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If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny

Original price was: $17.99.Current price is: $9.95.

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“Hilarious and inspiring, Anner has made a life filled with fans, love, and Internet fame—reminding us that disability is no match for dreams.”—People (Book of the Week)

“Zach Anner is way more than an inspirational figure for anyone who has ever felt impossibly different: he’s also a great f**king writer.”—Lena Dunham
Comedian Zach Anner opens his frank and devilishly funny book, If at Birth You Don’t Succeed, with an admission: he botched his own birth. Two months early, underweight and under-prepared for life, he entered the world with cerebral palsy and an uncertain future. So how did this hairless mole-rat of a boy blossom into a viral internet sensation who’s hosted two travel shows, impressed Oprah, driven the Mars Rover, and inspired a John Mayer song? (It wasn’t “Your Body is a Wonderland.”)

Zach lives by the mantra: when life gives you wheelchair, make lemonade. Whether recounting a valiant childhood attempt to woo Cindy Crawford, encounters with zealous faith healers, or the time he crapped his pants mere feet from Dr. Phil, Zach shares his fumbles with unflinching honesty and characteristic charm. By his thirtieth birthday, Zach had grown into an adult with a career in entertainment, millions of fans, a loving family, and friends who would literally carry him up mountains.

If at Birth You Don’t Succeed is a hilariously irreverent and heartfelt memoir about finding your passion and your path even when it’s paved with epic misadventure. This is the unlikely but not unlucky story of a man who couldn’t safely open a bag of Skittles, but still became a fitness guru with fans around the world. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll fall in love with the Olive Garden all over again, and learn why cerebral palsy is, definitively, “the sexiest of the palsies.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0140NXY28
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt & Company
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 26, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4.9 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1627793650
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #659,076 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #468 in Biographies of People with Disabilities (Books) #627 in Behavioral Sciences (Kindle Store) #1,025 in Medical Cognitive Psychology
Customer Reviews: 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 716 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });

13 reviews for If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny

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  1. Montzalee Wittmann

    An inspirational, funny, witty, awesome book about himself, great writer and great person!
    If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny by Zach Anner is a funny, emotional, witty, inspiring book filled with unflinchingly honest wisdom. He covers his life’s endeavors, internet sensations, Oprah TV series, his friendships, his family, his daily life, school, random thoughts, and more. I did a lot of soul searching and I did a lot of laughing while reading this book. Warning, have a empty bladder, giggles can happen at unexpected times! Loved this book! Fabulous writer, he knows how to be witty and touch your very soul at the same time. Great heart, great reading, wonderful!

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  2. L Hamlet

    Honest, hilarious, heartfelt.
    The world is a better place because this man lost a TV show and survived Berlin and his battle with a ball shaver.

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  3. Stephanie Cintron

    He’s a good dude
    Looking for a book that will blow your mind and make you change the way you see life? Not here. Looking for a book that you can discuss with your friends while sipping wine and readjusting your monocle? Wrong search. That doesn’t mean that this book isn’t a good read. Zach Anner writes like you’re already friends with him and he’s catching up with you. He’s clever and his positive wit is what you keeps you reading on. There’s no complex story here. It’s like reading a journal of his experiences and struggles Zach has dealt with, and how he overcame them laughing on the other side. Like I said, this book isn’t going to change your life, but it will change your mood into a more positive one when you pick this up.

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  4. Katie

    Full of Humor
    This book is very well written. It was an easy read and captured my attention. Overall would suggest to others and read again.

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  5. Anonymous

    Couldn’t Put it Down
    I absolutely loved this book. For so many reasons. It was recommended to me as part of a summer book study through the Special Education Technology Center in WA State. I had no idea, when I opened it, that it would keep me awake and never get put down. This author is hilarious! He beautifully blended thoughts on disability with humor, friendship and love. I am so thankful for the window into this amazing world that Zach Anner aptly described. I must’ve laughed out loud 100 times!

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  6. Kindle

    This guy is amazing, and helps put life in perspective, A great motivational read that will have you laughing!
    I came across Zach Anner surfing videos on YouTube. This guy is so hilarious and so inspirational at the same time. I feel kind of “jerkish” laughing at some of his experiences , such as his purple underwear (read the book and you will understand) mishap. I have never met Zach but I loved his YouTube channel that I preordered this book and read it in a few days after it was delivered. He will have your laughing, and sometimes laughing out of frustration with some of his experiences. This is a great read for lifes motivational slumps we all experience from time to time. I don’t usually venture into this type of reading but I was glad I did. I also don’t usually buy books at full price but I was glad I did.Here is one of Zach’s quotes from one of his Youtube videos, I have it written down in my office “You don’t have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you can walk a mile in your own and be proud of it”Thanks Zach for such a great book!

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  7. Kathleen Fuller

    He definitely did succeed.
    While Youtube’s recommended video algorithm is often repetitive (and sometimes downright wrong) it did lead me to finding Zach Anner, and for that I’ll be grateful. I’ve watched almost all his videos and have enjoyed his numerous series–my favorite is Workout Wednesday and there’s so much irony behind that choice that I’ll just stop there. With a blend of humor and inspiration Zach imbues his 5 minute or less videos with irresistible charm, and I was hoping his book would accurately reflect his “voice”. I’m happy to say that it does. You might be wondering what you have in common with a thirty year old guy who has “the sexiest of the palsies” but if you’re a _____ year old who is _____ and does _____ then you can relate to Zach. Especially if you put the words “human being” in that second blank. A fun and poignant read about a man who not only lives life to the fullest, he’s also a fan of unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden. What’s not to love? Highly recommended for rainy and sunshiny days while drinking the beverage of your choice.

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  8. miki

    Funny and a good read
    Overflowing with personality and straight from him heart. You can feel the emotions behind the words. I found Zach through Rooster Teeth and I immediately loved his sense of humor.If I re-read this book, I’ll revise the score to 5 stars but this is definitely recommended to everyone who would like a well written, humorous and poignant look at life from a different viewpoint.

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  9. Amazon Customer

    Both heartwarming and hilarious. A really amazing read and highly motivational.

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  10. M. PEREIRA

    J’avais commandé ce livre en même temps que celui de Kristina Kuzmic (Hold on but don’t hold still), car Zach est un ami de Kristina et il a lui aussi eu un parcours de vie pas toujours évident.Il aborde ainsi sa vie, ses épreuves, ses moments forts, avec beaucoup d’humour. J’avoue que le titre était déjà bien accrocheur et tout le livre est dans cette veine. Cela fait sourire, rire, parfois grincer des dents, mais Zach donne ici une belle leçon de vie.

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  11. iain lewis

    Zach Anner is hilarious and though provoking.His outlook on life is truly inspiring, he has really made me appreciate what I have and what I can do!

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  12. Auron Archer

    Interesting life story of Zach Anner

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  13. Amazon Customer

    A wonderful insight into the life and everyday world of Zach Anner, who experiences what he refers to as ‘the sexiest of the palsies’ cerebral palsy. He brings awareness to the obstacles of accessibility, challenges within his support network, and does this with wonderful humour. You may never take Ms Cindy Crawford or purple underwear seriously again. A must read!

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    If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny
    If at Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny

    Original price was: $17.99.Current price is: $9.95.

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