The Shape of My Eyes, Dave Gibbons
The Shape of My Eyes, Dave Gibbons
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
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The Shape of My Eyes
A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself

Author: Dave Gibbons

Narrator: Dave Gibbons

Unabridged: 8 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Worthy Books

Published: 07/23/2024


Synopsis

A "riveting" and touching memoir about the understanding one's cultural identity from pastor, business leader, and innovator Dave Gibbons (Makoto Fujimura).
 
A surprising diagnosis of PTSD led Dave Gibbons to look to his past for clues to explain the unexpected result. Born to an American soldier and a Korean mother in the wake of the Korean War, Dave has spent his life struggling to blend his Korean roots and his American upbringing. The family joins a conservative church that embraces a strict, rule-based faith, and they try to navigate life as one of the few mixed-raced families in their community. But when tragedy strikes, tearing the family apart, Dave is forced to face long- buried secrets that he can no longer ignore.  

As he explores his family’s difficult past, he confronts his own pain and the persistent feelings of not quite fitting in either in America or his mother’s home country. And when a DNA test ultimately reveals a truth that shatters everything he understood about his history, he is forced to confront the traumas he unknowingly carried.

The Shape of My Eyes beautifully weaves historic reference points of the oppression and discrimination against Asian Americans with Dave’s own personal story. Dave’s wrestling with belonging in his family, in America, and in the church creates a raw, thought-provoking memoir about race, religion and finding home.

About Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons is crazy about his beautiful, misfit family in New York City, Irvine, Los Angeles, Southeast Asia, China, India, Seoul, Mexico City, London, and Brazil. He’s a creative, futurist, activist, and strategist.  Dave serves as an adviser to artists, business persons, and community development specialists throughout the world. He also is the Lead of a global alliance of churches and networks. He is the author of the award-winning book on culture and leadership, The Monkey and the Fish, and of XEALOTS.  You can learn more about the XEALOT life at XEALOT.net and davegibbons.tv. Follow Dave at http://twitter.com/davegibbons


Reviews

Goodreads review by Monica on July 10, 2024

This book!!! This book had me crying beautiful tears several times in the first 8 chapters!!! I had the chance to read a copy and listen to the audiobook to offer my honest experience before the book launches near the end of July 2024. My experience: I want to meet these real life characters in perso......more

Goodreads review by Susan on July 23, 2024

This book reads as if one was having a candid conversation about race, religion, and cultural identity with the author himself. Dave is authentic is his self portrayal in an often times humorous self-deprecation that helps to paint his Korean American background. The eye metaphor weaves cleverly thr......more

Goodreads review by Richard on July 12, 2024

This book was not only about the life of Dave Gibbons but a beautiful tribute to his parents and his family. Through the thoughts and reflections shared by the author during each of his life events, as a reader, it also provides opportunity to reflect on your own journey. As a Korean American, I res......more

Goodreads review by Lily on July 08, 2024

A raw memoir of race-family-faith and tragedy. Beautifully written… following the detailed journey of Dave’s life brought laughter, tears and reflection. I could feel the deepened love and healing journey that must have occurred during the writing of this book. Well done!......more

Goodreads review by Kkobz on July 23, 2024

The Shape of My Eyes is out today and it is such a fantastic read! I was lucky to read it beforehand and I enjoyed every page. This book is bold, brave, and so relatable. I couldn’t put it down! One of the best memoirs I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and the only one I felt I could truly re......more


Quotes

“A riveting account of a cross cultural journey of faith, hope, forgiveness and love, this resonated deeply to me as an artist. Dave Gibbons has woven an honest and essential spiritual memoir from “dangerous place of shame and marginalization“ to God’s abiding grace, and home, in unexpected places."—Makoto Fujimura, artist and author of “Art+Faith: A Theology of Making”

“Dave’s book is a moving, deeply personal memoir from a “leader of leaders.” Even though his story is so unique, the themes of forgiveness, faithfulness and God’s love will resonate with everyone. As a filmmaker, I couldn’t even come up with the stories of the life he has experienced!”—Dan Lin, Chairman of Film for NETFLIX

"Reading the Shape of My Eyes was so transformatively gripping that it soothes the most emotionally unbearable moments of our own lives. Dave audaciously captures his most painful experiences so skillfully that you find yourself in these stories compelled, with a teary-eyed vulnerability, to make sense of your own world and belong."—Sherol Chen, Google AI Research PhD

“Dave’s story pulls you in because it’s all our story - finding identity and home… Dave does the best kind of deconstruction - not one of religion or God but of himself.”—Bob Roberts, Jr., President Glocalnet / Multifaith Neighbors Network / Glocal Ventures / Institute for Global Engagement

“I devoured the book in just a few days, captivated by the raw vulnerability Dave courageously shares with his readers. It's astounding to see how he opens up about his deepest pains and wounds, making us wonder about the immense courage it must have taken to lay bare such personal struggles… It is certain to touch millions of lives and families, just as it has profoundly impacted ours."—Patrick and Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand Amway Crown Ambassador and Serial Entrepreneur in Education, Wellness, and Sustainable

The Shape of My Eyes is a compelling and introspective memoir that gracefully navigates the complexities of identity, cultural heritage, and the journey of self-discovery. … A powerful and uplifting must-read for anyone committed to the hard, hopeful work of building a better world.”—Sylvia Kim, Founder & CEO, Rebel For Good

“Dave’s vulnerability and candidness adds to the spiritual authority he carries and I’m sure the Holy Spirit will speak to you as you dive into his spiritual story. Prepare to be challenged, inspired and have your outlook expanded.”—Teofilo Hayashi, Founder of Dunamis Movement , Senior Leader of Zion Church

The Shape of My Eyes relays Dave Gibbon's intimate origin story of growing up in a multicultural America that struggled and continues to struggle to accept him and those of Third Cultures. Struggling with Identity and the labels others have placed on him, David encourages us on our journey, sometimes in spite of the challenges and heaviness of American Christian Culture. David navigates the complex issues of Faith, Identity and following a path in spite family adversity and pain.”—Lawrence Ho, attribution

“This is a book about pain, suffering, reflection, perseverance, and resilience… Through his openness and willingness to be vulnerable, Dave creates a narrative that is as relatable as it is inspiring and makes the reader feel intimately connected to his experiences. This book is for anyone grappling with questions of personal identity or searching for their purpose amidst confusion. Highly recommended for its heartfelt honesty and transformative insight.”—Matthew Shampine, Co-founder & CEO of DNK

“This book touches the soul and reignites the imagination.”—Jay Jeezy Jenkins, Rapper, Entrepreneur, NY Times best selling author