The Wisdom of Sam : Observations on Life from an Uncommon Child

      In this heartfelt and generous book, author Daniel Gottlieb shares life lessons taught to him by his eight-year-old grandson, Sam. Readers were first introduced to Sam in Letters to Sam—which has been translated into 15 languages, with more than 50,000 copies sold in the U.S. Now, The Wisdom of Sam continues the extraordinary story of the interaction between a grandfather who is quadriplegic and a grandson who is autistic as they share their discoveries about empathy, compassion, courage, happiness, and the power of laughter. Sam’s uncommon perspective on the world—and the remarkable way he expresses himself—are the seeds of inspiration for his grandfather. And the emotional connection between Daniel Gottlieb and his grandson provide a springboard for wonderful moments of reflection, understanding, and humor.

      Sam’s candid observations not only teach us what we’ve forgotten but they also show us how to look at the world through a different lens. Just as Sam’s grandfather has found his world view forever changed by the wisdom of his grandson, readers of The Wisdom of Sam will discover unforgettable messages of acceptance, hope, love, and gratitude.

Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D., is the author of Letters to Sam, Learning from the Heart (recipient of the Books for a Better Life Award),Voices in the Family, and Voices of Conflict, Voices of Healing. He hosts an award-winning mental health call-in program, Voices in the Family, on the public radio station WHYY 90.9 FM in Philadelphia, and also hosts a weekly blog on the website of The Philadelphia Inquirer. A sought-after speaker on family and social issues, he lectures locally and nationally on a variety of topics affecting the well-being of communities. In 2009 he was recipient of The Fervent Love of Life Award in Taiwan. He resides in Cherry Hill, NJ.