Father's Day : A Journey Into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son

A remarkable memoir from the best-selling author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August . Buzz Bissinger's twins were born three minutesand a worldapart. Gerry, the older one, is a graduate student at Penn, preparing to become a teacher. His brother Zach has spent his life attending special schools. He'll never drive a car, or kiss a girl, or live by himself. He is a savant, challenged by serious intellectual deficits but also blessed with rare talents: an astonishing memory, a dazzling knack for navigation, and a reflexive honesty that can make him both socially awkward and surprisingly wise. Buzz realized that while he had always been an attentive father, he didn't really understand what it was like to be Zach. So one summer night Buzz and Zach hit the road to revisit all the places they have lived together during Zach's twenty-four years. Zach revels in his memories, and Buzz hopes this journey into their shared past will bring them closer and... A remarkable memoir from the best-selling author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August.Buzz Bissinger's twins were born three minutes-and a world-apart. Gerry, the older one, is a graduate student at Penn, preparing to become a teacher. His brother Zach has spent his life attending special schools. He'll never drive a car, or kiss a girl, or live by himself. He is a savant, challenged by serious intellectual deficits but also blessed with rare talents: an astonishing memory, a dazzling knack for navigation, and a reflexive honesty that can make him both socially awkward and surprisingly wise.Buzz realized that while he had always been an attentive father, he didn't really understand what it was like to be Zach. So one summer night Buzz and Zach hit the road to revisit all the places they have lived together during Zach's twenty-four years. Zach revels in his memories, and Buzz hopes this journey into their shared past will bring them closer and reveal to him the mysterious workings of his son's mind and heart. The trip also becomes Buzz's personal journey, yielding revelations about his own parents, the price of ambition, and its effect on his twins.As father and son journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, they see the best and worst of America and each other. Ultimately, Buzz gains a new and uplifting wisdom, realizing that Zach's worldview has a sturdy logic of its own: a logic that deserves the greatest respect. And with the help of Zach's twin, Gerry, Buzz learns an even more vital lesson about Zach: character transcends intellect. We come to see Zach as he truly is: patient, fearless, perceptive, kind-a man of excellent character. This e-book features a teaser chapter from Bissinger's story of strategy, heart, and baseball, THREE NIGHTS IN AUGUST "Every father of a special needs child should read" this memoir by the #1 New York Times #8211;bestselling author of Friday Night Lights (Temple Grandin). Buzz Bissinger's twins were born just three minutes apart, yet life couldn't have dealt them more different hands. Now grown, Gerry is a graduate student at Penn, preparing to become a teacher. His twin brother, Zach, has spent his life attending special schools. He'll never drive a car, or kiss a girl, or live by himself. He is a savant, challenged by serious intellectual deficits but also blessed with rare talents: an astonishing memory, a dazzling knack for navigation, and a reflexive honesty that can make him both socially awkward and surprisingly wise. Buzz realized that while he'd been an attentive father, he didn't fully understand what it was like to be Zach. So one summer night, the two hit the road to revisit all the places they had lived together in Zach's twenty-four years. Zach revels in his memories, and Buzz hopes the experience will bring them closer and reveal to him the mysterious workings of his son's mind and heart. The trip becomes a personal journey for Buzz, yielding revelations about his own parents, the price of ambition, and its effect on his twins. As father and son journey from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, they see the best and worst of America#8212;and each other. Ultimately, Buzz gains a new and uplifting wisdom, and with the help of both of his twins, learns a vital lesson: Character transcends intellect Buzz Bissinger's Twins Were Born Three Minutes--and A World--apart. Gerry Is A Graduate Student At Penn, Preparing To Become A Teacher. His Brother Zach Has Spent His Life Attending Special Schools. He'll Never Drive A Car, Or Kiss A Girl, Or Live By Himself. He Is A Savant, Challenged By Serious Intellectual Deficits But Also Blessed With Rare Talents: An Astonishing Memory, A Dazzling Knack For Navigation, And A Reflexive Honesty That Can Make Him Both Socially Awkward And Surprisingly Wise. Buzz Realized That While He Had Always Been An Attentive Father, He Didn't Really Understand What It Was Like To Be Zach. So One Summer Night Buzz And Zach Hit The Road To Revisit All The Places They Have Lived Together During Zach's Twenty-four Years. Zach Revels In His Memories, And Buzz Hopes This Journey Into Their Shared Past Will Bring Them Closer And Reveal To Him The Mysterious Workings Of His Son's Mind And Heart.--from Publisher Description. Zach -- Bon Voyage -- Blue Box -- Is That All There Is? -- Failure To Forget -- Embassy Suites! -- Lost In Milwaukee -- Cardinals And Cookies -- It Will Be Okay -- I'll Do Anything -- Scene Of The Crime -- Boobie -- Mom And Dad -- Hollywood Blue -- Viva Las Vegas! -- Coming Into Los Angeles -- Picture Perfect -- Zach And Gerry -- Reality Bites. Buzz Bissinger. Zach Bon voyage Blue box Is that all there is? Failure to forget Embassy Suites! Lost in Milwaukee Cardinals and cookies Lost I'll do anything Scene of the crime Boobie Mom and dad Hollywood blue Viva Las Vegas! Coming into Los Angeles Picture perfect Zach and Gerry Reality bites.