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If at Birth You Don't Succeed
If at Birth You Don't Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny | Zach Anner
5 posts | 6 read | 9 to read
Hilarious and inspiring, Anner has made a life filled with fans, love, and Internet famereminding 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: hes 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." Praise for Zach Anner Cerebral palsy couldn't stop Anner from becoming a celeb, traveling the world, and Friending Oprah (for starters).Cosmopolitan Zach makes you want to be a better person, with his humor and his heart and everything he's had to deal with from the time he was born. I've never met anyone like him, and I've met a lot of people. Oprah Winfrey A laugh-a-minute read.... If At Birth You Dont Succeed recounts his journey from being what he calls a crappy baby [with cerebral palsy to] the host of his own travel show and an improbable workout guru. If there was ever a book that showed the importance of laughing at yourself, this is probably it.MentalFloss (#1 A Best New Book for Spring) Zach Anner is a truly inspiring and hysterical human being with a warped sense of humor (and body). Hes also an exceptional writer and his memoir is an absolute joy.Rainn Wilson A characteristically hilarious and candid book about growing up with cerebral palsy, winning a reality TV contest with Oprahs OWN channel and becoming an unlikely-yet-inspiring fitness guru and YouTube celebrity with more than 10 million views.Whats Trending Zach Anner is the living definition of giving better than hes gotten. Life dealt him a difficult hand but he managed to beat the house with humor, heart, and a fearless punk attitude. Required reading.Patton Oswalt I love Zach Anner and I love his memoir. If everyone were a little more like Zach, the world may not be a better place, but it would be funnier place, which is a great step forward.Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian Hes a unique, creative kid with a smart, edgy sense of humor.Arsenio Hall I think I speak for everybody when I say...I want to see more of Zach. John Mayer Wonderful. . . Anners comedy is the peppy, uplifting sort youd expect from someone who Oprah says makes [her] want to be a better person, such as his elaborate Olive Garden metaphors for the nature of life. . . . Anner remarks wryly that being expected to act as an ambassador for the disabled is a tightrope walk, which is hard on four wheels. Maybe so, but with this book, he makes it look easy.Publishers Weekly (starred review) Funny, empowering...An inspirational memoir with a seasoned, infectious sense of humor...[Anners book chronicles] his three decades of life (so far) with cerebral palsy, a permanent condition that hasnt prevented him from living his dream as a comic, a media sensation, and a motivational speaker.Kirkus Reviews
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hannahindieana
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After reading this, I really want to be friends with Zach Anner.

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LornaDH
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Of course.

Cinfhen Great title 😍 8y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Matilda
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Audiobook and last minute ornament making. Tis the season.

DGRachel Those are cute! 8y
Matilda @DGRachel thanks! 8y
SusanInTiburon Adorbs! 8y
NCNY Adorable!!! 8y
Suzze So cute! 8y
68 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Matilda
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Audiobook and last minute ornament making. Tis the season.

melbeautyandbooks Those are cute! 8y
35 likes1 comment
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Yogabrarian
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Today's reference desk reading by Zach Anner - struggling not to laugh too loud