Gifted Hands is a movie based on the true story of Benjamin Carson, a neurosurgeon who successfully separated conjoined twins in 1987. A frustrated young boy with problems in school, Ben Carson overcame the obstacles in his life to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon. The movie stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kimberly Elise as the mother. She constantly reminds her son, 'You can do anything anyone else can do, just better.' In a strictly maternal way, she restricts her boys exposure to TV and tells them to read two books on any topic each week. The boys dutifully present her with a summary of the books each weekend.
I tried reading two books in one week. It was difficult. Anyhow, I will post summaries of what I've been reading these past few weeks.
Getting back to the movie - it highlights three themes, or lessons:
- The power of encouragement
- The fruits of hard work
- The benefits of having various interests