Description
Price: $18.00 - $16.18
(as of Aug 11, 2024 20:52:29 UTC – Details)
By: Tyler Zed (Author)
#17 on the PW Bestseller Trade Paper Frontlist
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Trailer Park Parable: A Memoir of How Three Brothers Strove to Rise Above Their Broken Past, Find Forgiveness, and Forge
Reviews
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Ibsnafu –
Engrossing and entertaining
I just started reading TPP last night. I kept stopping to read parts out loud to my mother, and finally gave up and just started reading it all out loud to her. We got half way through last night. My mom kept asking the same question posed through out the book, “Why? Why did his dad do it?” We will be finishing it tonight because both of us are hooked like a walleye and enjoy Tyler’s easy style of writing. Tyler/Dez/Zed your constant practice and persistence keep paying off. You are an amazing storyteller who knows how to grab an audience. I expected to spend a leisurely week reading a chapter or two a night, instead I’m reading to my mom as we both get swept away wondering, “What’s gonna happen next?”I never realized that Deev was literally your brother, I always just thought he was your bestie that you grew up with, though I did notice you looked enough alike to be brothers. That just makes the fact you two are so close and involved with eachother many more levels of cool. I have 2 half brother’s 1 does not even speak to anyone on our father’s side of the family, my other is living half way across the nation, we only communicated briefly via email and phone, and after my father passed, he hasn’t really contacted me at all. I had always wanted siblings, so it hits double hard that when I finally got my younger sibling, 13 years younger than me (so in his early 40s now), and he doesn’t even want a relationship, and the 7 year older siblings discovered on 23&me less than 10 years ago, now that our link, my father is gone, has just faded away. You are very lucky to have your close family. Now, that close circle is really small for my mom and I.I expect to see more stuff from you, biographical or fictional, especially interested in seeing what kind of fiction you come up with.
CRM –
Dreams, Trauma, Brotherly Love, Hard Work, Honor…What More Could You Need in a Memoir?
I’ve watched and been entertained by the Zeducation channel for several years now. “Tyler Zed”, aka Desmond Janousek, comes across as your basic good-spirited family man with a clever wit. His memoir proves he is much more than his YouTube persona, and introduces a man – and a pair of brothers – worthy of high respect.The writing is well-done, with few grammatical mistakes. For some people this doesn’t matter, but for me, such things detract from the story. I appreciate the good editing.His approach is to move back and forth through time, telling stories from his childhood, interspersed with more adult memories, all leading towards the culmination of an unbelievably tragic moment in his family. This method of storytelling is often irritating and confusing, but Desmond handles it with grace and purpose. Each “jump” ties directly to the next moment he shares that leads to the tragedy. Think of this book as him telling the story of the unfortunate event, while adding context and lessons/growth along the way.It’s an effective technique.Throughout the book you discover how Dez and his brothers thrived in a tense, sometimes outright abusive childhood and adolescence. You learn the coping skills he utilized as a child, and how those skills proved effective and sometimes cumbersome as an adult. He shares how his military service offered him time to escape and also exposure to help in healing, and meet the interesting people along the way who help him become a man of integrity and honor.One of the more wonderful parts of his story is the great affection and devotion between the brothers and their mother. Family is extremely important to them and in this day and age, being exposed to people for whom family is everything is heartwarming.I appreciate his honest discussion of his and his brothers struggles, with PTSD and drug abuse, as they recovered from and processed through their trauma. It isn’t easy to live with those things, and it isn’t easy to move past them. Move past them, the brothers did, and it is wonderful to “watch” them become better than their upbringing and succeed so brilliantly in life. Even if they didn’t create a growing, profitable media empire, they would still have succeeded brilliantly in life, because their success comes from their hard work, their ability to dream, their humility, and their devotion to family.I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a true story that could easily be turned in to a fictionalized “dramedy” movie; who enjoys reading about overcomers and the American Dream.My only caveat is that those who are LEGITIMATELY traumatized by the following should be aware they are prevalent in this story: spousal abuse, child abuse, drug addiction/rehab, PTSD. (I say legitimately traumatized because, as someone with diagnosed PTSD, I am furious at wimpy people who misuse the term “triggered”. Not liking something is not the same as being triggered, or, as Desmond calls it, “snowballing”. If you’ve ever lightheartedly used that word, stop it!)I know my review is rather gushing in praise, but I truly ended this book thinking I would enjoy meeting and hanging out with the people in this memoir; that their friendship would be a net positive in anyone’s life. It just made me like him (and his family), and few memoirs produce that feeling in me.Read it. You’ll enjoy it.
S K Hallzy –
Most Excellant Book!!
I have been subscribed to Tyler Zed for a few years now and was looking forward to reading this book as soon as he started talking about it. Wasn’t sure what to expect and I am happy to say I have been delightfully surprised at just how well written it is. The story is by turns funny, sweet and heartbreaking, then inspiring. I sure hope Desmond continues to write and publish more books, as he definitely has the talent and chops to do so and I would be happy to continue to read his work.As far as the story goes, those panic attacks were actually flashbacks my friend, ask me how I know! Really really well done…..I could relate to a lot of it and have since subscribed to the Deev Channel ,which I am also really enjoying. God bless you Desmond and your brothers and your family and crew, I pray good things for all of you from now on!
Bob –
Good Read
I bought the book after hearing about it on YouTube. The book was well written and thought provoking. My only complaint is that he jumped back and forth in the timeline too much. Otherwise, it was a good read.
Kahea –
Excellent story (and a tip for readers)
I listened to the audiobook, and it was nice to hear in the author’s voice. This is definitely a story worth reading or listening to whether you’re a longtime fan or have never hear of Zeducation.This was painful, honest, funny, and easy to follow.Thank you, Tyler and family, for sharing your story.TIP FOR READERS: The book does jump around a little, but I found it easy to follow by paying attention to the dates (year) at the start of each section and remembering that Tyler noted he was born in 1990. So, events in 1998: 8 years old, the major event in 2007: 17 y/o, etc. That helped me orient to his age and the timing in relation to the various traumas and accomplishments.
Amazon Customer –
The book was very well written. It is engaging from the very first paragraph. The subject matter could have been extremely depressing but it is a story of hope and courage and overcoming adversity. Well done.
timoth3y –
I bought this book because I enjoy Tyler’s Youtube channel, in which Tyler makes humorous observations on current affairs and social attitudes.This book is nothing like that.Tyler tells his story in a way which is moving, relatable and readable. It brought a few tears to my eyes, mainly due to Tyler’s experiences, but also because it helped me to relate to my own experiences in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.I am glad I bought this book.
Mountain Mama –
Wow I couldn’t stop reading. Tyler’s book is enjoyable to read. And I don’t mean the content or subject of his book is enjoyable, there’s some seriously heavy stuff he writes about. BUT he addresses it all in a way that’s uplifting and inspiring. Despite the tragedy that befell his family, he manages to come out of it healthier and stronger. Man, such a great read!
Trevor Gilbert –
I really enjoyed this book. It’s better than a film as you are there right in the story. To see how everyone part of it. Played their part even God using people in your life to speak to you. Or signs. You Tyler and Deev are true heroes. So glad you have each other now and the Zeducation team. God Bless you all.