Ordinary People: Extraordinary Lives

by

Naguib Sami Kerba

A loving tribute to personal heroes, inspirations, and role models.

Ordinary People: Extraordinary Lives by Naguib Sami Kerba is an intimate and loving tribute to people in the author’s life who are personal heroes, inspirations, and role models. These are not stories of the firefighter who risked his life to pull someone out of their burning home or about the self-less acts of a stranger, but an introduction and homage to ordinary folks, friends and family members of the author’s, who may have experienced a life event that would have stopped many others in their tracks, but who took what life gave them and ran with it. 

I enjoyed how the author had each of his subjects respond to their inclusion in this project, which began as a series of blog posts, by answering a couple of introspective questions. 

1. Who are you? Describe yourself in six words.
2. At some time, you reached a fork in the road. At that time, it didn’t feel like it, but looking back, you realize it was a big moment, one that changed your life. Describe yours.
3. What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
4. What one gem you learned on your journey that you would love to share? Alternatively, what hint would you tell a younger version of yourself? 

These questions are quite an exercise in self-reflection for anyone, and I couldn’t help considering what my answers would be. It also led me to wonder what kind of story I was creating as my legacy. 

While not tales of derring-do, each vignette is interesting and accompanied by pictures of the individual and photographs taken by the author and some of his photographically gifted subjects as well. The short and episodic nature of the entries was perfect for reading when time was limited, before turning out the light before bedtime, or when passing time waiting for an appointment. I recommend ORDINARY PEOPLE: EXTRAORDINARY LIVES to readers of memoirs, biographies, and human-interest stories. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.