Finding Home: An Imperfect Path to Faith and Family

by Jim Daly Narrated by Jim Daly

Overview

Since 2005, Daly has been president and CEO of Focus on the Family, the conservative Christian organization founded by child psychologist and Republican activist James Dobson. Daly's childhood family sorely needed focus: the last of five children born to aging alcoholics, young Jimmy experienced his father's abandonment, his stepfather's rages, his mother's death and several years with a gloriously insane foster family living next to their own personal garbage dump. He apparently avoided beatings and sexual abuse, though his chirpy coauthor rarely plumbs the depths of Daly's probable anguish. Rather than looking inward, the young adolescent developed a pragmatic philosophy of survival: Keep your expectations low. That way you don't get hurt. Somehow, despite homelessness and lack of income, he made it through college, studied overseas, married a good woman, climbed the career ladder and, sadly, still advises low expectations. I believe it's time we were open with one another about the brokenness that we all share he writes, though his story reveals much more of his family's brokenness than his own. Dobson fans-and they are legion-will find Daly's rags-to-(spiritual)-riches story inspirational; others may wish he had dispensed with his coauthor and spoken directly from the heart.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Since 2005, Daly has been president and CEO of Focus on the Family, the conservative Christian organization founded by child psychologist and Republican activist James Dobson. Daly's childhood family sorely needed focus: the last of five children born to aging alcoholics, young Jimmy experienced his father's abandonment, his stepfather's rages, his mother's death and several years with a gloriously insane foster family living next to their own personal garbage dump. He apparently avoided beatings and sexual abuse, though his chirpy coauthor rarely plumbs the depths of Daly's probable anguish. Rather than looking inward, the young adolescent developed a pragmatic philosophy of survival: "Keep your expectations low. That way you don't get hurt." Somehow, despite homelessness and lack of income, he made it through college, studied overseas, married a good woman, climbed the career ladder and, sadly, still advises low expectations. "I believe it's time we were open with one another about the brokenness that we all share," he writes, though his story reveals much more of his family's brokenness than his own. Dobson fans-and they are legion-will find Daly's rags-to-(spiritual)-riches story inspirational; others may wish he had dispensed with his coauthor and spoken directly from the heart. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

From the Publisher

"A Focus on the Family executive since 1989 and now its CEO, Jim Daly endured a cruel childhood. He survived his parents' divorce and then an abusive stepfather only to lose his mother to cancer at a young age. This up-from-the-ashes memoir gets even more grit and texture from the author's early experiences in a crime-ridden Los Angeles suburb. How does any human being survive such losses without losing his sense of what home and family can be? Smoothly written, this is a story that should inspire those whose life circumstances challenge their faith in themselves and humanity. Jim Daly's reading of his poignant story adds first-person legitimacy, though some of the emotional impact is flattened by his uneven delivery." 
T.W. 2008 Audies Finalist © AudioFile Portland, Maine

JUN/JUL 08 - AudioFile

A Focus on the Family executive since 1989 and now its CEO, Jim Daly endured a cruel childhood. He survived his parents' divorce and then an abusive stepfather only to lose his mother to cancer at a young age. This up-from-the-ashes memoir gets even more grit and texture from the author's early experiences in a crime-ridden Los Angeles suburb. How does any human being survive such losses without losing his sense of what home and family can be? Smoothly written, this is a story that should inspire those whose life circumstances challenge their faith in themselves and humanity. Jim Daly's reading of his poignant story adds first-person legitimacy, though some of the emotional impact is flattened by his uneven delivery. T.W. 2008 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169230222
Publisher:	Oasis Audio
Publication date:	09/21/2007
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	871,616

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