In the [i] Odyssey of High Hopes, [/i] Cyrus A. Ansary shares the story of how he grew up in Iran with the dream of going to America, and through education, he eventually managed to travel and live in the U.S. While growing up in Shiraz and Tehran, Mr. Ansary had the desire to explore life in other lands, which was instilled by his father who had travelled to other countries despite him having little education. Mr. Ansary went through Kakh Elementary School and Alborz High School in Tehran until he finally acquired a student visa to go study in America. Earlier on, the New York’s [i] Herald-Tribune [/i] had organized a forum for high school students to visit the U.S., and Ansary was one of them. Therefore, it was not the first time for him to visit the U.S. In the promised land of America, Ansary would complete his high school education, join the university, and enlist as a U.S. Marine. During his studies, he resided at the YMCA in Fort Worth, where he faced hardships in paying rent, getting bus fare, and buying food. However, along the way, Ansary looked for jobs and taught himself things about finance and law. These skills would later make him a prominent businessman known for acquiring and consolidating companies. Throughout the book, Mr. Ansary seems to have gone through the ups and downs of life. For example, we learn about a boy who was hit by a car, the forceful decompression on the plane, and a boy beating a kitten to death. The enjoyable parts for Ansary may include the adventure on the train, romance, and visiting Egypt. Ansary later dealt with a German enterprise called Krupp and became the public face of a supersonic plane. His achievements in adult life can be connected to the hard work and determination that he had when he was a child.
One of the positive aspects of the book is that the author connects his childhood experiences to his adult life to defend the theme. First, you are taken back to the life of the author in the 1940s to understand the beginning of his journey to success. Then, the author justifies that the dreams and high hopes that he had as a child are what made him successful in adulthood. Therefore, it is true that this is an odyssey of high hopes for Ansary. The other thing I liked about the book is that it gives us the history of Iran, World War II, and the American way of life. The events in the book mainly took place in Iran and the U.S. during the WWII era. Therefore, as you read the book, you not only learn about Ansary’s life but also learn the history of the world. In the book, there is also adventure such as the ones described in the chapters titled, “Musings on a Train” and “Scent of Roses and Poetry Games.” The black and white pictures shown in Chapter 35 are important in supporting the content and particularly, Mr. Ansary’s biography.
Perhaps the only shortcoming of the book regards its length. The book has 56 chapters in total and, therefore, readers who are used to short stories might have a difficult time reading this lengthy autobiography by Mr. Ansary. I did not notice any grammar or spelling mistakes when I read the book.
I would give the book a rating [b] 4 out of 5 stars [/b] because there are more positive aspects than negative aspects. Besides, the book being long is not a weakness per se, because the author needed to document many stories about his life. Another justification for the rating is that there are no grammar mistakes or the use of profane language inside the book.
I would recommend the book to students and other adults who are interested in reading autobiographies. The book would give them inspiration and propel them to pursue their dreams. The book can also inspire immigrants in America and other countries to work hard and achieve greatness without being bogged down by their difficult past.
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