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A Simple Girl: Stories My Grandmother Told Me
Edith Flagg is truly an inspiration to all. A Simple Girl tells the life story of a woman who survived the unimaginable and fulfilled the American Dream. Flagg was born in a small town in Romania in 1919. Having traveled to Vienna to go to fashion school at the young age of 15, she watched Hitler march into Austria and decided at that moment she would not let him decide her fate. Flagg fled Austria to Holland, where she became an active member of the Dutch Underground, an organization that fought Hitler and the Nazi regime. A simple Girl describes all that Flagg ( a single mother) endured. After immigrating to Palestine at the end of the war, Flagg moved to America, where her incredible story becomes that much more amazing. With $5 in her pocket, Flagg managed to become one of the leading fashion designers of her day, and a pillar in the California apparel industry. From a mere $2000, she built a multi-million dollar clothing company and has over the years given vast sums of her wealth to charity. She is an inspiration to everyone.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
232 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2009
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303 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 24, 2014
I'm so happy to have finally read this wonderful book that Josh Flagg decided to start writing when he was 14 years old and finish it years later. Edith Flagg passed away in Aug of 2014 at the tender age of 95. The stories that Flagg collected were wonderful to read. Like so many others who have read her book we all wanted to know more about certain points but Edith was never a woman to go on and on about certain points or stories. She was a woman that kept things very simple and to the point. No reason to beat around the bush when the facts are enough to tell.
I first learned about this amazing woman on the show Million Dollar Listing LA. I think a lot of people tuned into that show just hoping that Edith would be on just a little bit more. What made her so likable was her relationship with her grandson Josh. In the show Josh talked about how if ever he had a problem in life he could always call his grandmother, who lived in the same building as him, and go and talk with her anytime he wanted. She made sure to always be available for him when he had a problem. I wish we could have seen more of those talks because her wisdom was so honest about people,, life, and business. This was a woman that knew how to separate those three pillars of life and put them into perspective.
The stories this book covers were mostly from her time during the horrible years of WWII and how she had to be very careful about her way of living otherwise she might be caught. Her small size made it easy to move about as if she was a kid and women had more freedom to move around than men did. Her take on the way though was not without risk taking. Edith knew how to understand people so well that she knew how to take advantage of them in certain situations and she used that knowledge many times to save herself and friends, and later on during business deals.
The second part of the book I enjoyed because she explained how she started her own business, from only having $5 dollars after arriving in America. When you think about the many businesses today needing hundreds of thousands of dollars and even millions, compared to what this lady did, she laughs at how stupid they are in understanding how to start a business. She did it all through hard work and amazing people skills. That is what I loved about the second part, she explained the many situations she caught herself in and how she got out of them. For a lady who is very short she was very smart when it came to business and people.
After all her hard work the life she gave herself afterwards was one she earned. There was a quote she said about food in the book that stuck with me and that was, "I also promised myself I would never stand in line for food. I have never stood in line for anything; I will not.(pg 76)" That quote showed the number of promises she made to herself during the war and held true to them. With the lifestyle she created for herself and the places Josh and her would eat at in the show, it showed the truth in the values she had.
For anyone that wants to learn more about how the people during the war were treat read this book. If you are interested in learning the hard work it takes to build a company from the ground up then read this book. If you need values to instill into your own life that are proven and well grounded, then read this book. The values her father gave her ring true for eternity. One being that parents need to teach their kids the value and appreciation of food and to never take it for granted, as her father asked her regularly, "What did you do to deserve these meals?" Is a question parents need to start asking their kids more to teach them the importance of food in daily life.
Edith Flagg was very grounded in life and because she understood the harsh realities of life, she knew to never take things for granted and that you have to work hard to achieve anything. If you have no idea who this lady is, you can read her wikipedia page but also make it a point to read this book. You will be glad you did.
I first learned about this amazing woman on the show Million Dollar Listing LA. I think a lot of people tuned into that show just hoping that Edith would be on just a little bit more. What made her so likable was her relationship with her grandson Josh. In the show Josh talked about how if ever he had a problem in life he could always call his grandmother, who lived in the same building as him, and go and talk with her anytime he wanted. She made sure to always be available for him when he had a problem. I wish we could have seen more of those talks because her wisdom was so honest about people,, life, and business. This was a woman that knew how to separate those three pillars of life and put them into perspective.
The stories this book covers were mostly from her time during the horrible years of WWII and how she had to be very careful about her way of living otherwise she might be caught. Her small size made it easy to move about as if she was a kid and women had more freedom to move around than men did. Her take on the way though was not without risk taking. Edith knew how to understand people so well that she knew how to take advantage of them in certain situations and she used that knowledge many times to save herself and friends, and later on during business deals.
The second part of the book I enjoyed because she explained how she started her own business, from only having $5 dollars after arriving in America. When you think about the many businesses today needing hundreds of thousands of dollars and even millions, compared to what this lady did, she laughs at how stupid they are in understanding how to start a business. She did it all through hard work and amazing people skills. That is what I loved about the second part, she explained the many situations she caught herself in and how she got out of them. For a lady who is very short she was very smart when it came to business and people.
After all her hard work the life she gave herself afterwards was one she earned. There was a quote she said about food in the book that stuck with me and that was, "I also promised myself I would never stand in line for food. I have never stood in line for anything; I will not.(pg 76)" That quote showed the number of promises she made to herself during the war and held true to them. With the lifestyle she created for herself and the places Josh and her would eat at in the show, it showed the truth in the values she had.
