Title: The Warrior of Life
Author: Richard Poole
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1532091735
Pages: 246
Genre: Family Life Fiction/Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

Everyone on this planet has their own circumstances for how they came to grow up and
be in this world. Some are harsher and harder than others, and require one to adapt,
survive and grow on their own. As Winston Churchill once said, “Victory at all costs,
victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without
victory, there is no survival.”

In author Richard Poole’s book, The Warrior of Life, the author navigates the
treacherous memories of a painful and abusive childhood and the dark path it sent him
down in life. From his earliest childhood memories, to the life he lived serving overseas
in Vietnam, and the tumultuous relationships he had as a son, a husband, and a father,
that made him seek to better himself and become a better person overall.
This was a powerful and emotionally driven read. The author is expressive and
charismatic with his delivery which infuses humor and wit into painful and heartbreaking
situations. The pain of his childhood comes back to him several times, and showcases
how difficult it is to break a vicious cycle that often shows us how we end up becoming
our parents for good or for bad. The story that stood out to me was his father’s final
days and the pain which comes with that loss.

This is a book written for those who enjoy memoirs told in a narrative format, and family
driven dramas. The author expertly dives into the personal demons of his past and showcases
a heartfelt story of overcoming a traumatic past, something many readers often find themselves
relating to.

This is a brilliant, sad yet amazing read from author Richard Poole. The Warrior of Life
is a fantastic read with a fast-paced setting that showcases the author’s ability to
translate his own painful past into a gripping, emotional yet at times humorous tale.