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Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement
One sunny afternoon in 1982, a young businessman experienced a terrifying mugging in New York City that shook him to his core.
Tortured by nightmares about the teens who roughed him up, Steve Mariotti sought counseling. When his therapist suggested that he face his fears, Mariotti closed his small import-export business and became a teacher at the city's most notorious public school--Boys and Girls High in Bed-Stuy.
Although his nightmares promptly ceased, Mariotti's out-of-control students rapidly drove him to despair.
One day, Mariotti stepped out of the classroom so his students wouldn't see him cry. In a desperate move to save his job, he took off his watch and marched back in with an impromptu sales pitch for it. To his astonishment, his students were riveted. He was able to successfully lead a math lesson for the first time.
Mariotti realized his students felt trapped in soul-crushing poverty. They saw zero connection between school and improving their lives. Whenever Mariotti connected their lessons to entrepreneurship, though, even his most disruptive students got excited about learning.
School administrators disapproved of Mariotti discussing money in the classroom, however. He was repeatedly fired before receiving one last-ditch an offsite program for special-ed students expelled from the public schools for violent crimes.
The success Mariotti had with these forgotten children—including coverage in the Daily News , The New York Times , and World News Tonight —inspired him to found the nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship to bring entrepreneurship education to low-income youth.
By turns tragic and hilarious, Goodbye Homeboy shares Mariotti's flaws and missteps as he connects deeply with his troubled students, and woos the most influential people in the world into helping them—saving himself in the process.
Today, Mariotti is widely recognized as the world's leading advocate for entrepreneurship education. More than one million young people from Chicago to China have graduated from NFTE programs, and NFTE counts Sean Combs, Chelsea Clinton, Diana Davis Spencer, and many more business, entertainment, and community leaders among its staunchest supporters.
As Goodbye Homeboy powerfully illustrates, a spark of hope really can empower us to overcome life's greatest hardships.
Tortured by nightmares about the teens who roughed him up, Steve Mariotti sought counseling. When his therapist suggested that he face his fears, Mariotti closed his small import-export business and became a teacher at the city's most notorious public school--Boys and Girls High in Bed-Stuy.
Although his nightmares promptly ceased, Mariotti's out-of-control students rapidly drove him to despair.
One day, Mariotti stepped out of the classroom so his students wouldn't see him cry. In a desperate move to save his job, he took off his watch and marched back in with an impromptu sales pitch for it. To his astonishment, his students were riveted. He was able to successfully lead a math lesson for the first time.
Mariotti realized his students felt trapped in soul-crushing poverty. They saw zero connection between school and improving their lives. Whenever Mariotti connected their lessons to entrepreneurship, though, even his most disruptive students got excited about learning.
School administrators disapproved of Mariotti discussing money in the classroom, however. He was repeatedly fired before receiving one last-ditch an offsite program for special-ed students expelled from the public schools for violent crimes.
The success Mariotti had with these forgotten children—including coverage in the Daily News , The New York Times , and World News Tonight —inspired him to found the nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship to bring entrepreneurship education to low-income youth.
By turns tragic and hilarious, Goodbye Homeboy shares Mariotti's flaws and missteps as he connects deeply with his troubled students, and woos the most influential people in the world into helping them—saving himself in the process.
Today, Mariotti is widely recognized as the world's leading advocate for entrepreneurship education. More than one million young people from Chicago to China have graduated from NFTE programs, and NFTE counts Sean Combs, Chelsea Clinton, Diana Davis Spencer, and many more business, entertainment, and community leaders among its staunchest supporters.
As Goodbye Homeboy powerfully illustrates, a spark of hope really can empower us to overcome life's greatest hardships.
- GenresEducationNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2019
6 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Steve Mariotti
52 books14 followersSteven John Mariotti was an American educator, activist, and businessman. He was the founder and president (1988–2005) of the nonprofit Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), and the author of books and textbooks related to entrepreneurship education. Mariotti was inspired to found NFTE by his early career as a special ed teacher in New York City, as chronicled in his 2019 memoir, Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement, BenBella Books, co-authored with Debra Devi, with a foreword by Wes Moore. After retiring as NFTE president in 2015, Mariotti served as Senior Fellow for Entrepreneurial Education at the PhilaU Center for Entrepreneurship at Philadelphia University (2016–2018), and Senior Research Fellow for Entrepreneurship at Rising Tide Capital in Jersey City, New Jersey (2018–2020). In 2020, Mariotti executive-produced the PBS docu-series Trauma to Triumph: The Rise of the Entrepreneur. In 2021, he founded the nonprofit Center for Financial Independence to provide social entrepreneurs with mentorship and fundraising training.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 30, 2020
Bringing entrepreneurship education to low-income youth...
Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement by Steve Mariotti is a poignant, emotive and humorous memoir of his career as a special ed teacher in New York City’s most dangerous public high schools during the early 1980s. The author demonstrates how he managed to engage with low-income youth in education, equipping them with the necessary skills to help raise them out of poverty. He has influenced and changed the lives of millions of people worldwide.
We all have abilities that we can use to make a difference in someone's life. It could be to just let them know that they are important and to be sure to say or convey in some way these simple words, "YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE." The point is to keep the thought of MAKING A DIFFERENCE foremost in your mind as you go about your day. However, this book takes that basic principle to a whole different level! It was a great read. Highly recommended.
Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement by Steve Mariotti is a poignant, emotive and humorous memoir of his career as a special ed teacher in New York City’s most dangerous public high schools during the early 1980s. The author demonstrates how he managed to engage with low-income youth in education, equipping them with the necessary skills to help raise them out of poverty. He has influenced and changed the lives of millions of people worldwide.
We all have abilities that we can use to make a difference in someone's life. It could be to just let them know that they are important and to be sure to say or convey in some way these simple words, "YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE." The point is to keep the thought of MAKING A DIFFERENCE foremost in your mind as you go about your day. However, this book takes that basic principle to a whole different level! It was a great read. Highly recommended.
October 8, 2019
An inspirational story of a man who, rather than admit defeat at the hands of his tormentors, looked his fears in the eyes and became a teacher of disadvantaged youth. This book will at times make you laugh, make you cry, make you question what in the world is going on in our educational system, make you furious, and, in the end, make you feel hopeful. And thankful that there are people like the author who go out into the world and try to make a difference. Highly recommend!
November 20, 2019
Reviewed by Araceli Noriega for Reader Views (11/19)
“Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement,” author Steve Mariotti’s memoir, tells the story of a teacher’s early experiences working with some of the most mistreated students living in the inner city in the 1980s. Along the way, readers watch a young man face one adversity after another with humility and refreshing honesty.
“Goodbye Homeboy” mixes the graceful with the ghastly, delivering its message of resiliency with equal parts of efficiency and compassion. Mr. Mariotti and Debra Devi compel the reader to reconsider any and all prejudices about both him and his students. Equally important, they succeed in giving the community of the South Bronx the respect it deserves (which I believe they were aiming to do).
The narrative arc leads the reader through a story that involves disturbing heartache and gritty triumph. At just the right times, Mr. Mariotti and Debra Devi sprinkle in the bliss and exhilaration that comes with helping an underprivileged young person reach their goals. The writing is fluid yet full of nuances, making it a remarkable piece of non-fiction honoring the young people of the South Bronx.
I have many passages showing the way in which the memoir keeps the reader grounded and inspired at the same time. One of my favorites is the following quotes on page 184:
“But my murdered students had made me tough like a motherfucker.”
Up to this point, Mr. Mariotti was still inhibited in his descriptions of the way the students had impacted him. Suddenly, he is brutally and achingly honest about the transformation he is experiencing. It’s piercing as this turn of events isn’t preceded by any hint of an upcoming revelation. He just blurts it out halfway through “Tough like a mother,” a pivotal chapter in the story. Fantastically timed and written!
This memoir is written in such a clear voice and concise manner that it has quite a broad audience. Residents of the Bronx will be especially interested in reading it to see how accurate it is to the time and era it is written in. Educators of any background would do well to read this memoir as a reminder of the power of working with students’ strengths.
