Running the Good Race

     BOOK REVIEW:   In Running the Good Race, read how Dennis Blue, a man guided by his faith:

• survived the tragic loss of Dorothy's parents, John and Lucille Hacker, in a plane crash,
• flew as a missionary pilot in the Amazon bringing supplies to missionaries and Indians alike,
• discovered a stone-age tribe in the dense jungles of Amazionia,
• negotiated a peaceful outcome to a violent labor strike in Venezuela,
• assisted in the establishment of Ford Motor Company operations in the Asia-Pacific region,
• worked at senior executive level to help change the direction of the Ford Motor Company, and always
• let his personal relationship with Jesus guide his decisions.

"I want you, the reader, to experience what my wife Dorothy and I affectionately call our 'Open Door Policy'. God directed our lives through doors that He opened for us and turned our faith into our reality. Running the Good Race can be your story---if you let yourself be led through the open.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5

     MY REVIEW:   This book is a 429 page autobiography of Dennis Blue, covering his life from his birth in 1933 through his retirement from Ford Motor Company in 1988. A sequel will cover the next several years. This book was interesting to me because it was the era of my grandparents. The way of living and the customs of the day are similar to what I think my grandparents would have seen. And while Ford wasn't talked about much in reference of operations, it was interesting to read about it from Dennis' administration perspective. It sort of felt like an 'America Remembered' book, what with the period it covered. Except it was mostly out of America, but anyway. :) 

     I was impressed by the vast amount of dates quoted in this book. It's amazing! Dennis seems to remember the exact date for every single occurrence in his life, from relocating between countries, to meeting new friends, to unexpected fishing/flying mishaps. And the details are incredible. Surprisingly the book does not drag. It's all interesting to read. If you have the time. :) And there are many pictures of friends and acquaintances throughout the years, as well as aerials from flying in Venezuela, the many boats they owned from place to place, fishing prizes, and more. The book is written in such a way as to seem almost like a journal, if in a freehand font. It doesn't have the polish some books have, but it doesn't need it. There are a few instances of misspelling or awkward sentence structure, but nothing laborious. 

     A few humorous happenings I enjoyed: 1) floating too close to the shore and having the breath knocked out by a 10-pound iguana!  2) transporting a tractor to the depths of the Amazon with no roads, only rivers (complete with pictures) and 3) catching a 719-pound black marlin in Australia. 

     This book tells of Dennis' life working for Ford, fishing every possible chance, and having the faith to follow God's leading. 

  I received a copy of this book from BOOKCRASH and was not required to write a positive review.