Sonja M. (meri) reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I read this book several months ago, and I am still remembering it fondly. Friends who I had not talked about it with have discovered it on their own, via audio book, and we are all just marveling at such a unique, true story of the American Depression period. If you like history, you will love this book, because it is not written in a boring way. It is true, with stories, research and reflection. I highly recommend it. Five stars!
Elsie Wilkinson (BusdriverGrammy) - , reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was very revealing and sad about the suffering that took place in those terrible years. This book mostly covered those who had so much and lost it all. I would like to see a book come out that told how those in the rural areas worked the land and survived well. That's how so many such as my parents did.
Kathy C. (4hisglory) reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is such an eye-opening book. From a suitcase that Ted Gup received from his mother many years later containing letters and an offer made by his grandfather during the Depression, comes an amazing picture of people's lives before, during, and after the Depression. And the author was also able to uncover truths about his own grandfather's life that had been hidden. It's a fascinating read that touches and changes you; both in how you view those years, and important attitudes that made them the 'greatest generation.'
Evelyn B. (grannydingdong) reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 46 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fantastic book. I learned so much more about the Great Depression by reading this book. It is filled with history and facts about that period in history, yet written in such an easy-to-read way that you did not get bogged down, as often happens with this type of book.
It also gives us confidence that there are always some generous people and positive things going on, even in the worst times. It gives me hope for the times now,because even though the times now are not very good economically, this book makes one realize that it could be much, much worse.
It also gives us confidence that there are always some generous people and positive things going on, even in the worst times. It gives me hope for the times now,because even though the times now are not very good economically, this book makes one realize that it could be much, much worse.
James S. reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 2 more book reviews
Fantastic book! It was especially interesting to me, since we live in the area about which it was written.
Pat W. (3ladybug) reviewed A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression on + 531 more book reviews
Read how the grandson found the old letters from families requesting help during the Great Depression. The grandfather kept the letters in a suitcase, the stories tell how the grandfather helps others with his donation to the many families requesting help. All the families answered a small ad in the local newspaper. The book tells a story of the Great Depression through the numerous true requests via the letters from families. The letters tell of struggles for survival, quests for help to stay 'afloat' during trying times. Sam Stone, aka B.K. Birdot, is a mysterious character, one with a generous heart who helps others. A great read; a book that the reader will learn much about the Great Depression.
