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Known
for his action-adventure movies and the CBS series
“Walker, Texas Ranger,” Chuck Norris is also the only
man in the Western Hemisphere to hold an Eighth degree
Black Belt Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do.
His
renown as an actor and athlete belie his humble beginnings
on March 10, 1940, when he arrived a scant six pounds,
eight ounces. “For
the first five days of my life, the doctors weren’t sure
I was going to make it,” says Norris.
Born
Carlos Ray Norris, his amazing story of faith and
determination is chronicled in a new book, co-written with
Ken Abraham, entitled Against
All Odds: My Story. An
early life of poverty and an alcoholic father were just two
of the odds dealt to Norris. A mother who never tired of praying and instilling that God
had good things in store kept the young Norris believing he
could beat the odds.
Transparent
and humble, Norris reveals how he became interested in
martial arts, as well as how he found his footing in the
entertainment and political arena, among of cast that
includes Steve McQueen, Donny and Marie Osmond, Bruce Lee,
the Bush family and more.
In
addition to an in-depth look at the circumstances that
developed a young boy into a man whose on-screen roles
represent the ultimate triumph over evil, Against All Odds reveals a
man whose behind the scenes life is even more heroic.
His humanitarian works span participation in
United Way, Make a Wish Foundation, and the Veterans
Administration.
As
a creator of Kick Drugs Out of America (now KICKSTART),
Norris helps children and teens build self-esteem,
discipline and respect. A
martial arts program in public schools that enrolls over
6000 kids each year, KICKSTART’s
purpose is to give a young person a foundation for
strengthening self-image and character. As Norris puts it, “Our KICKSTART
program teaches youngsters to be constructive rather than a
destructive part of society.”
In
spite of all his accomplishments, Norris says, “I believe
my best days are still ahead, that everything up to this
point is preparatory for something that God wants me to do.
I wake up each
morning, watching for the opportunities to do something
that others say can’t be done. … I like living Against
All Odds!”
Author
proceeds to be donated to the KICKSTART
Foundation.
Against All Odds: My Story
By
Chuck Norris
With
Ken Abraham
Hardcover,
$24.99, 276 pages, ISBN 0-8054-3161-6
Audio book also
available:
Abridged/4 cassettes
(1-5892-6737-0) or 5 CDs (1-5892-6738-9)
Read by Michael Norris
Against
All Odds: My Story
is
NOW
AVAILABLE!
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