Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Pact

by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, Lisa Frazier Page

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 1,219 ratings · 235 reviews

Chosen by Essence to be among the forty most influential African Americans, the three doctors grew up in the streets of Newark, facing city life’s temptations, pitfalls, even jail. But one day these three young men made a pact. They promised each other they would all become doctors, and stick it out together through the long, difficult journey to attaining that dream. Samp...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published May 6th 2003 by Riverhead Trade (first published May 1st 2002)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel

Men's Leadership Retreat

7th out of 21 books — 7 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,998)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 21, 2009 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who needs inspiration

Recommended to Nick by: my teacher ms lawton

Shelves: must-read

I would reccomend this book to others because it was motovational and inspiring! The book meant alot to me because i thought it was awesome how they made a pact and stuck to it! Throughout there struggles they did what they had to do to get their degrees. It was amazing to me that they came from crappy childhoods and decided to change their lives around.

One qoute that i really liked from this book is "Everyone has a chance to go to college" i like this quote because it applies to me. when i f...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 18, 2008 Estephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

omg this book was the best. it inspiredme more to not give up and to accomplish my goals. it changed my mind about so many things. i love thsi book =]

1 like · like · see review

Feb 05, 2009 christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Christopher Jordan 2/5/09

Book review

The book that i have finished reading is called “The Pact”. This story is by 3 men named Sampson Davis, George Jenkins ,and Paramecia Hunt which are all doctors in reality. This story is a memoir and the theme of it is friends do last forever.
The main characters in this book are Sam, George and Remeck ,they are all doctors that work in a hospital in Newark so the setting takes place in Newark . This story is about three 29 year old men and they take us throug...more

like · see review

Apr 22, 2013 Tywanna Robb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kurumada-reading-like-a-writer

This book was recommended to me a few years ago. I never got the chance to read it. This assignment allowed me to pick it up and see what its all about. This story is the true story and written by three doctors, Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt.

This is really a memoir of the journey that the three doctors faced in life to get to their current positions. The story takes places in Newark, New Jersey where things were not easy for the three of them. This is because they lived in poor are...more

like · see review

Dec 17, 2012 Darryl Hudspeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was called "The Pact" by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt. The story began as these 3 friends, Sam, George, and rameck were all like really close friends. their lives began in Newark, New Jersey, not the best area to live back then. They lived in the black projects. drugs, murder, gangs, and violence were in these projects. this book has the three kids explain how they grew up. all of them came out of not that good of homes. rameck had a crackhead mom and his dad was neve...more This book was called "The Pact" by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt. The story began as these 3 friends, Sam, George, and rameck were all like really close friends. their lives began in Newark, New Jersey, not the best area to live back then. They lived in the black projects. drugs, murder, gangs, and violence were in these projects. this book has the three kids explain how they grew up. all of them came out of not that good of homes. rameck had a crackhead mom and his dad was never there. along with his other friends. the 3 of them always did good in school and cared about there grades so much. George decided his dream was to be a dentist and he wanted rameck and sam to come with him. they agreed to go fulfill George's dream. later on in the story, once they got into high school, the 3 of them began slacking. ditching school and getting into gang fights. there grades began to slip and they all got into doing drugs in alcohol. they always knew drugs and alcohol were bad but, they picked friends that were upper classmen and did bad things. they had a choice to do it or not though. it was to either not do it and look like a coward or do it and look cool. george did tag along to do bad things but, he knew that the dream of being a dentist was too good to just throw his life away.
sam and rameck were still doing all these bad stuff such as doing track and selling crack to people. like this one day rameck and these guys were hanging out and a homeless man asked them if he could buy crack. rameck's friends agreed to sell this guy some crack but, they said he cant smoke it around them. the homeless guy agreed to. 5minutes later they saw the homeless guy smokin it so they went to beat him up. after beating the homeless guy up, rameck brought out a knife out of his pocket and stabbed the homeless man in his leg. The cops showed up and arrested everybody. theres another part same with sam when him and his friends thought it would be funny to rob minor drug dealers then he ended up going to jail. In the end rameck and sam realize that george's dream is important to him so they decide to go with george to become a dentist. The moral of the story is choose your friends wisely because some kids are just trouble and you can throw your life away with drugs and stuff like that. choose choose friends that are trustworthy and care for eachother. This book was named "The Pact" because they made a pact that will help eachother and stick with eachother no matter what happens. What ever they go through, they will stick by eachother forever. I rate this a 5 out of 5 because it explains how friendship is really important and picking your friends is really important when it comes to life. This book shows that it takes work to achieve your dreams and to stick by the good friends to achieve your goals.(less)

like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Kevin Rojas rated it 5 of 5 stars

