New York Times Bestseller: The moving, entertaining, never-before-told story of how one man found his calling: to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten. “The book is called Grateful American, and I promise you after you read it you will be grateful for what Gary has accomplished and contributed to our country.” — Clint Eastwood As a kid in suburban Chicago, … suburban Chicago, Gary Sinise was more interested in sports and rock ‘n’ roll than reading or schoolwork. But when he impulsively auditioned for a school production of West Side Story, he found his purpose–or so it seemed.
Within a few years Gary and a handful of friends created what became one of the most exciting and important new theater companies in America. From its humble beginnings in a suburban Chicago church basement and eventual move into the city, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company launched a series of groundbreaking productions, igniting Gary’s career along with those of John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Perry, John Mahoney, and others. Television and film came calling soon after, and Gary starred in Of Mice and Men (which he also directed) and The Stand before taking the role that would change his life in unforeseeable ways: Lieutenant Dan in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump.
The military community’s embrace of the character of the disabled veteran was matched only by the depth of Gary’s realization that America’s defenders had not received all the honor, respect, and gratitude their sacrifices deserve. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, this became Gary’s mission. While starring in hits like Apollo 13, Ransom, Truman, George Wallace, CSI:NY, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Gary has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who serve this country, entertaining more than a half million troops around the world playing bass guitar with his Lt. Dan Band, raising funds on behalf of veterans, and eventually founding the Gary Sinise Foundation with a mission to serve and honor America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.
Grateful American is the moving, entertaining, profoundly gripping story of how one man found his calling: to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten.
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He is a true patriot who does so much for our soldiers and veterans.
I absolutely loved this book!! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I have always liked Gary Sinise as an actor is movies like Forrest Gump and TV shows like CSI NY. I knew he did a lot of work to help veterans. My husband is a disabled vet so I always appreciate when celebrities with influence use that to help real heroes.
I found the beginning of the book interesting as it describes Gary finding his passion in acting that passion would take him to being one of the founding members of the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago. He goes on to describe how he met his wife, made the transition theater into movies while never forgetting his first love of live theater.
He and his wife had several family members who were veterans so Gary Sinise always wanted to do what he could to help veterans. After playing wounded Vietnam vet, Lt. Dan, in Forrest Gump, Gary found a new connection to veterans who found the character so relatable. Over the past 25 years or so, Gary Sinise has taken every opportunity he can to give back to our active-duty military members and veterans. He has gone on numerous USO tours, held fundraisers, built memorials, built homes for severely wounded veterans, etc. Where there was a need, he found new ways to meet that need.
This book stirred many emotions in me and it should be viewed as a call to action for all Americans. Our freedom is not free and we should help our military and first responders in any way we can through donating our time and our money. Even a simple thank you goes a long way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I spent most of the afternoon reading the last half of the book. I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been in chronological order. Gary goes back and forth a lot. It’s organized more into topic than time line. One might think this to be a book of bragging about all that he has done. But his focus remains on the recipients of his charitable acts. How did he ever find the time to act? I want to go back and see some of his movies now that I know what was going on in his life. I do believe that this should be required reading in every high school. It would instill a sense of pride in America and those who defend her freedoms. I don’t believe today’s youth fully understand what our service people deal with, including first responders.
Thank to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.
I read Gary Sinise’s Grateful America and discovered his journey from actor to advocate. His desire to do something lasting with his life grew out of his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump and became the Gary Sinise Foundation. I was struck with the synergy of Sinise’s mission with one of the characters in my book The Burning of the White House.
I’m not a big fan of biographies or memoirs, especially not celebrity memoirs. But I read a review of Grateful American that prompted me to request a review copy … even though I’m not even American.
Sinise is probably most famous for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the Forrest Gump movie. While Grateful American certainly touched on playing Lieutenant Dan and working with Tom Hanks, that wasn’t the focus. Instead, we find Gary Sinise is a hardworking and multi-talented musician and actor who has leveraged fame into fundraising and service to those less fortunate.
The book reads very much like a stream of consciousness stroll through Sinese’s life. There’s a lot of subject changes and backtracking, and the writing isn’t great (which is definitely on Sinese, not his cowriter. I’ve read and reviewed Marcus Brotherton’s one novel and it was brilliantly written). If this is the published version, then I dread to think what the first draft looked like.
But Sinise’s story is a story that’s told from the heart, and therein lies the power. Grateful American takes us through Sinise’s history, from his troubled teenage years, through his discovery of acting as a vocation, the formation of the Steppenwolf theatre company in Chicago, to his growing reputation as an actor and director, and his early realisation of the importance of honoring American veterans and thanking them for their service.