This book was truly a joy to read! I have several personal connections that made this memoir a lovely surprise. A couple of years ago, I spent a lot of time working in the South Bronx (and some time in Bed-Stuy as well) as a research assistant when I worked in the field of social science research. I know most of the neighborhoods and the people who live there quite well. It is refreshing to read how accurate and honest the story is in describing the community and the families that are the backbone of the South Bronx. As I read “Goodbye Homeboy,” I realized that the South Bronx of the 80s that he was describing is the one I have come to know now that I live in the Bronx. Reading this memoir formed a connection between Mr. Mariotti’s experiences and the experiences I, myself, had in the Bronx as an outsider working to serve the community almost 40 years later.
I have been a fan of KRS-One since I was an adolescent, always wanting to learn about his musical style and artistic origins. I was elated to learn that he was involved in helping Mr. Mariotti and his students. Not only that, the author also explains being witness to the birth of hip-hop culture. What a terrific surprise for a fan of rap music and the history that fomented the artistry that continues to be such an influential element of American popular culture! In hindsight, it makes sense that this story would include something about rap music. The era and location in which the story is told necessarily require that the subject be broached. Mr. Mariotti did just that and he did so in a raw, heartwarming, and amusing tone, all rap music fans will appreciate this.
I absolutely recommend this memoir to readers who appreciate contemporary history, working with high school students, and of course, anyone that wants to learn about the origins of rap music and hip-hop culture.
As an occasional volunteer financial literacy instructor in the South Bronx, I found “Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement,” a poignant example of the marriage of social justice and the American dream. Just as in the time period that the book is set in, Bed-Stuy and the South Bronx remain distrustful of outsiders. However, Mr. Mariotti earned his students’ trust and inspired them to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. The fact that the community eventually embraced him, demonstrates the authenticity he carries himself with. Towards the end of the memoir, Mr. Mariotti says “Isn’t hip-hop just a fad, though?” He eventually learns that this was no fad—and I suspect this memoir has similarly etched a mark in the history of academic theory.
“Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement,” author Steve Mariotti’s memoir, tells the story of a teacher’s early experiences working with some of the most mistreated students living in the inner city in the 1980s. Along the way, readers watch a young man face one adversity after another with humility and refreshing honesty.
“Goodbye Homeboy” mixes the graceful with the ghastly, delivering its message of resiliency with equal parts of efficiency and compassion. Mr. Mariotti and Debra Devi compel the reader to reconsider any and all prejudices about both him and his students. Equally important, they succeed in giving the community of the South Bronx the respect it deserves (which I believe they were aiming to do).
The narrative arc leads the reader through a story that involves disturbing heartache and gritty triumph. At just the right times, Mr. Mariotti and Debra Devi sprinkle in the bliss and exhilaration that comes with helping an underprivileged young person reach their goals. The writing is fluid yet full of nuances, making it a remarkable piece of non-fiction honoring the young people of the South Bronx.
I have many passages showing the way in which the memoir keeps the reader grounded and inspired at the same time. One of my favorites is the following quotes on page 184:
“But my murdered students had made me tough like a motherfucker.”
Up to this point, Mr. Mariotti was still inhibited in his descriptions of the way the students had impacted him. Suddenly, he is brutally and achingly honest about the transformation he is experiencing. It’s piercing as this turn of events isn’t preceded by any hint of an upcoming revelation. He just blurts it out halfway through “Tough like a mother,” a pivotal chapter in the story. Fantastically timed and written!
This memoir is written in such a clear voice and concise manner that it has quite a broad audience. Residents of the Bronx will be especially interested in reading it to see how accurate it is to the time and era it is written in. Educators of any background would do well to read this memoir as a reminder of the power of working with students’ strengths.
This book was truly a joy to read! I have several personal connections that made this memoir a lovely surprise. A couple of years ago, I spent a lot of time working in the South Bronx (and some time in Bed-Stuy as well) as a research assistant when I worked in the field of social science research. I know most of the neighborhoods and the people who live there quite well. It is refreshing to read how accurate and honest the story is in describing the community and the families that are the backbone of the South Bronx. As I read “Goodbye Homeboy,” I realized that the South Bronx of the 80s that he was describing is the one I have come to know now that I live in the Bronx. Reading this memoir formed a connection between Mr. Mariotti’s experiences and the experiences I, myself, had in the Bronx as an outsider working to serve the community almost 40 years later.
I have been a fan of KRS-One since I was an adolescent, always wanting to learn about his musical style and artistic origins. I was elated to learn that he was involved in helping Mr. Mariotti and his students. Not only that, the author also explains being witness to the birth of hip-hop culture. What a terrific surprise for a fan of rap music and the history that fomented the artistry that continues to be such an influential element of American popular culture! In hindsight, it makes sense that this story would include something about rap music. The era and location in which the story is told necessarily require that the subject be broached. Mr. Mariotti did just that and he did so in a raw, heartwarming, and amusing tone, all rap music fans will appreciate this.
I absolutely recommend this memoir to readers who appreciate contemporary history, working with high school students, and of course, anyone that wants to learn about the origins of rap music and hip-hop culture.
As an occasional volunteer financial literacy instructor in the South Bronx, I found “Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement,” a poignant example of the marriage of social justice and the American dream. Just as in the time period that the book is set in, Bed-Stuy and the South Bronx remain distrustful of outsiders. However, Mr. Mariotti earned his students’ trust and inspired them to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. The fact that the community eventually embraced him, demonstrates the authenticity he carries himself with. Towards the end of the memoir, Mr. Mariotti says “Isn’t hip-hop just a fad, though?” He eventually learns that this was no fad—and I suspect this memoir has similarly etched a mark in the history of academic theory.
July 25, 2019
‘Street smarts equal business smarts!’
Author Steve Mariotti is the founder of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, or NFTE, with the mission to teach low-income children now to enter our economy and succeed. The evolution of this concept forms the story of this superb book – a story that combines Steve’s depth of knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur with his exceptional humanity, and he brings his concepts and achievements to life in this personally charged memoir, a ‘novel’ in essence that is rich in relating the lives of the street youths of New York as well as a fine sense of humor. Steve has published five books on the facets of entrepreneurship, and now he steps into the arena of sharing of a story that is both entertaining and inspiring. His co-author is Debra Devi.
Steve prepares us for the experience of his book: ‘One sunny September afternoon in 1981 I was jumped by six knife-wielding teenagers as I jogged along the East River. Plagued by debilitating nightmares and flashbacks after this attack, I took my therapist’s advice to face my fear perhaps a bit too literally. I closed my business and became a high school teacher, choosing to work in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. From 1982 to 1988, I taught primarily special ed in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; the Lower East Side of Manhattan; and the decaying, gang-ridden section of the South Bronx that police had nicknamed “Fort Apache.” When I began teaching, I was rapidly driven to despair by my rowdy students. My classes devolved into pure chaos. I discovered, though, that whenever I talked about how to make money with a small business, my students were riveted. I had stumbled onto the truth. My students acted out in school because they were struggling with soul-crushing poverty and mortal danger around every corner. They saw zero connection between paying attention in school and improving their lives.’
And it is this nidus that bursts into bloom in this richly entertaining and emotionally charged book. Steve invites the reader to experience his life, his career, his traumatic experience, and his growth as an educator, ultimately becoming the spearhead for fostering the concept of teaching rowdy, low income students about entrepreneurship, awakening a passion for learning in them, and an eagerness to start their own small businesses and take charge of their lives.
