Life is a BEST REMARK from God
As personal memoirs and oral histories of octogenarians go, Life is a BEST REMARK From God is a nice book. Bob Onusko writes simply, candidly, and with a wry sense of humor about the stages of his life: growing up during the Depression and World War II; going off to war in Korea; working at Westinghouse; raising a family; and then retiring, mostly to play golf, in Florida. His has led a pleasant and, as he says, a “good life,” and one for which he thanks God for having blessed him with good fortune and good friends.
Mr. Onusko’s book is sprinkled with what he calls “best remark” quips—most of them pleasant if frequently trite little sayings and inside jokes, many of which appeared in columns he wrote about golfing. The book is a rambling but very readable account of a mostly happy and very normal life, and Onusko freely admits that he often got “carried away [with his] remembrances” while he was writing. Meant as part family chronicle and part diary for his children and grandchildren, Life is a BEST REMARK From God is exactly what the author intended to produce: a loving, laughing legacy to pass on to his descendants.
Onusko’s book does, however, have added value as a social snapshot of life in working- and middle-class America from 1930 to the present. There are stories of work and play, of raising a family and spending time with friends, and of, just living life one day at a time. Onusko shares his memories of seeing famous baseball players, watching classic movies, and enjoying penny candy and perhaps a few too many strong drinks (“I heard you missed some shots!” he notes being chided. “How come you don’t miss any at the 19th hole?!!”). The sections dealing with his career get a little dull, but even here, when talking about people he knew and worked and socialized with, the author manages to present a slice of Americana from days past.
Mr. Onusko is to be congratulated for penning a work that is a solid and honest glimpse into his more than eight decades on earth. Many of Onusko’s generation, and even their children, will recognize parts of their own lives in his book, and this may bring a little smile or even a tear to those who thumb through these pages. There is nothing particularly remarkable about the author’s life or his writing; but that, in a sense, is what this book is all about. It is the story of an ordinary man’s ordinary life—in the good sense of the word. The author experienced trials and tribulations, but for the most part he led a charmed and blessed life, one for which he repeatedly admits being grateful. Here’s hoping and wishing him the health and time to add a few more “Best Remarks.”
Reviewed by
Mark G. McLaughlin
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
