Moving Forward: Taking the Lead in Your Life

Dave Pelzer

Jun 2008 · Sold by Center Street

About this ebook

Self-help expert Dave Pelzer teaches readers how to let go of the past and use negative experiences to make them stronger when tackling the future.

"Learning from our prior experiences, we can, and should, aspire to fulfill our dreams, making life better not only for ourselves but for others around us," Dave writes in the introduction. "I am of the belief that you do not have to be a mayor of a major metropolis or CEO of a Fortune 500 company in order to take a stand for your convictions; to lead, rally, or educate others for your cause; or to maintain a vision that will pave the way for other generations to come. The everyday, hardworking folks, God bless 'em, have and always will continue to, day in and day out, truly make an impact on their families, communities, jobs, America, and the world as a whole."

Dave Pelzer walks readers through the process of learning how to turn the experience gained from past hurts into the power to live a better life and help others do the same with his trademark wisdom, support, and tough love.

Ratings and reviews

In this work, Pelzer shares some phenomenal inspirational life perspectives. Although it doesn't work for every motivational personality, Pelzer does so well coming off as a regular guy. Pelzer is ever positive and hopeful, yet there is no sugar coating or idealizing things. Too many motivational persons and others for that matter idealize the family, but Pelzer of course doesn't do that given how he suffered horrendous child abuse, and the beautiful thing is Pelzer came out a winner, so it is perfect. Also Pelzer mentions life's ups and downs, which reminds me of Spencer Johnson's book, "Peaks and Valleys". In this work, Pelzer describes some of his own personal peaks and valleys. Most of all, I love his emphasis on how when you are doing great things in the world, people WILL try to tear you down for stupid reasons or no reasons at all (i.e. because they can). His stories of people viciously coming after him to ruthlessly criticize him for no good reason surprises me given how wholesome and seemingly non-controversial he is, yet it also gives me great comfort because though I'm not yet famous like him, I get this type of thing and I'm very controversial (I'm a maverick). So thank you much, Dave Pelzer!

I've read all of his books. He's just hands down amazing. His story is inspiring.

I read this book many years ago. It is a great read. I absolutely loved it!

About the author

David Pelzer was born on December 29, 1960 in San Francisco, California. He survived what is reported to be the third worst case of child abuse in California state history. The victims of the other two cases are dead. At the age 12, Pelzer's teachers risked their careers to notify the authorities and saved his life. He was removed from his home and his abusive mother, and made a ward of the court. He was placed in foster care until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. While in the service, Pelzer achieved the rank of Sargent and was hand-picked to midair refuel the highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter, which played a major role in Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm. His first book, A Child Called "It", was published in 1995 and dealt with his abusive childhood. His other works include The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family, A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness, Help Yourself: Finding Hope, Courage, and Happiness, and Moving Forward. He received several awards including the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award in 1990 and the 2005 National Jefferson Award.