By far, I promise, I have never felt such a sense of emotion in another book as I did in this one. Truly, this book has changed my thinking and has let me analyze my life. The Pact is powerful and inspiring as it shows the importance of good decision making in all aspects alike. Good decision making to make the best out of every situation, to love your enemies, to abstain from drugs, to commit to your studies, and to pick yourself up when you're just about to call it "quits." Most importantly, t...more By far, I promise, I have never felt such a sense of emotion in another book as I did in this one. Truly, this book has changed my thinking and has let me analyze my life. The Pact is powerful and inspiring as it shows the importance of good decision making in all aspects alike. Good decision making to make the best out of every situation, to love your enemies, to abstain from drugs, to commit to your studies, and to pick yourself up when you're just about to call it "quits." Most importantly, this book illustrates the importance of friends and how it is of great importance to choose them wisely as they influence you greatly whether you know it or not.
The Pact is about believing in yourself and reaching your goals. It urges one to run that extra mile as it shows how even the least unexpected human being can accomplish big things if they learn to balance their time. George, Ramcek, and Sam all faced countless obstacles leading towards Med-School primarily because they were constantly surrounded by drug dealing relatives, gangs, violence, poverty, alcohol, thugs etc. Most importantly though, they grew up without a father which was a huge conflict they internally had to face. Thus, their pact: To stick together until the end and to get their degrees as doctors mean everything to not only them, but to all young black students alike as they were carrying the hopes of a bunch of people the moment they set foot on the university campus.
There are numerous themes in this book yet, they all seem to branch out of the following: being committed, dedication, and the power of friends. The Pact was just so carefully written as the three authors (Dr's. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt) tell us their stories in an entertaining fashion in which behind each and every one of them there was a lesson. They showed and did not just tell as they included some sort of imagery in just about every page. They wanted the reader to put themselves into their shows and to get a glimpse of how difficult it was for a minority to accomplish something in life. That is, I truly recommend this book to anyone especially to high school students as it shows how through discipline, determination, and dedication, one is able to persevere. Dr. Sampson Davis (Sam)call this his three D's in which to him, it is the formula for survival regardless of one's situation. Surely, there will be challenges one is going to have to face and after connecting with this book, I understand much more of it now.
I'm not the wealthiest kid in the world, and lived a somewhat similar life to that of Sam's, George's, and Rameck's... I was born in New York in the midst of the so called "ghetto" where I too was surrounded by ruthless and immature individuals who made the worst of their lives. The Latin Kings made a huge part of my neighborhood area but I always knew what I wanted most in my life; success. I'm still working on reaching that, and after reading this book, I once again have my eyes on the prize. Truly, I believe this book will lead you to think twice about where you stand in life and your purpose in this very intricate world.

- Kevin Rojas
(less)

like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Kristin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is required reading for all the teachers in my school this summer, and will apparently be a program for staff and students next year. Three boys who grow up in inner-city Newark, New Jersey, meet at a magnet school they were each sent to because they showed academic promise. They realize that what they have in common is the determination to rise above their circumstances- and so they make a pact that they will all finish high school, go on to college and medical school, and become doct...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 18, 2011 Wanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, african-american-lifestyle, inspiring-memoir

I REALLY enjoyed this book, and the hope that it inspires. It makes me feel like I can do anything. I came from a great background: both parents together and active in my life, never grew up in poverty, never pressured to join gangs or smoke crack, never lived in the projects, I was expected to go to college, etc. I don't have ANY excuses whatsoever to not accomplish anything I set my mind to because these three men had insurmountable obstacles before them, and they overcame them all. This book...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 02, 2009 Zaneta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Growing up in the slums of Newark, George, Sam, and Rameck all had a dream, and that dream was to be a dentist. Yes, every kid is allowed to dream, but these three boys lived watching loved ones doing drugs, friends getting into trouble and people getting into fights, were living a nightmare of his own. Invariably, they was just expected to grow up as the stereotypical "projects kids". Nobody expected anybody out of the children growing up in Newark, New Jersey. But one day, three friends who sh...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 18, 2009 Jon rated it 4 of 5 stars

It has been said that no man is an island; this is the theme that The Pact explores, as it follows the true story of three black young men growing up in an environment where their peers are more likely to wind up in jail than graduate high school. Instead of accepting that fate, the three make a pact to go to medical school and become doctors. In doing so, they demonstrate a simple point: that every person exerts a powerful influence on their friends and neighbors.

