"The Pursuit of Happyness"

"The Pursuit of Happyness"

Chris Gardner's memoir, "The Pursuit of Happyness," tells the story of his journey from homelessness to success. The book is a deeply personal account of his struggles and triumphs, and how he overcame incredible obstacles to achieve his goals.

Chapter 1: The First Few Years

Chris Gardner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1954. His parents separated when he was young, and his mother left him in the care of his abusive stepfather. Gardner's childhood was marked by poverty, violence, and instability. His stepfather beat him regularly, and he was often forced to sleep in parks or on the streets.

Chapter 2: The Navy Years

At 18, Gardner joined the Navy and was stationed in San Francisco. He met a woman named Sherry Dyson, and they fell in love and got married. Gardner left the Navy to become a medical supply salesman, but his business failed, and he was left with a lot of debt.

Chapter 3: The Homeless Years

Gardner's relationship with his wife deteriorated, and they separated. He was left with custody of their young son, Christopher. Gardner struggled to make ends meet and eventually became homeless. He and his son slept in shelters or on the streets, and Gardner tried to find work during the day.

Chapter 4: The Pursuit of a Stockbroker

Despite his difficult circumstances, Gardner never lost sight of his dream of becoming a stockbroker. He applied for an internship at a brokerage firm and was accepted. However, the internship was unpaid, and Gardner continued to struggle to provide for himself and his son. He worked hard, studied for his licensing exam, and eventually passed.

Chapter 5: The Struggle Continues

Gardner's success as a stockbroker was short-lived, and he was fired from his job. He continued to struggle to find work and was eventually evicted from his apartment. Gardner and his son were forced to move into a homeless shelter, and Gardner continued to apply for jobs.

Chapter 6: A Breakthrough

Gardner's persistence paid off when he was offered a job at Dean Witter Reynolds. However, the job was commission-only, and Gardner struggled to make ends meet. He and his son were still living in a shelter, and Gardner had to work long hours to build his client base.

Chapter 7: A New Beginning

Gardner's hard work and dedication paid off when he became a successful stockbroker. He was able to move out of the homeless shelter and into his own apartment. Gardner continued to work hard and eventually started his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co.

Chapter 8: The Pursuit of Happyness

Gardner's journey was long and difficult, but he never gave up on his dream. He credits his success to his determination, hard work, and the love and support of his son. Gardner's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Pursuit of Happyness" is a powerful memoir that tells the story of Chris Gardner's journey from homelessness to success. The book is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on your dreams, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Gardner's story is an inspiration to anyone who is struggling to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

Summary

"The Pursuit of Happyness" is a memoir by Chris Gardner that tells the story of his journey from homelessness to success. The book is a deeply personal account of his struggles and triumphs, and how he overcame incredible obstacles to achieve his goals.

Gardner's childhood was marked by poverty, violence, and instability, and he spent time in foster care and juvenile detention before joining the Navy. After leaving the Navy, Gardner pursued his dream of becoming a stockbroker, but he struggled with homelessness and poverty for many years while pursuing his career.

Despite these difficulties, Gardner never lost sight of his dream, and he eventually became a successful stockbroker and entrepreneur. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on your dreams, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

"The Pursuit of Happyness" has inspired countless people around the world, and the book was later made into a movie starring Will Smith. Gardner's memoir is a powerful reminder that no matter what challenges we may face, we can always find a way to overcome them and achieve our goals.

About the author

Chris Gardner is an American entrepreneur, investor, author, and motivational speaker. He was born on February 9, 1954, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gardner's childhood was marked by poverty, violence, and instability, and he spent time in foster care and juvenile detention before joining the Navy at age 18.

After leaving the Navy, Gardner worked as a medical supply salesman before pursuing his dream of becoming a stockbroker. He struggled with homelessness and poverty for many years while pursuing his career, but eventually became a successful stockbroker and entrepreneur. Gardner founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., and has since become a well-known speaker and motivational figure.

Gardner's memoir, "The Pursuit of Happyness," was published in 2006 and was later made into a movie starring Will Smith. The book and movie tell the story of Gardner's struggles and triumphs, and have inspired countless people around the world.

In addition to his work as an entrepreneur and author, Gardner is also a philanthropist and has established the Christopher Gardner Foundation, which provides assistance to organizations that work to help the homeless, domestic violence survivors, and others in need.

Overall, Chris Gardner is a remarkable individual who has overcome tremendous adversity to achieve success and inspire others to pursue their dreams.

5 quotes on different themes:

1. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
2. "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larson
3. "The purpose of our lives is to be happy." - Dalai Lama
4. "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela
5. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi