Synopses & Reviews
In this heartfelt and generous book, author Daniel Gottlieb shares life lessons taught to him by his eight-year-old grandson, Sam. Readers were first introduced to Sam in Letters to Sam—which has been translated into 15 languages, with more than 50,000 copies sold in the U.S. Now, The Wisdom of Sam continues the extraordinary story of the interaction between a grandfather who is quadriplegic and a grandson who is autistic as they share their discoveries about empathy, compassion, courage, happiness, and the power of laughter. Sam’s uncommon perspective on the world—and the remarkable way he expresses himself—are the seeds of inspiration for his grandfather. And the emotional connection between Daniel Gottlieb and his grandson provide a springboard for wonderful moments of reflection, understanding, and humor.
Sam’s candid observations not only teach us what we’ve forgotten but they also show us how to look at the world through a different lens. Just as Sam’s grandfather has found his world view forever changed by the wisdom of his grandson, readers of The Wisdom of Sam will discover unforgettable messages of acceptance, hope, love, and gratitude.
Review
“Dan Gottlieb's gift to us all is to put into words the deepest essence of how to bring meaning to our lives.” —Dan Siegel, author
Brainstorm,
Mindsight,
The Developing Mind, and
The Mindful Brain, and Clinical Professor, UCLA School of Medicine
“Reading this book is like having a great conversation with a deeply wise, kind, and supportive friend-who also happens to be an extraordinary therapist whose own losses have been profound teachers. With humor and grace, Dr. Gottlieb helps readers come home to their own natural inner wisdom, strength, and peace.” —Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence
“We may be born wise, but we still need Dan Gottlieb to remind us of what we already know. One of the most insightful and inspirational psychologists of his generation, Gottlieb has written yet another beautiful book about the art of living deeply.”—Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of the international bestseller Stumbling on Happiness
"This a beautiful and inspiring book I'd recommend to anyone. Dr. Gottlieb uses personal stories to illustrate an important lesson: that wisdom naturally emerges when we open our hearts to life.” —Kristin Neff, PhD, Associate Professor, Human Development and Culture, Educational Psychology Department, University of Texas at Austin
“Reading this book is like having a loving, understanding and good-humored friend remind you of what is most important in life. Drawing from his own journey and his clinical work with others, Dr. Dan Gottleib's beautifully written stories of vulnerability and awakening illuminate the pathway home to our own wise hearts.” —Tara Brach, Ph.D. author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge
“Wise, generous and true-to-heart, this is a book to be kept close at hand through the hardest days and the sweetest, to be bookmarked and returned to again and again.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness and Lovingkindness
"Dan Gottlieb is not only open-hearted, courageous, wise and compassionate, he is also funny and irreverent. The Wisdom We're Born With is a book that teaches us how to live. There are no platitudes here, no easy answers. But the way Dan shares his life, including his vulnerability, gives readers the strength to face their own deepest pain and the inspiration to delight in every possible joy." —Ellen Bass, author of The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse and Like a Beggar “Imagine one of your dearest friends sitting before you, sharing stories about the people he's loved, the people he's worked with, and himself, all at critical moments in their lives. With poignancy, vulnerability, and honesty, he moves you from laughter to tears to questions to insights. And you are so entertained, and so prompted to re-examine your own life, you just keep saying, 'Tell me one more.' Dan Gottlieb is that friend, and in this tenderhearted book of transformative tales, he will tell you those stories.” —Rachel Simon, author of The Story of Beautiful Girl and Riding the Bus with My Sister “Magically, Dr. Dan Gottlieb turns personal narrative into a reflective mirror that helps us discover and celebrate our inner selves. No wonder he is America's healer. Beautifully written, with deep insights from children, patients and friends, The Wisdom We're Born With is a model of how to live more fully in our fast-paced 21st Century world.” —Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in Psychology, Temple University, author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards and A Mandate for Playful Learning
Review
Praise for Letters to Sam by Daniel Gottlieb:
“Gottlieb shares with us the wisdom and depth of his soul … he uses the art of letter writing to teach us … what it means to be human.”—Philadelphia Inquirer Praise for Learning from the Heart by Daniel Gottlieb:
“… Warm, wise, compassionate, humble and often funny, [Gottlieb] displays not a shred of self-pity or false modesty. Best of all, his message has the unmistakable ring of truth to it: love rather than change yourself or anyone else.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for Voices in the Family by Daniel Gottlieb:
“A warm helpful book.” —The Washington Post
Synopsis
The Wisdom of Sam celebrates the precious gifts of life and the innocence of childhood. At the book's heart is the story of a grandfather and his remarkable grandson, who share an indelible bond. Each one faces a unique set of challenges--quadriplegia and autism. But the differences in age, outlook, and experience soon vanish as this extraordinary pair share universal truths about empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. After a near-fatal accident rendered him paralyzed, Daniel Gottlieb came to understand the importance of patience, acceptance, gratitude, and hope--qualities he sought to teach his young grandson, Sam. Yet when Gottlieb least expected it, their roles reversed and the student became the teacher. Sam's observations on his experiences--everything from grieving the loss of a beloved pet to facing his first night away from home--provide simple yet profound lessons on life, death, courage, fun, uncertainty, and joy. These lessons are gentle reminders of what we once knew, what we often take for granted, and what matters most.
Synopsis
The Wisdom of Sam celebrates the precious gifts of life and the innocence of childhood. At the book’s heart is the story of a grandfather and his remarkable grandson, who share an indelible bond. Each one faces a unique set of challenges—quadriplegia and autism. But the differences in age, outlook, and experience soon vanish as this extraordinary pair share universal truths about empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. After a near-fatal accident rendered him paralyzed, Daniel Gottlieb came to understand the importance of patience, acceptance, gratitude, and hope—qualities he sought to teach his young grandson, Sam. Yet when Gottlieb least expected it, their roles reversed and the student became the teacher. Sam’s observations on his experiences—everything from grieving the loss of a beloved pet to facing his first night away from home—provide simple yet profound lessons on life, death, courage, fun, uncertainty, and joy. These lessons are gentle reminders of what we once knew, what we often take for granted, and what matters most.
Synopsis
What if the things you imagine will make you happy won't—if what you really need is not what you think you need? Daniel Gottlieb (
Letters to Sam) has produced an inspirational primer that takes us on an enlightening journey toward a sense of well-being. Gottlieb, who suffered a traumatic injury that left him a quadriplegic over 30 years ago, is uniquely qualified to offer wise counsel on the relationship between what we want and what we have. He offers his thoughts on breaking patterns and habits, calming the unquiet mind, reconnecting with our emotions and our bodies, living in the moment, discovering that ineffable “something” that defines who we are—and above all, the importance of love.
About the Author
Psychologist Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D., is the internationally acclaimed author of Letters to Sam and Learning from the Heart, which have been published in 15 languages and received worldwide attention. In 2009, in the U.S., he was the recipient of the Books for a Better Life Award for Learning from the Heart. Gottlieb is also the author of Family Matters and Voices of Conflict; Voices of Healing. He hosts an award-winning mental health call-in program, Voices in the Family, on the public radio station WHYY 90.9 FM in Philadelphia; writes a weekly blog on the website of The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation; and is a contributor to the “Living” section on The Huffington Post. A sought-after speaker on family and social issues, he lectures locally and nationally on a variety of topics affecting the well-being of communities.