About the Book
Early in the 2020 pandemic, author Steven E. Mason began to look at the lives of some of the great personalities from history, seeking inspiration to help him deal with the Covid-19 crisis. He discovered that many of these people had experienced significant adversity on their path to success. After sharing these stories with friends and colleagues, positive feedback led to the writing of this book.
The Adversity Formula: Inspiring Stories of Hope from History looks at the lives of thirty remarkable characters from history and how they dealt with adversity. The book goes on to provides a formula which readers can apply to their own lives when faced with major challenges.
The text focuses on the lives of a group of inspiring individuals mainly from the 20th Century: fifteen men and fifteen women, across a range of categories, including scientists, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, politicians, entertainers, sports stars and war heroes. The book looks at the adversity these greats faced and what they achieved despite it. More importantly, the book looks at how they dealt with the adversity they faced, often using it to their advantage.
The book then identifies five characteristics that each individual used which were key to how they dealt with the challenges facing them. The traits are then packaged into a general formula for tackling those challenges, emphasising that it's not just the experience of adversity but the way people respond to it which determine a successful outcome.
The Adversity Formula: Inspiring Stories of Hope from History will be of interest to those who enjoy history and those who are interested in self-development, especially during difficult times. The book offers us all hope in the face of life's major challenges.
About the Author :
Steven Mason is a licensed insolvency practitioner by profession, one in which he has seen his fair share of distress during the pandemic.
Living in Manchester, England, he is a married father of five. Outside work, he enjoys and values time with his family, his love of sport and especially, his love of history. He has a BA (Hons) degree in International History and Politics from The University of Leeds and a Graduate Diploma in Law from Manchester Metropolitan University.
This book is his first and as well as using the subject to help people cope with challenging situations, he hopes to make history relevant to a broad audience, including those not usually interested in the past and the lessons that can be learned from it.
Review :
'What a great idea for a book and superbly executed. There's so much to learn from and so much to be inspired by, packed into this volume'. Daniel Finkelstein, Award-winning Journalist, Associate Editor and Political Columnist - The Times; 'This is a spirited case for the role of great men and women in shaping the world. Whether in politics or golf or on the stage, Steven Mason seeks to draw out the common threads: the attitudes, habits and qualities that allow inspirational figures not just to survive misfortune but to profit from it ...' Sir Graham Brady, MP, Chairman - 1922 Committee; 'The Adversity Formula: Inspirational Lessons from History is motivational. Steven Mason has shared the personal challenges that many icons from the world of politics, sports and entertainment have faced along with the resilience they demonstrated in ways for all of us to relate to, learn and live by'. Janet Fanaki, Host - The RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast, resilientpeople.ca; Steven Mason has managed to capture every nuance of Muhammad Ali's remarkable life in a single chapter and it's a fascinating read. I was privileged to have spent ten years - from 1971 to 1981 - going around the world with Ali, covering all his major fights. His name will always be prominent in any history of the twentieth century. Mason must have had difficulty in deciding where to place him in his book. Ali could also have fitted comfortably among 'The Humanists', 'The Entrepreneurs', 'The Politicians' and 'The Entertainers', such was his mesmerising influence on mankind'. Colin Hart, Boxing Columnist - The Sun; 'Delighted that Steven Mason has chosen Ella Fitzgerald to figure among his subjects as an inspirational lesson from history in overcoming adversity. In her own quiet and understated way, Ella epitomised the American Dream, literally starting with nothing as a homeless waif, she ended her life in Beverley Hills luxury in an America riven with racial prejudice - it's an object lesson we can all learn from'. Professor Stuart Nicholson. Author - Ella Fitzgerald: A Biography Of The First Lady Of Jazz; 'Steven Mason has compiled some fascinating portraits of some of the most inspirational figures of the past century, who overcame adversity despite overwhelming odds. We all have limiting beliefs and this book will help you to shed yours, by witnessing the limits of the human resolve.' Rabbi Chaim Miller, Author - Turning Judaism Outward: A Biography of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson; 'Like never before, we would be wise to listen to the figures talking to us through Steven Mason. They remind us that adversity is not only nothing new, it's a requisite of the human experience'. Julie Des Jardins, Historian of American women and gender. Author - The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science; 'Mason's emphasis on adversity as a catalyst for positive change is a good addition to the literature on self-improvement'. Robin Gerber, Best-Selling Author, Speaker and Historian. Author - Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way; 'An essential resource for anyone looking to improve their own performance. This book demonstrates that looking back at our role models' reaction to adversity, helps prepare us for any challenges that lie ahead'. Tania Friedlander, Certified Leadership & Development Coach for Fortune 500 employees; 'Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls." In order to get through contemporary trying times, I highly recommend Steve Mason's 'The Adversity Formula' that delivers the message of fortitude, persistence, and enlightenment'. Marlene Wagman-Geller, Author - Women of Means: Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls; 'In these trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us need reassurance that brighter days lie ahead. Steven Mason shows us the way forward in this remarkable work that focuses on the biographies of thirty notable figures. Coming from diverse backgrounds and fields, these individuals overcame almost unbelievable adversity to both triumph in their own pursuits - whether in business, sports, entertainment, politics, or war - and make the world a better place for others. Drawing on the life experiences of figures as different as Eleanor Roosevelt, Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Katharine Graham, Margaret Thatcher and Ella Fitzgerald, Mason provides an inspiring message that adversity can serve as a challenge rather than a defeat. The book provides much-needed inspiration during a period of global uncertainty on many fronts - medical, political, and cultural - leaving the reader with a renewed appreciation of the human potential'. Maurine H. Beasley, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, University of Maryland, College Park, US. Author - Eleanor Roosevelt, Transformative First Lady; 'A thought-provoking read, particularly in these most challenging times, of how to cope with and ultimately triumph over adversity'. Jim White, Columnist - Telegraph Media Group. Author - Manchester United: The Biography