The story then moves quickly past his role as Lieutenant Dan and into his growing commitment to supporting and encouraging servicemen and servicewomen through personal appearances and through fundraising and other support activities. I’d heard of the Lieutenant Dan band, but didn’t realise the extent of his personal and financial commitment.
But it’s not all acting and veterans. Sinise also tells of his wife’s troubles with alcohol, and her conversion to Catholicism … which influenced his own faith. The overarching theme of Grateful American is that Sinise is grateful to have been born in a country—the United States of America—that has given him the opportunities he’s had, and allowed him the freedom to pursue his goals while acknowledging and emphasising that freedom is not a free gift. It’s a gift that is paid for in blood. Recommended for Lieutenant Dan and Gary Sinese fans.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
I really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend reading it. I read the ebook and immediately bought three hard copies to give as gifts to friends and family. Full disclosure, I am an Iraq War veteran and I love this country. It is so refreshing to read a book about a celebrity that appreciates and loves this country. I knew Sinise was an actor and I remembered him from a Memorial Day Concert but did not know the extent of his work for the troops and their families. This book details the making of Gary Sinise, warts and all, and what he has done with his life. Gary was a pretty bad kid growing up and he is lucky to have made it out without getting in serious trouble. There are several very funny moments, some very sad moments and several inspiring moments. I particularly enjoyed Gary’s description of his first USO tour, after he begged to be allowed on the tour, before he starred in CSI: NY. The soldiers he met kept calling him Lieutenant Dan and he realized they had no idea what his real name was. The book has several interesting stories about the inner workings of some of his movies and tv shows. The secret origin to his character’s name on CSI is a good example of the neat things I learned. This is a very informative book about the sacrifices our military has made and the work the author has done to help where he can.
I was very impressed as Gary shared a lot of difficult times and choices he made. A wonderful book to read and great caring people that make our world a better place.
A well written story of how Gary Sinise went from a life of self-centered to a life of service to others, especially to our soldiers. It all started with his role as “Lt. Dan” in the movie “Forrest Gump”, which changed Gary’s life forever in a very positive way. A very inspirational story.
Years ago, I watched Forest Gump. Not for Tom Hanks and the amazing character he played, but for Lt. Dan. As a teenager, I had a major crush on Lieutenant Dan and all he his role entailed. Of course, that probably had a lot to do with the amazing actor behind him, Gary Sinise. Ever since then, I have followed Sinise’s happenings in the news and all his acting roles. So, when this book was available to review, I jumped at the chance to read it.
As the daughter of a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, I am very passionate about our men and women who serve. I am passionate about remembering them if they have fallen, honoring them if they are veterans or wounded warriors, thanking them if they are currently serving so that I, and my family, may stay free. Gary Sinise is a fellow passionate person about the same things. He includes many happenings in this book, from Oswald and Kennedy to the Wound Warriors. He shows us, as Americans, the way it should be. The way the world can be a better place if we just do a little more to be grateful Americans.
The emotion with with Sinise wrote this book is felt as a reader. He’s a grateful man, not forgetting who he is, or where he came from. He’s a grateful man, making sure that others know just how thankful he is. He is a grateful man, who makes sure that the children of the fallen soldiers are not forgotten. This man is a man of God, and one who definitely has me wanting to keep this 5 star book forever! Not one to love memoirs, this book had me smiling, crying and thanking Sinise for his amazing heart and spiritual guidance with this book! I definitely suggest you grab a copy of this book and be moved by the memorable words of this talented man.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booklook Blogger Program, Harper Collins (Thomas Nelson) and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
I enjoyed the straightforward telling of Gary’s life story. He neither hid not glamorized the negative times and he shared his successes with humility. I am glad to have had the opportunity to look behind the façade to the motivation for his patriotic and humanitarian service efforts.
I voluntarily received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
Honest and blunt account from Gary Sinise I remember him from ‘Forest Gump’ but it is interesting to follow his journey from high school all the way to his life of service. I liked him as an actor but have so much respect for him as a human being. The way he gives back to society and the way he helps the military.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
A true patriot.
I was excited to be selected to be on the Street Team for this book, and receive an Advanced Reader Copy.
As a veteran, and spouse of a veteran, I am grateful for all this man has done for the troops.
Just going on USO tours wasn’t enough for Mr. Sinise…he wanted to do more…and then he wanted to still do more…and yet again…always striving to do as much as he can, yet always finding a way to do more..more than what is expected of him…and more than what most in Hollywood would even consider doing.
The tone of this book is very casual, as if you are sitting in a room alongside him as he tells you the stories of his childhood, and his journey towards Hollywood and his every growing patriotism. I wish more people appreciated the military and first responders the way this man does.
There is no negativity, but there is honesty. For as much as he does, Thank you is not enough. I am proud that there are people such as him in the world today….and I imagine how wonderful this world could be if there were more like him.
Thank you.