Page 29 - 2017-01-02

on fire
Reviewed By John Harris
BOOK REVIEW
On Fire (2016), wri en by John O’Leary, is an in mate account of the author's survival a er su ering burns on his en re body in a house re at the age of nine. Doctors and nurses gave him no chance of survival, yet he has.
Against all odds, John O’Leary has become a very successful motivational speaker. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak twice and am delighted that his story is now memorialized in print. I quickly learned the book is more than just a story about him and his remarkable re- covery; it is an inspirational triumph. Following an extended stay in the burn unit experiencing excruciating skin grafts and grueling exercises as he struggled to recover, O’Leary discovered the life-changing in uence of many individuals who were vital to his re- covery, from the janitor, to nurse Roy, and even famous athletes. These in uences are at the very heart of the book, that he describes as “The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life.” He reveals seven steps that can and will provide answers to many issues - if one is will- ing to appreciate the message. In sharing his experiences, O’Leary includes inspirational stories from other sources, such as the Sisters of Notre Dame study showing how attitude can a ect longevity. The book is rich with sto- ries and quotes from many others. One such story is that of Viktor Frankl, who was placed in a Nazi concentration camp where he lost his pregnant wife, his mother, father, and brother. After surviving this horri c experience, Frankl stated, “When you know your why, you can endure any how.”
I recently found myself searching for an answer to “why” as we lost our beloved son this year following his long battle with cancer. The ques- tion of “why” is haunting. A friend and former associate of mine gave me this book and in it I discovered an entire section on “why.” It has been most helpful to me and, though there will always be a void in my heart, I no longer dwell on the “why.” If you are interested in a book that is not only interesting but inspirational and can truly provide you with help through some of life’s most challenging obstacles, read O’Leary’s book On Fire.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNAH JANE
ABOUT JOHN HARRIS
John and his wife Dotty moved to Panama City in 1987 where he worked at the Navy Lab until his retirement in 1996. He fondly says he took the weekend o in 1996, and joined the rm of A.G. Edwards as a nancial advisor the very next Monday. Now truly retired for more than a year, John enjoys reading, particularly non c- tion. Reading is a newly discovered world of enjoyment for him and perhaps he will soon try his hand at writing. John also enjoys cooking and he and Dotty love to travel, especially vis- iting with their daughter-in-law Charlotte and granddaughter Lucy in North Carolina.
www.PanamaCityLiving.com • January - February 2017 • 29