RISE UP AGAINST ALL ODDS

A debut book focuses on taking the defeat out of everyday setbacks.

In her brief work, Boshoma urges her readers not only to be brave in the face of hardships as a matter of personal principle, but also to be brave as a strategy. B.R.A.V.E. is the author's acronym for a system of dealing with the worst difficulties that life can throw at a person. Boldness, Resilience, Authenticity, Vision, and Enthusiasm, mixed with generous helpings of Boshoma’s own fervent Christianity, form the backbone of a tactic for facing troubles of all kinds. She strongly advises her readers to become the authors of their own life stories. Toward that end, she illustrates her inspirational points with many reports from her own past and tales of her own problems, including suffering a mild stroke and being hounded out of her job by a vindictive superior, who will do stand-in duty for every reader’s worst boss. The emphasis throughout is on not only working through periods of adversity, but also using the very forces of adversity to do it. Although Boshoma frequently cites Jesus as her personal inspiration, much of the common-sense advice she dispenses should be useful to readers of any religious faith or none. She has a weakness for quoting the blandest clichés from self-help authors and other notables, as when she quotes Napoleon Hill (“Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit”) or Maya Angelou (“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated”). And she adds clichés to such bromides (when life gives you lemons you should make lemonade; with faith you can move mountains, etc.). But the main argument of this passionate book—that rough times can be made to yield new opportunities if readers stay focused and optimistic—comes through loud and clear.

An earnest and ultimately uplifting personal account of overcoming misfortune through faith and self-encouragement.