The Way I See It
A Candid Review of the Lessons from Life So Far
In a book filled with wisdom, one of the most remarkable lessons is the way in which the author views his physical limitations.
The Way I See It is a thoughtful and honest memoir about a life lived to the fullest despite difficult obstacles. Joseph K. Chan writes about the challenges he has faced in life and the lessons he has learned, in the hopes that others may learn from his experiences.
Chan is both an ordinary man and an extraordinary individual. He was born in China to hardworking but emotionally distant parents. He possesses two congenital health issues: a genetic eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which causes low vision that gets progressively worse over a lifetime, and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, a condition that causes involuntary muscular spasms. These problems, coupled with his parents’ perception that these conditions were a source of shame, made for a difficult childhood.
Chan worked hard to learn and develop, and eventually moved to the United States to attend college, earning an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He had several jobs before finding one that he could make a career out of; he also married and raised two children. The Way I See It documents the lessons he has learned throughout his life’s journey.
The book is well organized and follows the events of the author’s life from birth through retirement. Chan’s writing style is simple, unembellished, and lends a sense of integrity and honesty to his narrative. The lessons he shares can be mundane: “There are always a number of conflicting priorities in an organization. Which priority comes up on top depends on the points of view of the people in charge.” Or they can be profound: “It is true, at least in my case, that love did not end with death. I was blessed by the experience with Liena, not just once but forever.”
In a book filled with wisdom, one of the most remarkable lessons is the way in which the author views his physical limitations. Chan writes that his wife helped him understand that he was not disabled, and that everyone has unique challenges to overcome. Though many might think that his challenges were greater than most, he never lets them stop him from living a full and meaningful life.
The Way I See It is a labor of love. The author states in the preface that he has written this book for family and friends as well as a broader audience. Chapters on his family’s ancestry and on the most important projects he worked on during his career are likely to appeal primarily to those who know him. However, the author’s unique perspective on the world and his thoughtful insights on life and love are things that anyone can appreciate, making the book a pleasure to read.
Reviewed by
Catherine Thureson
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.