The growth and maturation of a successful businessman whose life was changed after a mugging – a change that ultimately resulted in one of the more important movements in our educational philosophy – is the journey this fine book shares. Steve writes well, not only about his business concepts, but also about his impact on his students, as well as the reverse- the impact of his students on him, and it is this immediacy of communication that rivets the reader, informing as it entertains. Appropriately peppered with rasty street talk, Steve shares the process of his life. That is the ultimate goal of fine writing, and here it is. GOODBYE HOMEBOY is bound to become a best seller - and could become a fine screenplay…this century’s answer to Evan Hunter’s BLACKBOARD JUNGLE! Highly Recommended
Author Steve Mariotti is the founder of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, or NFTE, with the mission to teach low-income children now to enter our economy and succeed. The evolution of this concept forms the story of this superb book – a story that combines Steve’s depth of knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur with his exceptional humanity, and he brings his concepts and achievements to life in this personally charged memoir, a ‘novel’ in essence that is rich in relating the lives of the street youths of New York as well as a fine sense of humor. Steve has published five books on the facets of entrepreneurship, and now he steps into the arena of sharing of a story that is both entertaining and inspiring. His co-author is Debra Devi.
Steve prepares us for the experience of his book: ‘One sunny September afternoon in 1981 I was jumped by six knife-wielding teenagers as I jogged along the East River. Plagued by debilitating nightmares and flashbacks after this attack, I took my therapist’s advice to face my fear perhaps a bit too literally. I closed my business and became a high school teacher, choosing to work in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. From 1982 to 1988, I taught primarily special ed in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; the Lower East Side of Manhattan; and the decaying, gang-ridden section of the South Bronx that police had nicknamed “Fort Apache.” When I began teaching, I was rapidly driven to despair by my rowdy students. My classes devolved into pure chaos. I discovered, though, that whenever I talked about how to make money with a small business, my students were riveted. I had stumbled onto the truth. My students acted out in school because they were struggling with soul-crushing poverty and mortal danger around every corner. They saw zero connection between paying attention in school and improving their lives.’
And it is this nidus that bursts into bloom in this richly entertaining and emotionally charged book. Steve invites the reader to experience his life, his career, his traumatic experience, and his growth as an educator, ultimately becoming the spearhead for fostering the concept of teaching rowdy, low income students about entrepreneurship, awakening a passion for learning in them, and an eagerness to start their own small businesses and take charge of their lives.
The growth and maturation of a successful businessman whose life was changed after a mugging – a change that ultimately resulted in one of the more important movements in our educational philosophy – is the journey this fine book shares. Steve writes well, not only about his business concepts, but also about his impact on his students, as well as the reverse- the impact of his students on him, and it is this immediacy of communication that rivets the reader, informing as it entertains. Appropriately peppered with rasty street talk, Steve shares the process of his life. That is the ultimate goal of fine writing, and here it is. GOODBYE HOMEBOY is bound to become a best seller - and could become a fine screenplay…this century’s answer to Evan Hunter’s BLACKBOARD JUNGLE! Highly Recommended
August 28, 2020
Teaching the business and entrepreneurship strategies to at risk youth
This is the story of Steve Mariotti and how he went from being a terrified man in therapy after a mugging to the toughest high school in the city. He discovered that teaching the students how to become entrepreneurs was the way to gain their attention and keep them learning. After failed attempts to get the schools to adopt this program he started the NFTE and has spent the last few decades teaching this valuable information to the youths of america. Follow his story as he shares with us the struggles to achieve success and the failures he overcame to make this organization world renowned with top supporters around the country. This is a great story of a man who shows the reader that you can succeed and make a difference in the world. I found this book to be very uplifting and enjoyed the read. I recommend this one to everyone who loves a great story of success and hope for the future. Education is the first step towards eliminating poverty.
This is the story of Steve Mariotti and how he went from being a terrified man in therapy after a mugging to the toughest high school in the city. He discovered that teaching the students how to become entrepreneurs was the way to gain their attention and keep them learning. After failed attempts to get the schools to adopt this program he started the NFTE and has spent the last few decades teaching this valuable information to the youths of america. Follow his story as he shares with us the struggles to achieve success and the failures he overcame to make this organization world renowned with top supporters around the country. This is a great story of a man who shows the reader that you can succeed and make a difference in the world. I found this book to be very uplifting and enjoyed the read. I recommend this one to everyone who loves a great story of success and hope for the future. Education is the first step towards eliminating poverty.
