Every life is an epic. Sydney Sheldon has lived the kind of life that inspires legends.

Opening with a scene of desperation, Sheldon takes readers to his youth. Bounced from home to home by his father’s wildly inconsistent job status, Sheldon grew into an insecure young man plagued by fears of poverty. He found creative outlet in writing songs that impressed industry professionals, even as they passed him over.

A pivotal period in Sheldon’s life was spent in New York City. The native Chicagoan worked insane hours at various jobs while trying to get contracts for his songs. The persistent young man found his way to the gilt houses of Broadway, even as he unknowingly fought an insidious demon.

Famous for his work on Broadway, in Hollywood, on television, and in print, Sheldon’s story has the power to inspire anyone who has ever dreamed big. Now he has provided an intimate look into the extreme ups and downs in his life. He proves that no one has it easy, no matter how it looks from the outside. Happiness must be found from a place separate from success, a place that is often elusive.

Aside from a few inserted memories that seemed to have little bearing to the overall work, this spectacular read will speak not just to reader, but to creative people of all ages.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
8/8/2006

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