Self-assured to the point of being egotistical, this is nevertheless an inspirational memoir.
Sonnon’s (Mastering Sambo for Mixed Martial Arts, 2008, etc.) autobiography-cum-self-help-guide is a tale of perseverance.
The author’s path to becoming one of the most influential martial artists of the early 21st century was by no means smooth or direct. As a child, he suffered from osteochondrosis and obesity. This, along with his severe dyslexia, affected both his coordination and learning abilities. His disabilities, misinterpreted as disruptive classroom behavior, led to him being institutionalized in a childhood psychiatric hospital. In class, he found that, unlike the other children, he could write using both hands and considered this to be his secret superpower. He dedicated the rest of his life to unearthing other hidden abilities—a way of using a perceived disability as a genetic advantage. Through study and sweat, Sonnon began to discover that his dyslexia gave him a significant edge in physical training, specifically the ability to move spontaneously. Contrary to the belief of his teachers that he should not set his expectations too high, Sonnon gained entry into university to further his interest in philosophy and martial arts. From here, he discovered the Russian martial art of Sambo, the discipline in which he would excel, becoming a five-time world champion. Sonnon is seldom slow to crow about these achievements. His time spent studying in Russia provides one of the most engaging sections of the autobiography—testament to the author’s single-mindedness in choosing to embrace Russian culture at a time when anti-Soviet tension ran high in America. In the 1990s, during his trips to Russia, he developed Thygeson’s disease, a rare eye condition that left his vision barely functional. The author’s remarkable willfulness and love of the writing drove him to continue his research while in pain. The writing is prone to prolix; quotations from other inspirational thinkers interrupt the flow, yet this book will offer hope to many struggling to face life’s challenges head-on.
Self-assured to the point of being egotistical, this is nevertheless an inspirational memoir.Pub Date: July 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0692205099
Page Count: 464
Publisher: RMAX.tv Productions
Review Posted Online: Sept. 26, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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