For anyone that wants to learn more about how the people during the war were treat read this book. If you are interested in learning the hard work it takes to build a company from the ground up then read this book. If you need values to instill into your own life that are proven and well grounded, then read this book. The values her father gave her ring true for eternity. One being that parents need to teach their kids the value and appreciation of food and to never take it for granted, as her father asked her regularly, "What did you do to deserve these meals?" Is a question parents need to start asking their kids more to teach them the importance of food in daily life.
Edith Flagg was very grounded in life and because she understood the harsh realities of life, she knew to never take things for granted and that you have to work hard to achieve anything. If you have no idea who this lady is, you can read her wikipedia page but also make it a point to read this book. You will be glad you did.
August 30, 2012
I loved reading this book and learning the story of Edith Flagg. She is the wise, feisty grandmother who sometimes appears on "Million Dollar Listing", a reality show featuring her grandson, Josh Flagg. Do not expect a well-written book. Josh Flagg is a realtor in Beverly Hills, not a writer. His writing is bland, lacks color, and is devoid of any natural skill or talent. Having said this...Josh is a good REALTOR, not a good writer!
Still, this story is a MUST-read. Josh relates his grandmother's fascinating life, having listened to her marvelous stories for years. The book follows Edith as an Austrian-born Romanian, born in November, 1919, through her life during WWII, and on to her success in America as a clothing designer/manufacturer. Her cunning, intelligence, and resourcefulness keep her alive during the war, and enable her as a wife, mother, and businesswoman, to achieve goals that would seem impossible to some. She is a true inspiration and a testament to the possibilities of a good, honest work ethic. Her story should be required reading in schools, as it can show students how important education, coupled with an industrious outlook, is the key to success in life.
I only wish Josh and his grandmother had retained a professional writer to help tell this story. There is little description and development of the scenarios and predicaments in Edith's story. I am glad this book was written. The wonderful story of Edith Flagg needed to be told. However, it is my opinion that the low writing caliber detracts from the story. The many typos add to my disappointment in what easily could have been a bestseller.
Still, this story is a MUST-read. Josh relates his grandmother's fascinating life, having listened to her marvelous stories for years. The book follows Edith as an Austrian-born Romanian, born in November, 1919, through her life during WWII, and on to her success in America as a clothing designer/manufacturer. Her cunning, intelligence, and resourcefulness keep her alive during the war, and enable her as a wife, mother, and businesswoman, to achieve goals that would seem impossible to some. She is a true inspiration and a testament to the possibilities of a good, honest work ethic. Her story should be required reading in schools, as it can show students how important education, coupled with an industrious outlook, is the key to success in life.
I only wish Josh and his grandmother had retained a professional writer to help tell this story. There is little description and development of the scenarios and predicaments in Edith's story. I am glad this book was written. The wonderful story of Edith Flagg needed to be told. However, it is my opinion that the low writing caliber detracts from the story. The many typos add to my disappointment in what easily could have been a bestseller.
January 15, 2019
Edith Flagg is truly an inspiration to all. A Simple Girl tells the life story of a woman who survived the unimaginable and fulfilled the American Dream. Flagg was born in a small town in Romania in 1919. Having traveled to Vienna to go to fashion school at the young age of 15, she watched Hitler march into Austria and decided at that moment she would not let him decide her fate. Flagg fled Austria to Holland, where she became an active member of the Dutch Underground, an organization that fought Hitler and the Nazi regime. A simple Girl describes all that Flagg ( a single mother) endured. After immigrating to Palestine at the end of the war, Flagg moved to America, where her incredible story becomes that much more amazing. With $5 in her pocket, Flagg managed to become one of the leading fashion designers of her day, and a pillar in the California apparel industry. From a mere $2000, she built a multi-million dollar clothing company and has over the years given vast sums of her wealth to charity. She is an inspiration to everyone.
August 21, 2019
For anyone who has ever watched MDLLA, Edith Flagg will undoubtedly be one of your favorites. This woman was a force to be reckoned with. She was petite yet strong, kind yet forceful when necessary, smart as they come and a fashion influencer before the name existed.
She sat for many years with her grandson, Josh Flagg, to share her story and I devoured every word. As he said, the Holocaust was just a chapter in her life but moments in time affect who you are in so many ways.
This book makes me admire her even more and miss my grandmother every day that much more.
Kudos to Josh Flagg for this one 👏
She sat for many years with her grandson, Josh Flagg, to share her story and I devoured every word. As he said, the Holocaust was just a chapter in her life but moments in time affect who you are in so many ways.
This book makes me admire her even more and miss my grandmother every day that much more.
Kudos to Josh Flagg for this one 👏
November 5, 2020
Edith Flagg was my favorite character on Million Dollar Listing, so I picked up a copy of this book written by her grandson, Josh Flagg. From a publishing stand point, it is rough. There are several typos and grammatical errors and the book definitely looks like it was self published. However, the story makes up for it. Edith Flagg was a woman to be reckoned with, and she knew it. Her chutzpah, cunningness, and intelligence helped her escape from the Nazi and build a multi-million dollar empire. She embodies the American Dream. I love her even more after reading this book.
January 31, 2018
An easy and quick read. It’s a fascinating story and inspiring. Reminded me not to take life for granted. I would recommend as a quick read.
April 24, 2021
Nice grouping of short stories about someone who lived the American dream.
January 20, 2022
Really cute and amazing story!
May 8, 2023
Really enjoyed this book.
September 19, 2010
This woman is amazing! You need to read. It was written by Josh Flagg, beginning at the age of 14. He is one of the agents featured on the show "Million Dollar Listing" and his grandmother is sometimes on the show. Her life story is very interesting-It is worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews