The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer: Living with Purpose and Passion - Softcover

Art Berg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006051213X ISBN 13: 9780060512132

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2003

Synopsis

A postscript to this edition includes a touching letter that Berg's young daughter wrote about her father for the Books for a Better Life Awards ceremony.

On December 26, 1983, Art Berg was traveling to see his fiancée when his car went off the road. A broken neck left him a quadriplegic. Doctors told Berg he would never walk, hold a job, or have children. But they could not have been more wrong. Berg was determined to prevail, and would one day wear his own Super Bowl ring.

In The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer, Berg recounts his harrowing and inspirational story while imparting larger lessons about life, fear, and passion. Never giving up, Art resolved to embrace life even more fully, and established a thriving career as a motivational speaker, giving more than 150 speeches each year.

Tragically, Art Berg died in February 2002, but his inspiring story -- a singular vision of passion and conviction -- lives on in The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer.

About this title

Review:

In the preface, Art Berg (Finding Peace in Troubled Waters, Some Miracles Take Time) says he's going to tell us a story, and that we might find that story a tragedy. And while his story of a flipped car and permanent paralysis will inspire sympathy, Berg is so plainspoken and wryly positive, chances are that it will only take readers a couple of chapters before that sympathy becomes a desire for personal growth.

Berg's folksy suggestions include treating a bad day like a cold virus: "you can make all kinds of moaning sounds. But the reality is, it usually will last for 24 to 48 hours." He also recommends that we not ask why bad things happen, because there is never a reasonable answer and the process leads all too easily to what he calls "why-ning."

These notions may seem like oversimplification, but his little snippets of wisdom are surrounded by stories of the types of obstacles most of us never encounter, like dealing with doctors who said he'd never move independently again, flight attendants treating him differently because of his wheelchair, an inability to make a simple "thumbs up" sign to his daughter, and relearning how to accomplish simple daily tasks.

With moving examples like these as the basis for his philosophy, Berg smoothly ties the events of his life together with appealingly simple ideas to help you focus on your true desires and strengths. --Jill Lightner

About the Author:

Art Berg, president of Invictus Communication, Inc., and founder of eSpeakers.com was named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Administration, as well as one of Success magazine's Great Comebacks of the Year. At the age of 38, he was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame of the 4,000-member National Speakers Association and elected its president. With numerous professional awards to his credit, Berg was awarded a Super Bowl ring by the 2000 World Champion Baltimore Ravens.

Tragically, Art Berg died in February 2002, but his inspiring story — a singular vision of passion and conviction — lives on in The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 006051213X
• ISBN 13: 9780060512132
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 216