the life of this man.

The story behind the story of the film.

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I loved this book. The narration was perfect and the story is inspirational. How Chris went to the top of his field despite all his adversity should make people realise that anyone can get the success that they want in life is you work hard and have a positive outlook. The real story behind the film, and so much more than the film.

Wonderful story

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Do not confuse this with the heartwarming film starring Will Smith, all it is the same source material. This was a mess in parts and didn't help with its Liberal undertones and plays of identity politics. Overly long intro without getting to the meat until the final third of the book. There were some inspiring moments but these were few and far between as Gardener would pat himself on the back for accomplishment after accomplishment with some graphic struggles thrown in.

Not the best... But good final third

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