Words from ANOTHER brother
By Roani Whent | Copy Editor
"Dear young brotha, it might seem easier to close your eyes and ears and act like your’re just passing time. But you’re not. Your life’s not. It might seem easier to ignore the fact that the choices for your life is yours to make, but get this: not making any choices, is making a choice."
Sounds like the typical "self-help" or "motivational speaker" right? So I thought... Wrong! Letters to a Young Brother by author/actor Hill Harper is an inspiring and life-changing book. It is a must read if one is lacking motivation or needs guidance in life.
Writing with many years of experience, Harper, a magna cum laude alumnus from Brown, was valedictorian of his department and cum laude for Harvard Law School. Harper is a volunteer for the Big Brother and Sisters organization in Los Angeles and works as a motivational speaker in public schools around the country. He addresses many issues and encourages brothers to think outside the box and achieve goals.
From the intro to the last letter (#17), Harper beautifully concentrates on many topics of life from finding your passion to relationships, thinking, acting and being "unreasonably happy." In a world that lacks positive role models, Harper steps in with hope and motivation. He does a tremendous job in advising on how to build solid friendships by letting young brothers know how to "pick friends, who you wish were part of your family" and to be smart with your money and avoid debt unless it is for a school or a house loan -no car loans.
A nice feature of the book is that he forwards emails to many famous dignitaries, he even forwards an email to Barack Obama before he was running for President. With his reference to great people such as Nelson Mandela and to sharing his personal life experiences, he shows himself as a transparent writer not holding back. And above all the great advise, Harper advises to not be passive or have a nonchalant attitude toward life, but to live with passion and with great vigor every second of it. He warns, "letting our fear and, subsequently, our doubt, stop[s] us from achieving our dreams and goals is not natural; it’s a copout."
Behind all the great advice and counsel though, Harper’s letters get annoying, at times, by trying to sound like a teenager when using colloquial speech or slang. Harper tries to "connect" with a "young brother" by lowering himself to this stereotypical urban language. Harper’s approach to the reader tends to sound unprofessional in several parts of the book.
Nevertheless, Letters to a Young Brother specifically addresses the young African- American community, but the principles and life lessons he teaches could apply to all races and ages. Hence, Harper’s overall message of "MANifesting your Destiny," is universal. I rate this book 9 out of 10, kudos, brother.
Comments(4) 
Jun 07, 2008
