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Life Is Magic: My Inspiring Journey from Tragedy to Self-Discovery Hardcover – November 5, 2019
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An extraordinary and empowering story of resilience, forgiveness, and living a life of purpose in the face of unfathomable obstacles.
You might recognize him as an NFL All-Pro or as an elite magician who made the finals of America’s Got Talent and regularly appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. But Jon Dorenbos says that what he does is not who he is. Who he is is someone forced, at the most tender of ages, to coach himself into turning tragedy to triumph.
One morning in August 1992, when Jon was twelve years old and living a seemingly idyllic childhood in suburban Seattle, he woke up for baseball camp. His dad waved good-bye. Later that day, Jon heard the news: his father had murdered his mother in the family’s three-car garage. In an instant, his life had shattered. He’d been essentially orphaned.
Thrust into foster care while his father stood trial for murder, Jon struggled. Left to himself, he discovered an unlikely escape performing magic tricks. If you found a way to alter your reality after your dad—your hero—killed your mom, wouldn’t you cling to it too? Then came football, which provided a release for all of Jon’s pent-up anger. Together, magic and football saved him, leading to fourteen NFL seasons on the gridiron and raucous sleight-of-hand performances to packed houses across the globe.
In 2017, after being traded to the New Orleans Saints, Jon was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He had a choice: break down, or—as he’d long by now taught himself—bounce back. “Talk to yourself, don’t listen to yourself,” Dorenbos advises for those moments when the inner voice of self-doubt screams.
In Life Is Magic, Dorenbos draws a road map for how to shut that voice up by choosing happiness. At his darkest times, he writes, he’s learned lessons of love, forgiveness, and perseverance. His story is poignant and powerful, told by a charismatic and optimistic man who has overcome life-or-death challenges with grace, persistence, a childlike sense of wonder...and jaw-dropping card tricks.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherAvid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
- Publication dateNovember 5, 2019
- Dimensions6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101982101245
- ISBN-13978-1982101244
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—Ellen DeGeneres
“You may know Jon Dorenbos as a pro football player or a world class magician. But to get to know him and hear what he has overcome throughout his life is inspiring. His story of finding happiness throughout his life is both hilarious and moving. Get ready for a wild ride!”
—Garth Brooks
“In everything he does, Jon Dorenbos is the ultimate pro. Someone you want on your side when the going gets tough. In Life Is Magic, Jon shows what I witnessed from him in an NFL locker room, year after year: That, more than anything else, character is what matters, in football and in life.”
—Andy Reid
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (November 5, 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1982101245
- ISBN-13 : 978-1982101244
- Item Weight : 15.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #361,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,456 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #8,323 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
- #11,327 in Memoirs (Books)
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Can't wait to finish this book but yet want to savor the read.
I loved the quotations from people at the beginning of the chapters including some from Helen Keller, Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and more. One of my favorites was from Frank A. Clark 'If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere'.
The book speaks of love, self-discovery, letting go, resilience, forgiveness and grief...and so much more. It is the story of determination at an early age and trying to find a focus for his young life. He turned to magic and football as a coping mechanism. And, he was excellent at both of those passions~
Such empathy I felt for Jon when he attended the trial of his father. Just imagine being 12 years of age and listening to the gruesome details of your mother's death..Not only that, but he testified and also viewed the autopsy pictures.. so brutal to listen to at that tender age.
He actively kept a journal at the advice of his therapist and some of his journal entries are included. Jon also says that the choice is yours...choose happiness over sadness, and forgiveness is key to moving on in one's life.
A Stanford University study was most interesting to me. This concerned grief and the effects on the body when one is unable to grieve. Paraphrasing: if one is bitter...anger will result; when hopeless....despair; and the inability to cope...leads to mental and physical damage...
So glad Jon was given his Super Bowl ring even though he was not on the team...Class act!
This touched my heart and mind at many levels. His marriage to Annalise and the birth of their daughter, Amaya is also covered near the end.
Most important lesson for me after reading this book....forgive others and remember that this choice belongs to you.
Most highly recommended.
His story is even more inspiring than I expected! Among tragedy and difficulties he has led an exciting life with success in the NFL and entertainment industry.
What's even more impressive is people's attitudes toward Joe Dorenbros as a person. Great story!
I, too, come from a dysfunctional family. No one has murdered anyone physically, but emotionally it's felt like it sometimes.
I've also suffered an unexpected event that damaged me physically and left me permanently disabled.
Jon's story was uplifting. Even though I'm several years older, I feel I can look up to him and form some resolve that I, too, will survive and thrive. I appreciate his positivity, feel gratitude that he's opened his heart and vulnerably shared his story, and that he's reached out to encourage others facing hard things. Thank you, Jon Dorenbos, for sharing.
PS~ Truly glad you got your ring! Jeffrey is a class act! I was there, took my entire family as my own father passed before we got one, that was one thing he really wanted.. I was able to take my son and sister with me to witness our first Super Bowl together, just typing it gives me chills.
You have truly had an amazing life in such a short time thank you for opening up and sharing with us.