Title: Died Three Times Lived Once
Author: Robert Garcia
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 9798823037884
Pages: 544
Genre: Non-fiction / Biography
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
It is often said that the greatest teacher a person can have is life itself. While education and higher learning can be an invaluable tool for many people, the greatest lessons and experiences a person can take and apply to their own personal journey are the ones they learn in life, both in the accomplishments they make and the bad decisions that affect their futures. Life is the ultimate teacher, and it is important to heed those lessons and learn to be the best version a person can be.
That is the lesson author Robert Garcia imparts in the book Died Three Times Lived Once. Speaking from the personal experiences which defined his life, the book is an honest discussion the author shares detailing his life from a very young age, having survived a serious car accident and a hard home life to his more rebellious teen years and his life as a veteran. Each experience leads to an ultimate rock bottom that redefines the author’s life and the journey he ultimately went on.
Immediately the author’s writing style and tone is what stood out to me. The almost conversational tone and personal quality of the author’s writing allowed me to feel more connected to the author’s life and experiences as each page flipped over. I could feel this tone early on, when the author delved into the life experiences shared in his youth as he struggled with a lack of childhood and painful memories of his strained relationship with his father, something a lot of readers will be able to resonate with.
Readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those which are specifically geared towards biographies and memoirs, will thoroughly enjoy this book. The book also delves into more spiritual questions, exploring finding faith and what leads to those revelations. The honesty and emotional depth of the author’s experiences, including detailed events during his time in Vietnam and beyond, and the introspective look that the author took at his life as these events culminated together, made this a relatable and heartfelt book that readers will easily be able to identify with. Through trials that tested his body and soul, Garcia discovered what it truly means to live with gratitude, purpose, and unwavering faith. This book is more than a survival story, it’s a resurrection of the spirit.