In some cases that influence i...more

like · see review

Jun 03, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very inspirational story. It showed how hard these 3 had to work to go from inner city, Newark to become doctors & keep the pact that they made to each other in high school. It also helped me realize that even though I didn't grow up well off, I was way better off than they were, never having to wonder if I would have a meal as a child or having a safe place to visit when I'd go visit my parents when I went home for a weekend from college.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Liliana rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is difficult for me not to rate this book high despite the fact that the authors' writing does not follow a strict chronological order. The authors take turns telling their stories from their early days before their Pact through the short time following their graduations from medical school. For some readers the tangents and flashbacks or "flash forwards" the authors take may make it hard to follow. For me this style of writing was only occasionally confusing; it sometimes forced me to go bac...more It is difficult for me not to rate this book high despite the fact that the authors' writing does not follow a strict chronological order. The authors take turns telling their stories from their early days before their Pact through the short time following their graduations from medical school. For some readers the tangents and flashbacks or "flash forwards" the authors take may make it hard to follow. For me this style of writing was only occasionally confusing; it sometimes forced me to go back and reread some parts, which was not a big deal. I liked familiarizing myself to their unique family structures, personalities, and way of approaching their life circumstances.

What earns high points for me, and the reason why the book may help lose some readers, is that I really GET where they are coming from. Their stories may at times feel glossed over, and some reviewers found it preachy (in an attempt to be inspirational), but to readers who are living this reality or for who, like me, have witnessed it in any way, the recollecting of these events are just enough to drive the message home. It feels to me that the target audience are persons who have this familiarity; perhaps a young person in high school struggling to deal with negative surroundings, a strained family situation, or lack of resources, or a teacher or mentor who works very closely to young people who are challenged with a similar background and upbringing.

For readers who are not close to this or have never been exposed to people with stories like these, this can still be an inspirational book about Positive Peer Pressure, loyalty, friendship, and "just showing up" even when you are not sure about what to do or how to begin.

An underlying message too is that it really does take a village. In some places, that support system is weakened and does not function as it should. In my personal experience I have seen and still today witness much isolation within communities, in particular where the youth need it most. It is an inspiration that the doctors return to their communities to practice and moreover to inspire and support the next generation of professionals. It is the reason why I stay in the community I live in and the reason I am able to fully grasp the message of the authors' stories. I try to be part of the village in my community where youth's stories are not too dissimilar from that of the authors of The Pact.
(less)

like · see review

Apr 30, 2009 MariLee rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book is about 3 black guys from a rough neighborhood in New Jersey who make a pact in high school to all go to college and medical/dental school and become doctors. Each chapter alternates between each of the three friends, George, Sam, and Rameck. While I thought the idea was good, that these three friends wanted to break out of their unfortunate circumstances and become successful, contributing members of society, I didn't like the overtones of "let's blame the system," "white people don'...more

like · see review

Mar 18, 2009 Crystal Leal rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about three guys.Their names are George,Sam and Rameck. They end up going to the making a promise in high school to always see each other no matter what.They all also ended up being doctors.They had a hard time in their childhood they had to deal with drugs,gangs and shotting.They all faced challenges to accompished there goals as a group and to have a good career.
I highly recommened this book to the people that face so many struggles to accomplish their goals in life.I recommened t...more

like · see review

May 11, 2012 E.D. Martin rated it 2 of 5 stars

These guys came and talked to students in my town and the acoustics were horrible (as well as the bored and therefore chatty teens) so I couldn't hear much of what they said. I decided to give their book a try.

I think they have powerful stories, but it was hard to connect with them in the books. So much was quickly explained or glossed over without the reader being able to feel what happened alongside them.

Many of my students are in the same situation as the three men who wrote this book, and so...more

like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Clayton rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book was very lucid. It was not as intricate as I would have liked but after reading it, I would say that this book is high school level and a very good motivator for young men of color who live in abject poverty or environments. Some of the things that bothered me in the book was the kind of blind eye to the structural racism in these kids lives and how they "still made it even when the system was built against them" turned me off sometimes. Addressing the issue of going back to the neighbo...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2011 Kathleen Pittman rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ok, here's the thing. I would give this 2.5 stars, but definitely couldn't round it up to 3. I appreciate the overall theme: perseverance and pulling oneself up from metaphorical bootstraps. I really do think it's a valuable idea for people to explore through individual stories of success like this one.

