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The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, (Amistad/Harper Collins) in May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. In paperback, the book spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into fourteen languages. Gardner was also the inspiration for the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. The movie is the #2 all-time domestic grossing drama. Will Smith starred as Gardner and received Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance. Gardner was an associate producer on the film.

Gardner’s second book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be will be published on May 12, 2009.

Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on these universal issues and show they do not have to define you. Gardner never knew his father, and lived with his beloved mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (nee Gardner), when not in foster homes. Gardner is indebted to Bettye Jean for his success as she provided him with strong “spiritual genetics” and taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart another path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.

Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and then moved to San Francisco where he worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific medical supply distributor. In 1981, as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Chris Jr.‘s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”

Gardner earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. Today, Gardner is involved with homelessness initiatives assisting families to stay intact, and assisting homeless men and women who are employed but still cannot get by. It is estimated that 12% of the homeless population in the United States is employed; in some communities that estimate is as high as 30%.

Gardner worked at Bear Stearns & Co from 1983-1987 where he became a top earner. In 1987 he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000. Gardner Rich LLC is an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions.

Dedicated to improving the well-being of children through positive paternal involvement, Gardner is a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and received the group’s Father of the Year Award in 2002. He serves on the board of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual awards: the National Education Association’s National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessio]]> male Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1954/02/09 10907 0060744871 9780060744878 255 <![CDATA[The Pursuit of Happyness]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166338904m/10907.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166338904s/10907.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10907.The_Pursuit_of_Happyness 3.50 957
Part "Finding Fish," part "The Pact," THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is a mythic, triumphant, and unstintingly honest memoir whose hero will appeal to every American.]]> 7127 3.52 1004 267 2006 3067565 006153711X 9780061537110 8 <![CDATA[Start Where You Are]]> http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3067565.Start_Where_You_Are 3.86 22 7127 3.52 1004 267 204622 3.98 497 103 2008 215152 1841880019 9781841880013 0 <![CDATA[The Plant Hunters]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172773428m/215152.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172773428s/215152.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215152.The_Plant_Hunters 4.00 2 18427 3.62 8 5 7127 3.52 1004 267 18426 3.67 3 2 1999 7102584 0061191760 9780061191763 0 <![CDATA[Pursuit of Happyness]]> http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7102584-pursuit-of-happyness 0.0 0 7127 3.52 1004 267 2006 7272817 0440419190 9780440419198 0 <![CDATA[Cat on a Hottie's Tin Roof]]> http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7272817-cat-on-a-hottie-s-tin-roof 0.0 0
But three's a crowd, and when another savvy-dressing Milo fan joins the duo, Cat feels she'll never be able to keep up. Shana has a major attitude, and she's determined to blow the lid off Cat's cover ... unless Cat can put her brains to work and come up with the purrfect plan to meet their favorite superstar! Along the way, Cat just might find she's not such a nerd girl after all.]]> 738875 2.86 7 4 3215563 0.0 0 0 3215564 0.0 0 0 7127 3.52 1004 267 2004 32819 1928593240 9781928593249 0 <![CDATA[Benchmarking: A Guide for Your Journey to Best-Practice Processes (Passport to Success Series)]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168393873m/32819.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168393873s/32819.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32819.Benchmarking_A_Guide_for_Your_Journey_to_Best_Practice_Processes 0.0 0 Benchmarking: A Guide for Your Journey to Best-Practice Processes provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to achieve benchmarking success.

Based on years of research into the practices of leading organizations, this book, written by experienced APQC benchmarkers, highlights various types of benchmarking and APQC's benchmarking methodology. Supported by examples of best practices and tips from actual practitioners, it examines preparation and planning, participation, data collection, data analysis, and measurement.

]]> 18425 0.0 0 0 7127 3.52 1004 267 2001