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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | Home » Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime | | | | | | | Description: | | A heartfelt, deeply personal book, Showing Up for Life shines a bright light on the values and principles that Bill Gates Sr. has learned over a lifetime of “showing up” — lessons that he learned growing up in the Great Depression, and which he instilled in his children and continues to practice on the world stage as the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Through the course of several dozen narratives arranged in roughly chronological fashion, Gates introduces the people and experiences that influenced his thinking and guided his moral compass. Among them: the scoutmaster who taught him about teamwork and self reliance; his famous son, Trey, whose curiosity and passion for computers and software led him to ultimately co-found Microsoft. Through revealing stories of his daughters, Kristi and Libby; his late wife Mary, and his current wife Mimi; and his work with Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter, among others, he discusses the importance of hard work, getting along, honoring a confidence, speaking out, and much more.
Showing Up for Life translates one man’s experiences over four score years of living into an inspiring road map for readers everywhere.
As Bill Gates Sr. puts it:
I’m 83 years old. Representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and everyone who is a part of it has given me the opportunity to see more of the world and its rich possibilities than most people ever do. I never imagined that I’d be working this late in life, or enjoying it so much.
| | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780385527019
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Bill Gates Sr. | | Hardcover:
| 208 pages | | Publisher:
| Crown Business | | Publication Date:
| April 28, 2009 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0385527012 | | Package Length:
| 7.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 26 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 A roadmap to generations of giving back and success...MUST READ.Jul 05, 2010
As an person who had a father who "did the best he could not the best there was", I found this book incredibly touching and inspiring.
* For the first third of the book, I laughed out loud at Senior's jokes, awed at the historical perspective (the stories about the Great Depression) like something out of the History Channel, and I cried tears of joy thinking to myself "do families this gifted, yet this caring about humankind really exist...?".
* For the middle third of the book, I listened instructively and intently upon his words of wisdom about hardship and success, love and growth as if I were reading about some new discovery in American Scientific.
* For the last third of the book, I thought to myself for the first time: I could have and raise a family with this many generations of love, too.
If you, too, have difficulty thinking of how you'd form a loving relationship with a spouse (in existence already, or not yet come to you) or how to raise a family that was able to grow in it's values generation after generation, then, I highly, highly recommend this book.
I imagine at the very least, you'll find it to be a light at the end of the tunnel -- at best, you'll find it to be a roadmap.
I knew immediately I was in for a fun read.May 10, 2010
Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime
Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
With a 34-word "Forward" by "Trey" (the name the family called Bill Gates III), I knew immediately I was in for a fun read. In 192-pages, and 49 chapters (averaging less than 4 pages each), Gates Sr. pens a book that can take just a couple of hours to read, but holds your attention throughout because of the light, breezy writing style, the interesting, and entertaining, anecdotes, and the implied instructions on how to live a good life--life's most enduring lessons.
Incidentally, if you want some "juicy" insights into how Bill Gates III (Trey) grew into the kind of multi-billionaire he is today--from a compassionate father's perspective--this book offers a valuable and insightful perspective. It gives you a step-by-step program for raising a multi-billionaire son! (This is the appropriate place for an emoticon that shows a wink!)
This book isn't profound. It isn't particularly illuminating. It isn't the least bit complicated or challenging. As I was reading it, the thought crossed my mind that it was written for one reason only: Bill Gates Sr. is the father of Trey! But, if you're looking for a quick, interesting, engaging book to take up a short amount of your time, this one is an excellent choice.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 PhilosophyFeb 25, 2010
Each chapter in Bill Gates, Sr.'s book, Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime, conveys a tidbit of wisdom, a family story, an anecdote that provides a building block in the development of one's personal philosophy. Each of us decides how we choose to live, and in Showing Up for Life, Mr. Gates makes it clear that some of those decisions are as simple as deciding whether to be present or not. Most decisions, though, involve a sense of purpose or duty. After reading this book, it's easy to understand why Bill Gates, Jr. looks up to his father, and also easy to understand why philanthropy is of such importance to this family. Any reader who enjoys listening to the wisdom of elders will enjoy this book, and every parent will find something on these pages to emulate in one's own family.
Rating: Three-star (Recommended)
handbook for parentsJan 21, 2010
This is a book filled with wisdom and appreciation for the struggles and growth of each family member. It is a wonderful collection of great memories. Each couple or few pages is a fresh story that illustrates a worthwhile experience.
Great BookNov 27, 2009
A great read. Nice, short chapters allow you to sneak reading it into a busy day. Refreshing...
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