THAT CAN'T BE GOOD
“Reading Doug’s book is like a voyage at sea, often stormy, sometimes calm, but almost never in sight of land. Always exciting though, as the reader seldom can gauge where the next blow will be struck, either by Doug or on Doug. I loved the book.
By all rights, he should never have survived childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood. Disease, injury, mistreatment in his family, learning disability, and isolation: both in the main arena of his childhood in Lincoln Park NJ and in Florida. Much of it is spent out of the reach of adult supervision, which, in his case, may have been a blessing. What kept him from self-destruction or fatal injury, I think, comes down over and over again to something inexplicable and spiritual: he never gave up.
Doug, I think, had a vision of how he thought his life should be. He had an inner fire and unconventional intelligence to reach his goals, throw them all away, and reach them again. Would have drove me nuts, if he were my brother or my son, but he was very lucky as well. People in his family gave him warmth when he needed it. His lifelong friend, Johnny Norton was always there to stave off disasters.
But only the love of his life, young Miss Sperandio, with the wisdom of an ancient, and the beauty of the ages, kept him alive.
There is, of course, some hyperbole, above. How could there not be? Read the book, you won’t believe half the stuff that’s in it. I did. Why? Doug was my student 1975-76 in a Sociology class in Boonton High School, when he was a Senior. I liked him, he had spunk. He listened to other kids in the class when they talked…guys usually don’t do that.
He made a fortune as an Electrical Contractor, did some repairs in my home in Boonton. I would have liked to have known him better. He lived his life in a world about which I know nothing. I enjoyed touring it and seeing it through his eyes. It wasn’t fun, often it was painful. I was often mad at him, but the trip was worth the time spent.
I am grateful for the time spent with Doug. I think you will be as well."
— Don Schlenger
“I read that a good story consists of losses and gains, setbacks and comebacks, dreams and desires. Doug's book has it all. I grew up in Lincoln Park and can relate so much to his story. We were taught to have unquestioned respect for parents, politicians, teachers and the police even though they were not always fair or right with their decisions. School was so unpredictable. Children were bullied by their teachers and each other. Everyone was expected to learn the same way even though we now know that developmental and intellectual disabilities should be recognized at an early age to avoid making a child's life miserable. Children with learning disabilities have other gifts, like Doug. I believe a higher power guided him through his life. A must-read story!”
— Patricia P.
“Having known Doug Bell for over 20 years, I was excited to read his book. I always admired his business acumen, his intellect and most of all his kind and generous nature. I too grew up in a large family and assumed everyone had a life like mine. I was shocked to read what Doug had endured and lived to tell about it! I found I could only read a few chapters at a time because I found my heart to palpitate and my mind raced as I went from one story to another. It was exhausting on the one hand but inspiring on the other. Kudos to the author for the courage to share his life’s journey.”
— Kathy G.