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A review by inkerly
[Tyler Perry Higher Is Waiting Audiobook] by Tyler Perry
2.0
Tyler Perry is a multitalented and multifaceted individual whose work is a fixture in black households including mine. Although my thoughts on his work and impact on black cinema and storytelling are conflicted, when I saw he had a memoir I was intrigued to learn more about him as an individual and how his upbringing, Life, and his Faith influence his work.
I was disappointed .
This is a very short and average memoir that tries to be more of a self help & motivational book than a reflection of Perry’s life and achievements. The good aspect of this book is that he talks fondly of the women in his Life like his mom and great Aunt, and he has a great outlook on life based on his roots. That's where the good stops. I appreciate the messaging in the book but Perry stripped the book itself of a lot of personality and substance by 1.) choosing not to do the narration of his own memoir (instead we get another man’s voice that feels very impersonal and rigid) 2.) highlighting a string of disconnected life events that lack an moral lesson worth sharing .
For example, he shares a story where he once got tired of paying a ridiculous water bill for watering the lawn of his big mansion and ends up hiring a team to dig for a well that could reduce his reliance on the city’s water. Several thousands of dollars later, they dig multiple holes and 1200ft in are about to quit when Perry urges they dig four inches more and voila, water emerges. The moral of the story is to always keep Faith in God's plans for you and never give up and keep pushing forward. Out of all the stories he could’ve shared to relay this message he chooses a story about him being a multimillionaire complaining about an expensive water bill? And then using other peoples labor to get what he wants as if was a “test of Faith”?? Who on earth would feel “inspired “ by this out of touch pov? (Hey guys, even if you’re rich and at your peak, your Faith will be tested in many ways like having to pay money to your municipal government so you need to fight!!)
There were other parts in the book that just felt try-hard or substanceless but this one stuck out. Sad because I would’ve liked to learn more about Perry and not the Pastor-fied Perry we got.
I was disappointed .
This is a very short and average memoir that tries to be more of a self help & motivational book than a reflection of Perry’s life and achievements. The good aspect of this book is that he talks fondly of the women in his Life like his mom and great Aunt, and he has a great outlook on life based on his roots. That's where the good stops. I appreciate the messaging in the book but Perry stripped the book itself of a lot of personality and substance by 1.) choosing not to do the narration of his own memoir (instead we get another man’s voice that feels very impersonal and rigid) 2.) highlighting a string of disconnected life events that lack an moral lesson worth sharing .
For example, he shares a story where he once got tired of paying a ridiculous water bill for watering the lawn of his big mansion and ends up hiring a team to dig for a well that could reduce his reliance on the city’s water. Several thousands of dollars later, they dig multiple holes and 1200ft in are about to quit when Perry urges they dig four inches more and voila, water emerges. The moral of the story is to always keep Faith in God's plans for you and never give up and keep pushing forward. Out of all the stories he could’ve shared to relay this message he chooses a story about him being a multimillionaire complaining about an expensive water bill? And then using other peoples labor to get what he wants as if was a “test of Faith”?? Who on earth would feel “inspired “ by this out of touch pov? (Hey guys, even if you’re rich and at your peak, your Faith will be tested in many ways like having to pay money to your municipal government so you need to fight!!)
There were other parts in the book that just felt try-hard or substanceless but this one stuck out. Sad because I would’ve liked to learn more about Perry and not the Pastor-fied Perry we got.