The World's Best Book Summaries
Who are the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance characters? How do they each influence the stories and philsophies? There are several important Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance characters. In addition to Pirsig and his son, there are other people they connect with along their journey. Read more about the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance characters.
What does Colton tell his father, Pastor Todd Burpo, about his trip to Heaven? Who did Colton meet while in Heaven? Why doesn’t Pastor Todd think his son is making it all up? In Heaven Is for Real, young Colton tells his father, Pastor Todd Burpo, about his experiences in Heaven. Colton claims to have met his grandfather, “Pop” and his unborn sister who had passed away in the womb. Todd hadn’t told Colton about either of these relatives. Continue on to learn what Colton told Pastor Todd Burpo about his meetings in Heaven.
Who was Michael Oher, high school athlete, before he was an NFL player? How did sports help shape his future? For Michael Oher, high school at Briarcrest started out with difficult, like the rest of his academic career. But Michael Oher’s life changed when he got involved in school sports and met the Tuohy family. Read more about Michael Oher, high school, and how his luck changed.
Who is Hugh Freeze in The Blind Side? How did Hugh Freeze influence Michael’s football career? Hugh Freeze in The Blind Side was Michael Oher’s high school football coach at Briarcrest. He was very involved in Michael Oher’s recruitment. Read more about Hugh Freeze, The Blind Side, and the opportunities for Michael.
Who was Lale Eisenberg? Was Lale a real person or a fictional character? How did Lale end up in Auschwitz? Lale Eisenberg (who later adopted the name Lale Sokolov) was a real Holocaust survivor. The book The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on Lale’s story as told to the author 70 years after the events. The book is considered to be historical fiction rather than a biography, however, because the author used creative license when telling Lale’s story. Keep reading to learn about Lale Eisenberg.
Who was Michael Oher’s mother? What was his early life like? Michael Oher’s mother, Denise, lived with Michael and his siblings in Hurt Village in Memphis. According to The Blind Side, Michael remembers Denise loving her children, even though she couldn’t provide for them. Read more about Michael Oher, his mother, and his difficult childhood.
What is Phaedrus in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? What role does he play in the story? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Phaedrus is the alter ego of the narrator, Pirsig. Phaedrus’ story is used to help explain larger philosophical ideas. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Phaedrus, and his role in the story.
Who is Lawrence Taylor in The Blind Side? What is his role in the story? Though he’s not an actual character in the story, Lawrence Taylor’s The Blind Side role helps set up the premise of the story. Lawrence Taylor was a left tackle whose size and athleticism changed how coaches, players, and even recruiters looked at football. Read more about Lawrence Taylor, The Blind Side, and how he changed football to make way for players like Michael Oher.
Who is Leon, the tattooist of Auschwitz’s assistant? What impact did Leon have on Lale’s life? What happens to Leon? Leon in The Tattooist of Auschwitz is Lale Sokolov’s assistant. The two become close because they spend so much time working together and it is often Leon who gets punished for Lale’s insubordination. Keep reading about Leon, the tattooist of Auschwitz’s assistant.
Who is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? What was the sequence of events that has lead to his capture? What does Zarqawi’s death mean for the insurgency? Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was the leader of Al Qaeda franchise in Iraq (AQI). He is regarded as one of the most destructive militants in the history of the Sectarian conflict. Zarqawi’s death became an important military and symbolic event in the history of fighting against the terrorist insurgency. Read about the sequence of events that has lead to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s death.