However, there are so many things in this book that prompted me to have to literally have to restrain myself from throwing it in the ocean on multiple vacation occasions. Firstly, the organizatio...more Ok, here's the thing. I would give this 2.5 stars, but definitely couldn't round it up to 3. I appreciate the overall theme: perseverance and pulling oneself up from metaphorical bootstraps. I really do think it's a valuable idea for people to explore through individual stories of success like this one.

However, there are so many things in this book that prompted me to have to literally have to restrain myself from throwing it in the ocean on multiple vacation occasions. Firstly, the organization was horrendous. I'm a professional "reader," if you will, and even I found myself going, "wait, what?" on way too many occasions. I realize these doctors are not writers, but that's what editors are for. One Dr would be telling a story about an event that happened in this life and in the very next paragraph he's recounting an event that occurred years later. No page break, no transition, zip. Other sections would be discussing one deep philosophical realization one of the men had, and in the next paragraph he's recounting an event totally unrelated. This jumpiness made the story confusing, and it should have been more carefully laid out in its chronology. Allusions to later (or earlier) events are one thing, but it's almost as though the men, while telling their stories, had constant ADD, as though in mid-story they had the "oh, and by the way..." method of telling a story. I have friends like that, and it takes them forever to get a point across. That's why I don't let them tell stories.

Finally, (see, that's an example of a transition fellas) I really didn't feel that the element of luck was properly addressed here. One of the boys in particular repeatedly makes the wrong choices, knowingly, and succeeds in his efforts to become a doctor by sheer luck. These things include violence, anger, and therefore arrests. The stars aligned and he wound up with no consequences. Lucky him, but those 2nd and 3rd chances don't usually happen in life. Your decisions determine your path in life, as much as that may suck, it's reality. I took serious issue with how lightly these issues were touched upon, and felt there was some serious space for a teachable moment there. This isn't to say that's not something I can do in my own classroom, but the fact remains that 13-16 year old kids see the world differently; they already think they're indestructible and that failing grades mean nothing, that they're good enough to play in the NBA, that skipping class and refusing to do work for years on end won't affect their dreams of becoming a lawyers and doctors. When they read this book and see how the world just up and gave this boy unlimited chances, they're going to see that luck as a given. Unfortunately, some of them may find out too late that it just doesn't work that way. We have to work for what we become. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Serina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Serina by: Ms. Pust

Shelves: high-school

I have never been into memoirs—I won't go out of my way to read one, but if it is required for a class, I don't mind that much. I don't know why, perhaps it is the overly narrative style that makes most memoirs relatively dull. Anyway, this book turned out good and was fairly inspiring. Its most redeeming aspects were that the stories do sound genuine and the doctors' dedication to their goals. I just wish the organization of the book were better—sometimes all three narrators jump from event to...more

like · see review

Apr 14, 2009 Taneysha forsyth rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Pact is an extraordinary testament to the power of male friendship. Friendships among young men often revolved around taking risks, often unnecessary or even dangerous risks. This remarkable story teaches the power of friendship and proves the wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King's proposition that amazing things happen when we "stand on the solid rock of brotherhood." The three supported each other through high school, college, and medical school. Their success, which was due to unwavering, mut...more

like · see review

Dec 11, 2008 Shaffleoppleplutika Xeliet rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

This book is inspiring and enlightening. It's about three young men who grew up in the ghettos. When they became friends in high school, they made a pact that all three of them were going to become doctors, no matter what. They had many distractions along the way, but they pulled through every hardship from gangs to medical school. It really does prove that with enough help and perseverance, everyone can achieve their life goals. (Within reason, of course.) I really like the down-to-earth, real...more

like · see review

May 24, 2009 Sy Alexander rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a powerful story about three boys from the inner city who made a pact to finish high school and become doctors (dentist). In addition to the pact they agreed to stay in their community and work in their neighborhood. They have been and Oprah. They also started
The Three Doctors Foundation.

They detail their struggles with family,peer pressure and brushes with the law. Also there was finacial support from the program at Seton Hall in New Jersey and through the Robert Johnson Foundation.

