Here at Quietly Unconventional, we celebrate making a difference in our own unique way. We are always on the lookout for stories that inspire us to live courageously, and authentically. Thus, I was delighted to discover two books that feature unconventional heroes who were doing just that. I hope their stories will inspire you, too.
I found both of these memoirs well-written, readable, and compelling from start to finish. They feature real people with unique stories, told in an approachable, honest style. Two very different stories about people using their career to make an impact in the world. Read on to decide which of these unconventional heroes needs to be added to your TBR pile.
Unconventional hero #1, using Shakespeare to save lives
What happens when an English Literature professor decides Shakespeare’s plays might help prison inmates live more content and resilient lives? That’s not a question you hear every day.
Since I’m a fan of Shakespeare’s plays, this book immediately caught my eye: Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates. This memoir relates the author’s experiences discussing Shakespeare’s plays with prison inmates—in particular inmates of a supermax prison who have been convicted of murder. Dr. Bates spent years facilitating discussions of the plays with these prison inmates, and her story is riveting and inspiring.
What I admired most
The courage Dr. Bates had to volunteer in a supermax prison, and her faith in the power of her idea. I can imagine all the naysayers who told her she was crazy for thinking inmates would want to read something as archaic and academic as Shakespeare. (Are you kidding? You’re wasting your time. Who wants to read Shakespeare?!?!)
I’ve taught Shakespeare in high school literature classed and I’ve directed several high school productions of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve seen firsthand how students’ eyes glaze over with incomprehension after reading a passage from one of the plays. I frequently paused to translate Shakespeare’s text into modern terms before the students fully grasped their lines.
Yet this professor had the boldness to attempt a Shakespeare discussion group with inmates who had little or no previous exposure to the bard and his works. I would have been afraid the class sessions would be nothing but crickets. I can imagine a painful hour filled with long silences, blank looks and eye rolls. But that’s not what happened at all. From the beginning she had avid participation and thought-provoking discussions.
And I think that’s totally awesome!
Hooray to Dr. Bates for having faith in the inmates and their ability to resonate with the universal themes like betrayal, forgiveness, honor, and redemption that Shakespeare explored in his plays. And more kudos to her for running this amazing program as long as she did, because she saw the powerful life-changing results.
Unconventional hero #2, questioning the fine dining status quo
In his book, Yes, Chef: A Memoir well-known chef Marcus Samuelsson relates his long and arduous journey to become a top-rated chef in the cutthroat New York City dining scene. This is a fascinating insider glimpse of hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in the top echelon of restaurants.
Although he was trained in traditional French techniques that defined elite dining in the west, Chef Samuelsson dared to question the primacy of French cuisine. Why was French haute cuisine considered the finest food of all when the world’s cultures were filled with so many other wonderful flavors? He yearned to move beyond the tried-and-true dishes and bring new flavors, textures, and combinations into the elevated world of fine dining. Yes, Chef is his story of slowly changing the world of fine dining from within, daring to try new things while still playing by the established “rules” of the industry.
What I admired most
I applaud his refusal to accept the hidebound ideas of what fine dining should be. He was one of the brave men and women who dared to break through that stuffy mold and expand great dining in the West to include flavors and cuisines from places we’ll never visit ourselves. I, for one, am thankful that modern restaurants are free to experiment with a broader array of flavors—to delicious results.
I also admire his courage to challenge stereotypes. Chef Marcus was born in Ethiopia. When he became executive chef at Aquavit, a top New York City restaurant, there were very few women or minorities working as executive chefs. He has worked hard to open the way for more minorities and women to follow his footsteps. Bravo!
Check out the books
Shakespeare Saved My Life: An Uplifting Memoir for Anyone Who Has Been Changed by a Book by Laura Bates
Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson
NOTE: I read both of these books while on vacation via my local public library’s eBook app. I love the instant access to the library’s catalog of digital books that I can access from anywhere. Do you take advantage of your library’s offerings of free eBooks and e-audiobooks?