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Gifts And Consequences (2000)

by Daniel Coleman(Favorite Author)

3.82 of 5 Votes: 3

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review 1: As I read this story, I kept in mind the biblical advice: you reap what you sow, later than you sow and more than you sow. For those in the story who kept their word, focused on the prize, they won more than what Jonathan had offered. Also, those who focused on their personal discomfort, lost the prize and gained more misery. This story reveals this life principle clearly and effectively. It is just a good read and I recommend it. I rooted for Allen every step of the way, and was sorrowful for Jonathan and his wife.
review 2: A multi-billionaire decides to 'gift' people their hearts desire according to the terms they set up in moments of desperation. He finds the people by listening to telephone conversations, emails, text messages. The man believes that gift... mores unearned are not appreciated, so he gives them the chance to earn it. One story was a man who said that he'd walk across the US if only his wife was cured of a terminal illness. The billionaire offers to take him up on it. Of course these 'gifts' come with a warning: if you fail, the promise is removed. The sick woman would be removed from care. The obese man was told if he didn't loose 100 pounds, it would be ensured that he'd gain 100 pounds. And so the stories go. Some succeed, some fail.The morality of the eavesdropping, the spying, etc. is never addressed. There is some discussion of the morality of the threats and destruction of the people that fail the test. The end of the book has all the people whose life have been changed for the good come and tell their stories. But the true question of the book is never resolved: does a positive outcome for the many make breaking laws of both property, person and privacy okay? Every one of those tear-drawing success stories is carried on the shoulders of the mayhem the man and his 'company' commit on those that do not fulfill their contract.Yes, the man does decide that he is too harsh and takes too many chances with peoples lives. We are told he is changing but we see no evidence. He never suffers a consequence of his illegal activities. Kind of ironic considering how throughout the book he ensures that all those who deal with him and he determines to be 'unworthy' suffer some pretty extreme consequences. less

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