21 Years of Wisdom

"21 Years of Wisdom allowed me to accompany Mr. Gartrell on his fascinating and uncommon journey from a childhood in South(central) L.A. to finding a world of opportunity in Japan. As a contemporary of Darrell’s who was raised in a neighborhood near his, I can attest to the improbability of his life’s path. In some ways, it is a classic story of an entrepreneur who senses an opportunity through an unmet need, then figures out a way to fill that need better than the competition. The most remarkable thing is that Darrell was able to do this successfully in an environment where the language and the culture was completely foreign to him.
The twists and turns prior to arriving in Japan followed by the highs and the lows once there make for an exciting read. As in nearly all genuine stories in life, there is no proverbial happy ending. This memoir is told with honesty and emotion. You won’t want to put the book down as there are unanticipated surprises throughout. Sometimes in life things don’t consistently go according to plan, but it is all part of any extraordinary journey".      A.Locket 

 

------"Darrell Gartrell teases the reader into his life and journey, while providing an informative and provocative inside purview of a foreign world, and a snapshot of his internal dialogue and discourse along the way. Aside from the interesting and compelling subject matter, I was delighted to find that the actual writing had style and wit. I would highly recommend '21 Years of Wisdom' to anyone interested in off-the-
beaten-path life journeys, takeing roads less traveled, escapism or learning about different cultures. Very well done! 

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"Be prepared to learn a lot about what happens when South-Central LA meets young but still traditional Japan. Whether you are laughing or crying, this is an engaging and very forthright account of what happens when drive and ambition meet racism, romance and all manner of human foibles".

Lee Coleman 

What can you say about a young man raised in the inner city who boldly left to experience the world? It takes courage, drive, experience, and a bit of savvy to gain wisdom. Some may see this book simply as one man's adventures. Others may make character judgements. I see this book as a man sharing his life's experiences (the ups and downs) to gain wisdom from a perspective that few will ever know.

Don Thompson 

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