I don’t read as much as before however, I do enjoy a good book every now and then. For my first book review, I chose From GED to MBA by Andrea Norwood Walton. This book review won’t read like others because I’m reviewing a friend’s work.
“Winning in life is not the absence of the tough times it is despite them,” (Walton, p. 8). After reading Walton’s autobiography, she has proven this statement to be true. I met Andrea decades ago. Our mothers sang in the same gospel groups, so she and I shared some time away from our fellow church friends. It was during these short-lived times, I was able to bond a little with Andrea and her hilarious sister. Over the years, our friendship has remained. However, as I read Walton’s self-published book, I found my mouth dropping a few times in shock and I whispered, “I didn’t know that! Oh my goodness!”
“From GED to MBA” is a short book that makes for a quick read. The first time I read it, it took me 47 uninterrupted minutes. Once I decided to write a review and re-read it, it took me almost two hours. I hesitate to say “easy read,” because, it was not. “From GED to MBA” was heartbreaking, inspiring, encouraging, shocking for anyone who knows her yet didn’t know her story, and full of run-on sentences. 😀 Hey, I know my grammar isn’t perfect but I’m not writing any books. 😀 LOVE YOU, ANDREA! 😀 😉
Walton’s autobiography tells how a tall, skinny, deprived, loner of a pre-teen goes and grows from being an abused teen mom, to a fashion model, to a married corporate executive and entrepreneur. Without giving away too much or the important parts, here are MY chapter synopses for HER book:
- Chapter One – “Innocence Lost”: The start of Walton’s trials and tribulations.
- Chapter Two – “Daddy Issues”: A little more detail about what was missing in Walton’s young life and where her backbone started to gain a little strength.
- Chapter Three – “Mom at Fifteen”: Speaks to the challenges of having and raising a child with disabilities while being a child herself.
- Chapter Four – “Reality vs Aspirations”: Walton’s an adult GED recipient mother who has one of her dreams come true.
- Chapter Five – “Wins and Losses”: Walton is divorced and raising TWO children.
- Chapter Six – “Personal Triumph”: Andrea Norwood Walton has her MBA, a THIRD child and some other goodies in her life to where this chapter is aptly titled.
If you or someone you know needs some type of encouragement to grow through, yes GROW through the rut they may be in or feel like they are in, I suggest, From GED to MBA: Defying the Odds to Win. Not only do I suggest it because Andrea’s a dear friend, but I also suggest it because it got me out of the recent rut I FELT like I was in. I tell ya, when you think you’ve got it bad and then you find out someone did or does have it worse, it should humble you or at least make you change what/how you’re feeling. Andrea’s story did just that for me. Soooo yeah, go read it and let me know what you thought or if it helped you in some way! 🙂
Writing Waves 