The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness  the  New York Times bestselling memoir and blockbuster movie starring Will Smith  inspired millions of people and brought Chris Gardner sudden fame. Thousands of fans all over the world contacted him, sharing their own stories of struggle and triumph and asking him two important questions: “How did you do it?” and “How can I do it too?” And now, as countless people are being forced to start over, Chris is approached and asked the keys to success on a daily basis.At last Chris Gardner shares his philosophies on, and the crucial steps behind, creating a fulfilling, successful life in Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Having conquered seemingly impossible challenges on his way to becoming a profitable entrepreneur, popular speaker and dedicated activist, Gardner’s aim in Start Where You Are is to give back by motivating others to claim ownership of their dreams and achieve their full potential beginning right now and capitalizing on the resources already in place while building towards bigger goals and ambitions.

The book provides a much-needed blueprint for navigating this tumultuous time with positivity, courage, tenacity, discipline and common sense. Distilling his beliefs into 44 profound yet accessible chapters, Gardner offers practical advice for tackling life’s problems and seizing its opportunities, all with his trademark humor and “tell it like it is” attitude. He begins by encouraging readers to “Find Your Button,” what they love to do, what excites them, and advises that without this passion they are doomed for unfulfillment. 

About the Author

Christopher Paul Gardner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Thomas Turner and Bettye Jean Gardner. He was the second child born to Bettye Jean, his older half-sister is Ophelia from a previous union; and younger siblings are Sharon and Kimberly, children from his mother's marriage to Freddie Triplett.Gardner did not have many positive male role models as a child, as his father was living in Louisiana during his birth, and his stepfather was physically abusive to his wife and children. Triplett's rages made Gardner and his sisters constantly afraid. In one incident, Bettye Jean was falsely imprisoned when Triplett reported her to the authorities for welfare fraud; the children were placed in foster care. When Gardner was eight years old, he and his sisters returned to foster care a second time when their mother, unbeknownst to them, was convicted of trying to kill Triplett by burning down the house while he was inside.

While in foster care, Gardner first became acquainted with his three maternal uncles: Archibald, Willie and Henry. Of the three, Henry had the most profound influence on him, entering Gardner's world at a time when he most needed a father figure. However, Henry drowned in the Mississippi River when Chris was nine years old. The children learned that their mother had been imprisoned when she arrived at Henry's funeral escorted by a prison guard.