Edu...more

like · see review

Oct 19, 2009 Sandrine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: school, memoirs-and-journals

A MUST READ.
read it with a group of TRUE friends that have the same accomplishments and problems that you have to and you will indeed connect with this book.
[ especially if want to have a profession in the medical field :]

this book is about 3 strangers who came together coming from different situations and backgrounds and made a simple agreement of they will survive college and go to medical school. each of them had to finish college if they were going through deep struggles. they came from dif...more

like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://www.gerberadaisydiaries.com/20...

Born in the projects of New Jersey, the future seems bleak for Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt. Their neighborhoods are saturated with drug dealers, crime, and hopelessness. But when they forge a friendship in junior high, these three young men make a “pact” that their lives will be different – that they will finish high school and graduate from college. It’s a tough road – so many influences trying to derail their dreams – but with the help...more

like · see review

Apr 17, 2011 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sarival-bkgrp

An interesting memoir about poor black culture. It is hard to think about. I hate that Americans of any race have to struggle with drugs, gangs, broken homes, and empty stomachs in childhood and on. I am so glad to see that there are teachers, coaches, and mentors reaching out and lending a hand to our under priviliged youth. I came away with the idea that we need to LOVE our children and those we are around. It does take all of us to bring up the next generation whether they live in our houses,...more

like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Maureen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bio-memoirs, changed-my-thinking

This is the inspiring true story about three young black men, raised in the projects of Newark NJ amid drugs and crime, and their successful struggle to rise above their circumstances and become doctors. These men grew up in an environment where finishing high school was considered a big accomplishment. Going to college (especially something as ambitious as medical school) was not a desired or realistic goal for many. They faced many obstacles along the way; lack of money, peer pressure, the all...more

like · see review

Sep 19, 2009 Lakayla Billups added it

The book I'm readind is about 3young men who have the hope of all becoming doctors in their lives and they had a dream that it would come true someday. These3 young men grew up in the streets of Newark,facing city lives temptations,pitfalls,even jail. But these men made a pact. They promised to become doctors and stick together through the bad and goodno matter what. And these men are still friends to this day. These is a story aboutthe power of friends. A story about changing life and inspiring...more

like · see review

Jan 15, 2009 Melissa Andrews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-memoir, i-own-it

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. Definitely inspirational and motivating - I would recommend it to any young person. I can't wait to read their follow up book. The Pact is a heart-warming story that will make those of us who didn't grow up in as difficult situations as these young men did wonder how we could have ever complained about anything.

Each of the three authors tells his story in his own words - they divide it up by chapters, so George will do a chapter, then Rameck, then Sam, a...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 02, 2011 Marilyn added it

Very impressed with this inspiring true story of 3 black African American men, who came of age in the late 1980s on the rough streets of Newark, NJ. They met in JHS & made a pact to graduate college & medical school. As 1 of them wrote, he believed in the 3D's: determination, discipline & dedication. Now all 3 are doctors: 1 a dentist; 1 an ER doctor: 1 an internist. I feel this book is a must read for young people & for anyone who interacts with young people. I am so proud of th...more

like · see review

Mar 08, 2009 Clare rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I cannot recommend this book enough. This true tale of friendship and fortitude begins with a look at the childhoods of these three men. They do not sugar coat their early lives, telling it like it was. They lived in a very rough neighborhood, and while in high school they became friends. It is here they made a pact to go to college and get degrees, something basically impossible from their economic standpoint. This is an inspirational story of perseverance in the face of many roadblocks. It mak...more

like · see review

Mar 24, 2009 Jack rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this in 2008 for a student teaching placement and found it a bit boring and ill-suited for the class. A few students enjoyed it, but what was particularly interesting was how minority students excelled with quizzes on The Pact even though we were barely touching it in class.

My personal problem with the novel is that it seemed to lose steam after the more engaging stories of the three doctors when they were kids, dealing with crime and drug abuse, but then turning into a looser recount of...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 66 67 next »

Autobiography > Memoir

9 users

Cultural > African American

8 users

Biography

7 users

Inspirational

4 users

Book Club

3 users

Education

2 users

Young Adult > High School

2 users

Health > Medicine

2 users

Academic > Read For School

2 users

See top shelves...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Pact

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Pact
avg rating	preview: The Pact Goodreads rating: 3.83 (1219 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/783956.The_Pact?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309203360l/783956.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/783956.The_Pact?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Pact by Sampson Davis[/url]

The Pact

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (13)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Sampson Davis

Books by Sampson Davis

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Pact