Born Lucky, Leland Vitert
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I wish I could gift it to everyone I know. It is such an honest appraisal of someone who has succeeded against all odds because of his unrelenting effort, his dedication to principles, his ability to reach out and ask for help when necessary, and his recognition of his own shortcomings refusing to let them defeat him, that it is one of the most inspiring books I have read. Trying to fit into a world with demands and expectations that are difficult for you, because you march to a different drummer, requires character and a determination never to quit once a goal has been set. Leland Vittert embodies those ideas and has set a series of goals for himself that have led him down a path to victory. Leland Vittert tells the story of how he was truly born lucky, and the doctor actually named him, but his life was not going to be an easy one. On the day of his birth, no one could have known that, nor could they have known how driven and successful he would eventually become, overcoming all odds and roadblocks placed before him. The world did not adjust to Leland. He adjusted to the demands of the world with the help of his father who guided him and was always there for him when needed.
Leland Vittert is on the autism spectrum, but in 1982, when he was born, there was no spectrum. Today, perhaps, he would be diagnosed as having Aspergers. When his strange behavior began to be noticed, he was tested and diagnosed as having an extremely high intelligence quotient, but the oddest and lowest recorded emotional quotient along-side it. His parents were told he would really have to struggle in life, because he would not be successful regarding social interaction. They refused to label him or request special treatment. Apparently, Leland’s dad was probably also on the autism spectrum, but only mildly, and therefore, he understood the challenges his son would face. He encouraged Leland to set goals and never quit, because if he quit, those who didn’t believe in him would win. That became Leland’s path. Neither his parents, his sister, nor Leland ever ignored his shortcomings, they just refused to let them hold him back. They knew he could not be cured, but his dad taught him to adapt to the world in spite of them. The world would not adjust to Leland, so he would have to adjust to the demands of the world.
He was bullied by his peers because he was different and socially inept, but his family buoyed his spirit when he was crushed by the world, defending his efforts and encouraging him to continue. I found it terribly disappointing to read about how the children and the authorities treated him. When he was bullied in school, the adults often supported the bully and punished him. As a result, Leland was a lonely child, but he rose above it and ignored the bullies and even the competition that resented his hard work, later on, by always looking ahead to the future and the accomplishment of the new goals he set for himself. Unfortunately, only a few people ever stepped up to the plate to support or protect him, but Leland appreciated them and has never forgotten those people. He remembers and names many of them in the book.
Leland set what others might consider impossible goals, but he achieved them, and finally he even became a war correspondent facing danger bravely. Today he is the anchor on his own program on News Nation. It is a program that presents the truth about whatever subject he covers. He will not sacrifice his principles by lying or not covering a subject accurately. He is neither left nor right. He is a breath of fresh air. Even when threatened, he doesn’t compromise his principles. He would not distort his reporting to satisfy the system. He would deal with the consequences. Perhaps it is the autism that allows him to see things more clearly than most people, but he takes things literally and will not abide dishonesty. He readily admits that he still has to struggle to understand social cues and sometimes he fails, but he goes on, always going forward, never looking backward. His life experiences are varied and interesting. He has witnessed and reported on many news events as he rose in his career. He brings all those life experiences to the book.
Dealing with differences does not mean ignoring them and pretending they are either not there or are normal when they are not, it means adjusting to the system so that you, no matter how “weird” you are, can thrive within it. Leland learned to deal with his loneliness and rejection with resilience. He didn’t have to like being friendless, but he had to live with it and keep trying to make friends. He had to learn to live in the real world. This book is an honest reveal about what it is like to live with being different in a world that does not want you, that looks the other way or mocks you. The book exposes Leland’s warts and his strengths with total clarity. He does not hide his own shortcomings. He acknowledges the help he received. He is grateful for that support. He is still trying to navigate the world. He relies on the few people he loves and that love him. They guide him. Perhaps the world would not be so troubled today if the young were taught to adapt to life rather than expecting life to adapt to them and their demands.
Readers, buy this book! It is an amazing revelation about how Leland and others like him were and still are mistreated by the system. Imagine how much they might be able to accomplish if the system and the labels were ignored and there were no bullies, but instead there were adults who set a better example to follow, one of compassion and respect for the rights of others.