July 30, 2020
Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement is one of the most inspirational stories you will ever read. A pivotal moment in the author's life changed the trajectory of his life, along with the lives of his future students. This is a great memoir that shows the tremendous influence a teacher can have and in this case, the influence is massive, as the author challenged his students to think outside their restrictive boxes. This book is both funny and at times intense, but the net result is that countless students were positively changed and given opportunities they might not otherwise have had if it weren't for Mariotto and his Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. This is a must-read book, one that both inspires but sets an optimistic tone for the future of teaching and business. Highly recommend.
July 23, 2019
I could not put this book down. I was crying, laughing, and learning throughout the book.
This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of going into business. HECK, everyone should just read this book because it is so inspirational.
I loved the writing, the stories, the people, and most of all the kids. The children who society had thrown away actually began to believe in themselves.
I cried when they wrote their obits and it was all gun shots and mugging. This is not the world in which we want young people to grow up in.
I am so thankful that Mr Mariotti decided to teach after his mugging and not only that...but to learn what actually got through to the students.
There are heroes everywhere and Mr Mariotti is one of them.
This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of going into business. HECK, everyone should just read this book because it is so inspirational.
I loved the writing, the stories, the people, and most of all the kids. The children who society had thrown away actually began to believe in themselves.
I cried when they wrote their obits and it was all gun shots and mugging. This is not the world in which we want young people to grow up in.
I am so thankful that Mr Mariotti decided to teach after his mugging and not only that...but to learn what actually got through to the students.
There are heroes everywhere and Mr Mariotti is one of them.
September 30, 2022
Mariotti keeps on educating us
“Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement” is a biographical book written by Steve Mariotti and Debra Devi.
The book has education as its main topic. Mariotti showed me what teaching from the heart means and how education can change people. He taught me what education really is, in spite of the content.
I was touched by this story, mainly because I am an educator myself. Nonetheless, I believe this reader is for everyone who is willing to be inspired by a man with a great mind and an enormous heart.
Mariotti saved himself by bearing in mind those who are forgotten. This is the ideal book to learn about this caring soul and give him the recognition he deserves. Five stars!
“Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement” is a biographical book written by Steve Mariotti and Debra Devi.
The book has education as its main topic. Mariotti showed me what teaching from the heart means and how education can change people. He taught me what education really is, in spite of the content.
I was touched by this story, mainly because I am an educator myself. Nonetheless, I believe this reader is for everyone who is willing to be inspired by a man with a great mind and an enormous heart.
Mariotti saved himself by bearing in mind those who are forgotten. This is the ideal book to learn about this caring soul and give him the recognition he deserves. Five stars!
August 6, 2019
I am an Instructional Aide in schools and have worked in Alternative Schools for students that are behaviorally challenged and have found the students at these schools thrive when they are offered personalized attention and when someone genuinely believes in them. The author of this book took caring about those students that others write off to a whole new level. The fact that the author entered teaching to help these students after being attacked at knifepoint by teens is just awe-inspiring. Sometimes bad things happen for a good reason and the attack on the author by those teens set him up for a lifetime of assisting others to succeed.
October 3, 2022
I used to be a teacher when I was in my thirties and this book has really touched my heart. The story of Steve Mariotti is a well-structured tale that shows real-life situations that regular citizens have to go through in their lives. Being mugged, feeling bad about the situation or changing jobs are all things that can happen to any of us.
Mariotti’s tale is a compelling and super engaging read that has kept me on the edge of my seat and every turn of the page. This book is a cut above the rest in terms of character development and the implementation of a superb plotline as well. I loved it!
October 3, 2022
This is a beautifully written, thought provoking and extremely eye-opening autobiography focused on Steve Mariotti.
The book started with a stressed incident during 1982 which absolutely and abruptly changed our protagonist's life. Trying to find a solution to his own problems, he could discover a way to help many people. This is totally the most fascinating fact of the entire title.
The authors provide a deep analysis that is not only personal but also political and psychological themes about society because, as I was reading it, I started to ask myself several questions.
I felt trapped from the first page due to the flawless and meticulous writing. I recommend this piece of work.
