The Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story
by Yvonne S. Thornton, Jo Coudert
book data
71 ratings, 4.08 average rating, 25 reviews
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published
May 1st 1996
by Plume
binding
Paperback, 272 pages
isbn
0452276195
(isbn13: 9780452276192)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 88)
recommended to Nandi by:
saw the book in the store and bought it;
recommends it for: all pursuing their own dreams.
recommends it for: all pursuing their own dreams.
I got to read this book some years back and it was one of the most inspiring books I have read in some time. I wish I had kept it because I probably would have gone the distance now. Nevertheless, it's about a regular laborer who had six daughters, no boys in the plan whatsoever. Yet, he would tell his coworkers that though he wished he had a boy, he still wanted the best for his daughters and told them that they ALL would be doctors. They didn't believe him, but astonishingly, they all became p...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommended to Mary by:
MPRrecommends it for: anyone
Heard the author on MPR. An amazing story of her father who had definite goals for his family and worked amazingly hard to accomplish them in spite of the racial prejudice of that period, not much education, and certainly not a model home life in his own childhood.
Not really a guide to best practices in child rearing in my mind but this man's daughters are all very successful and I think happy.
Not really a guide to best practices in child rearing in my mind but this man's daughters are all very successful and I think happy.
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This story is amazing! The author is one of the daughters of two amazing parents, who have incredibly high expectations for their five daughters and are determined they will succeed even though they are black and poor. I probably would have been the daughter who rebelled, but hey, even she came around in the end.
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Read in January, 2004
I have used this idea drawn from this book many times. You can be really smart but if you are stupid for just a couple of minutes, you can change the course of your life." The father was using this to convince his daughters to avoid teen pregnancy, but it works on many levels.
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It's been a couple of years since I read this but I do remember that I enjoyed it! I can't relate to certain aspects of the book simply because of ethnicity but the message of hoping, dreaming and striving to be your best transcends all races.
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The author takes us step by step through the parenting and experiences that shaped her life. Reading this book is a must for anyone who wants to read of one person's experience being female and black. It was an eye-opener for me.
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Read in June, 2008
This was an interesting read. It caused me to look at life from a different perspective, which is always a goal when I read, and it was accomplished well. It also made for some interesting discussion in my book club.
Read in September, 2008
recommended to Donna by:
Susan
Fascinating non-fiction about the way a black man raised his five daughers in the 60s. I flipped back and forth between admiring his parenting style and condemning it--but you certainly can't question his results.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
the entire African American community
I'm hearing nothing but great things about this one! If you're looking for inspiration, a change of pace, insight, and wisdom, this book is for you.
Get this and many more titles at www.SableCityBooks.com!
Get this and many more titles at www.SableCityBooks.com!
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Just finished this for the 2nd time. For some reason the first time I read it I know I liked it but the story didn't stick in my head. Must have been during a sleep deprived newborn phase :-)
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Read in July, 2008
This was a very enjoyable book. Very interesting true story about a struggling family and the sacrifices that the parents make so that their kids can be doctors.I thought it was very touching.
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Read in October, 2008
An amazing story of uneducated parents (a ditchdigger and cleaning woman) who raised 5 very talented, educated and accomplished daughters. Interesting to see how they did it.
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This is a very good book about a Black family and the values that were instilled in them by their parents. The examples of their parents pushed them to strive for success.
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I love it when a autobiography reads like a story. I really enjoyed this book as a teen. My sister brought it home from the library. Very good!
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Read in October, 2007
This book could also be called "The Amazing and Incredible Wisdom of a Poor Uneducated Father". This is a great book about perseverance and hard work.
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Read in March, 2007
I read this because the author is also a P&S graduate. Some of her father's techniques seem drastic, but it's hard to argue with success.
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Read in February, 2008
Pretty good, it just got a little slow for me, so I didn't finish it. If you like biographies you'll probably like it...I'm more into fiction!
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Read in April, 2007
it may be a book re: a black family's astonishing success story, but it can be appreciated by all families, regardless of color
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Read this 9 years ago and still remember the story line so I know it was a good book. I highly recommend it. True story.
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