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Told with elegant humor and compassion, a memoir by popular motivational speaker and activist David Roche that explores the beauty found in unusual places....brilliant, illuminated, painful, wise, encouraging and funny. —Anne LamottDavid Roche was born with vascular malformation of the face, which he sees as an “incredible gift” that has forced him to look inside for beauty and self-worth. It has also helped him to see the beauty in others, despite their flaws, allowing him to live in a world of beautiful people. With a refreshingly good-natured outlook, Roche muses on disability, activism, religion and family.
Roche tells the personal story of his journey towards finding happiness, which culminated in his receiving the Order of Canada. Germinating in his “seriously Catholic” childhood and teenage years spent studying in a seminary to be a priest, Roche grew up adhering to doctrine, which paved the way for a “fairly seamless transition” into twelve years of devotion to the Democratic Workers Party.
Roche’s life came to a turning point when he realized that, although he had been devoted to changing the world, he didn’t know his own soul. Eventually freed by the dissolution of the Democratic Workers Party, Roche turned towards a more meaningful way of life, embracing acceptance and love.
About the author
David Roche is a popular motivational speaker and performer, and he has taken his one-man show, The Church of 80% Sincerity, on tour across the world, performing from Sydney to Moscow, London to Los Angeles, and even at the White House. He has also had several roles in documentaries and films such as Happy Face. Roche is a longtime activist, co-founding San Francisco's Childcare Switchboard/Single Parent Resource Center. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Roche continues his activism work as a volunteer for the Sunshine Coast Hospice in British Columbia. With his partner, Marlena, he leads storytelling and writing workshops, inspiring others to voice their own stories. Roche was raised in Indiana, spent many of his adult years in San Francisco, and currently lives in Roberts Creek, British Columbia. His website is www.davidroche.com.
Summary
Told with elegant humor and compassion, a memoir by popular motivational speaker and activist David Roche that explores the beauty found in unusual places.
...brilliant, illuminated, painful, wise, encouraging and funny. —Anne Lamott
David Roche was born with vascular malformation of the face, which he sees as an “incredible gift” that has forced him to look inside for beauty and self-worth. It has also helped him to see the beauty in others, despite their flaws, allowing him to live in a world of beautiful people. With a refreshingly good-natured outlook, Roche muses on disability, activism, religion and family.
Roche tells the personal story of his journey towards finding happiness, which culminated in his receiving the Order of Canada. Germinating in his “seriously Catholic” childhood and teenage years spent studying in a seminary to be a priest, Roche grew up adhering to doctrine, which paved the way for a “fairly seamless transition” into twelve years of devotion to the Democratic Workers Party.
Roche’s life came to a turning point when he realized that, although he had been devoted to changing the world, he didn’t know his own soul. Eventually freed by the dissolution of the Democratic Workers Party, Roche turned towards a more meaningful way of life, embracing acceptance and love.