The book started with a stressed incident during 1982 which absolutely and abruptly changed our protagonist's life. Trying to find a solution to his own problems, he could discover a way to help many people. This is totally the most fascinating fact of the entire title.
The authors provide a deep analysis that is not only personal but also political and psychological themes about society because, as I was reading it, I started to ask myself several questions.
I felt trapped from the first page due to the flawless and meticulous writing. I recommend this piece of work.
November 29, 2023
Humbling and inspiring
Steve’s story is incredible - responding to mugging by teenagers through teaching of teenagers. He quit his job and became a teacher of the toughest children in the toughest school.
They had no interest in him until he spoke about business. He listened and learned and changed. He refocused his teaching on business and his students loved him for it.
What an amazing group of students he gathered.
Steve’s story is incredible - responding to mugging by teenagers through teaching of teenagers. He quit his job and became a teacher of the toughest children in the toughest school.
They had no interest in him until he spoke about business. He listened and learned and changed. He refocused his teaching on business and his students loved him for it.
What an amazing group of students he gathered.
October 25, 2024
It’s was amazing to hear Steve’s story in such detail as a NFTE alumna. I loved learning how the program that changed my life got its start and changed the world. Steve was always an amazing friend and mentor as I ran my own company for 20 years after attending one of his BizCamps at NYU. I’m so grateful for his sacrifice and dedication to lead such an impactful organization. Thank you for everything Mr. Mariotti. You impacted eternity.
July 30, 2019
I found this book to be incredibly moving = what Steve has accomplished and even just his intentions were beyond noble. I found myself tearing up more than once.
That being said, I do think that he fell into a bit of a trap where the editing was covered. There were moments where I felt could have been cut down, but that I imagined felt very personal to the author, which is probably whey they were still in there.
Overall, I think this should be required reading for any educator - its important to treat your students as individuals, but more importantly as people with potential for greatness.
That being said, I do think that he fell into a bit of a trap where the editing was covered. There were moments where I felt could have been cut down, but that I imagined felt very personal to the author, which is probably whey they were still in there.
Overall, I think this should be required reading for any educator - its important to treat your students as individuals, but more importantly as people with potential for greatness.
September 28, 2019
What's great about a memoir or shall I call it just a personal story is the tone. With this book Steve takes us along with him to class, into the lives of his students, his fears, hopes and their expectations and fears you feel a myriad of emotions from joy to sorrow all in one and isn't that life?
I enjoyed reading this book.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC. This book is an inspiration.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC. This book is an inspiration.
October 10, 2019
Steve Marrioti's story will restore your faith in America...he went from surviving a violent crime to working with inner city students to becoming one of the pioneers of entrepreneurial education for youth in the US over the past 30 years. Perfect read for anyone who wants to read a truly inspiring American story!!!
December 23, 2019
Good tips on how to engage with and teach children from a different background. Primary takeaway point seems to be that teachers need more flexibility in lesson planning so they can find ways that work best for individual classes.
April 17, 2020
Great subject
June 2, 2020
Very insightful, real look at challenges facing our youth and showing them how to be successful!
November 26, 2023
One of the most powerful and inspirational books I have ever read. A must read for anyone in education.
November 30, 2024
I was moved by Mr Marriotti's memoir until the very end. I loved the stories of his students. And his teaching skills. I hope to learn from him.
October 11, 2022
Goodbye Homeboy tells the wonderful story of a salesman who decides to leave his profession and become a public school teacher. After some time, frustrated and facing serious problems with his students, he decides to put his knowledge into practice and combine both experiences. It is at this moment that he really understands what his students' problems are and finds a way to help them.
It is a sensitive and motivating book. Ever since I started reading I haven't wanted to put it down until I finished it. His story is very accurate, it seemed to me an interesting and valuable subject.
I recommend it to anyone who is immersed in the world of education and educational systems.
It is a sensitive and motivating book. Ever since I started reading I haven't wanted to put it down until I finished it. His story is very accurate, it seemed to me an interesting and valuable subject.
I recommend it to anyone who is immersed in the world of education and educational systems.
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