Title: You Can Never Tell
Author: Philip Zeid
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 9781543406962
Pages: 146
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington
Pacific Book Review
Phil Zeid was admitted at the Bristol University for a Bachelor of Science. He dropped out to go into the Royal Air Force where he was a valuable member of the regimen. During his time there, he met new people who would forever change his life and outlook on things. He learned new things; he grew into a man. Many little seemingly mundane events led to the direction his life later took. Like when he failed to open up his car windows on his way home. That little act (forgetfulness perhaps?) kept him alive after he plunged into a river. This and other little events influenced his life and future. They made him into the man he later became.
After leaving the service, he went into farming. He even enrolled for a diploma to gain knowledge essential in rubber farming. Only he did not go into tea planter/farmer though but rubber planter. Philip has narrated his life story in a way only a grandpa would. His tone is nostalgic and does not leave anything unsaid. He includes even the little events that happened in his life. This is especially important as it teaches the reader to appreciate every event in his or her life. There is no telling which event will later change the course of things. This being the sole purpose for the book, it is safe to say that the author has succeeded in delivering that lesson in an engaging and friendly manner.
The author does not ramble. He does not go off topic. He does not get lost in his own mind and struggle to make it back. His telling of his story is sober as it is deep. It is thought-provoking and entertaining to a measure. The grammar and sentence structure are just right. The story is not riddled with commonalities. It is not expected. It is representative of the fickle nature of life. One minute you are sure of the direction your life will take, the next a small thing causes a dramatic turn of events.
At some point, it feels as if the author is patting himself on the back; aside from some mishaps it seems he is excellent at everything he does on the first try. It would be nice to hear about the arduous task of achieving greatness. The many hours he had to spend sweating and painfully practicing to be a great pilot or if he were to just throw in more of the failures. Failures define character, they should be honored and advertised.
If one looks past the above, they will be able to grasp the importance of this story. They will learn that all events no matter how small are important. One will learn to appreciate and live life consciously. I recommend You Can Never Tell to a wide audience of readers who enjoy a candid look into the world and colorful lives of people from a different place during a different time.
