The stories detailed in the book were interesting, but it felt rushed near the end. The book reads more like a first draft rather than polished copy and I think that distracts from the point the author was attempting to make.

While I can appreciate everything that he went through and enjoyed reading about his life in the military, I felt that some aspects of that time of his life were glossed over, while others were described in too much detail. Roughly half the book is spent discussing his college years, but there was very little about actually attending college. He never mentions if he struggled with his courses or even why he decided on a particular major. Instead, the focus was on his relationship with his college girlfriend and the tone of the book seemed to shift from discussing overcoming obstacles to talking about the girl that got away.

The book ends very abruptly and I was left feeling confused about why the author chose to end the book where he did, with no afterward about how the choices he made in his late teens through late twenties have defined the rest of his life. I think a chapter to summarize his past experiences would have helped to tie up the book and give some closure. ( )

This book is long read. It does include very interesting aspects of Hussey's life that is an inspiration to the reader. I would say that parts of this book was a bit verbose and long winded for a typical reader; however, friends and family of the author would certainly appreciate each piece of this book. It's great to read about someone overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds as it would be a motivator for people facing similar situations. ( )

Ticket to Ride by Don Hussey is a memoir of growing up in difficult circumstances and overcoming the challenges of that environment to be successful. The book begins with the childhood of abusive fathers and a loving, but ineffectual mother. He has a brother who is hemophiliac and has frequent episodes of bleeding into joints with minor trauma. He relates many episodes of growing up in a rough neighborhood, but with frequent moves he never really settles into a group he can relate with. He quits high school in his senior year and later gets a GED. When he turns seventeen he joins the Air Force for a four year hitch. He becomes a Morse Code operator and becomes fairly good at it. After the Air Force he moves on to college, but picks a college far from Boston, his home base. At college he develops a relationship and in fact proposes to a woman over the first three years of college. However, he continues to have episodes of immaturity such as an impulsive trip to Las Vegas. The relationship fizzles with these and other conflicts they have. During one summer he has a job with steel pressing and injures both hands, the right worse than the left, leaving him handicapped. He again overcomes this challenge and graduates from college. He begins teaching in elementary school and then later becomes a businessman. He marries another teacher and has a successful marriage and children who themselves are upstanding citizens.

The book originated from a letter he had previously written to one of his sons. He wanted to chronicle the parts of his life that the son may not have known. The book reads much like a letter. Many of the events depicted are similar to events in my life. Thus, I found the book interesting but not enticing. I think his son would find it much more worth reading. I give the book two stars ( )

This poignant account of the life of poverty,mental illness and abuse at the hands of those we are suppose to trust. The challenges he faced provided a strong foundation for his success. I would probably recommend this book. It is uplifiting and encourages those who are struggling how to handle life's tribulations

I was very excited for this book, but unfortunately it did not quite live up to my expectations. It could definitely use a lunch date with a skilled editor. I'll be frank: part of your development as a decent human is learning how and when to let go. ( )