One in a Hundred Million: The Life and Times of Marion Urichich

By Marion Urichich

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0615127339
• ISBN13: 9780615127330
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Falkon Enterprises, Inc.
• Length: 393 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One in a Hundred Billion!!!

Well, I must admit that when I saw the cover of One in a Hundred Million, I didn't know what to think at all. Now, having read it, I can honestly say that the description on the back cover is quite accurate and that those incidents and stories illustrated on the cover aren't even the best of the bunch. It really doesn't do the book justice and completely overlooks all of the childhood stories which are truly delightful. This autobiography is composed mostly of stories about events in Mr. Urichich's life and they are some of the funniest stories I have ever read or heard, and by far. I laughed so hard I had to stop reading every few pages because my eyes filled up with tears and I simply couldn't see. The interspersed illustrations really help you picture the people in the book and some of them are downright funny on their own, such as "Tata Help, Tata Help". Yes, there are all kinds of accidents and tragedies and mishaps--and the x-rays to prove they really happened--but there are also the triumphs and successes, and most of all, the humor and wonderfully optimistic and inspiring spirit throughout. One in a Hundred Million is also the chronicle of a Croatian immigrant family's experiences as well as a very personal account of much of the twentieth century in the United States. The author cautions at the beginning that he is not a professional writer and that is certainly true but the lack of professional technique is part of the art here and makes this book the truest expression of his personality that one could imagine. It is a very honest and earnest work and I wouldn't change it one bit with the caution that some of the language and stories might not be appropriate for young children--although some of those are the best ones! This book would be great for interrupted reading (waiting in line, at bedtime, etc.) because of the mostly short and relatively self-contained chapters. I can't imagine that someone could read this book and not thoroughly enjoy it or think that they had not put their time to good use. My only regret is that I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Urichich except through this book. I highly recommend it as a great pleasure to read. The Kindle version doesn't seem to be linked to on this page but it can be found here: Autobiography One In A Hundred Million

Overcoming Personal Obstacles Is The Challenge Of Life!

Here's a book that will make you laugh and cry at our problems in life and know that anyone can overcome anything if they are willing to work hard enough and long enough at it. The author tells about how bad his memory was, how much of a learning disability he had, and how difficult it was for him not only in school, but socially as well. You can understand how he might always felt like he had to do more and try harder to be accepted because of not being quite the way other kids were. And even though Marion could not really learn and understand things, or remember things, he still managed to find his way in life, overcome these things, and become successful despite them. His message was simply: Work hard, never give up, keep trying and what you desire in your heart will absolutely come into your being. Marion's stories about his life are amusing and have brought me laughter almost to the point of tears. What was particularly interesting for me was that a great deal of what he wrote were stories about the Marines, his thoughts and opinions on the medical and legal professions, the stories regarding his own trials and tribulations with the legal system and how he overcame them. The book has a very uniquely-designed book cover which I immediately found intriguing. I have to say that it is a real eye-catcher and should be noted for it's excellent concept. As for the content itself, I found the following stories so compelling: (1) winning 12 out of 15 medals at the senior Olympics, (2) winning a huge court battle against State Farm Insurance that lasted 11 years and went pro se to the United States Supreme Court, (3) being inducted into the Old timers baseball hall of fame, (4) surviving a stroke at the age of 34, and (5) surviving almost dying nine different times in accidents ranging from trying to save two other Marines when he was in the service, to falling in the tracks of a moving bulldozer and being literally electrocuted while at work. This book should have broad appeal for both men and women in the area of overcoming obstacles. And it will have a special meaning for anyone who has served in our armed forces...the true heros (not sports figures) of our culture.

The Most Extraordinary Story Of Carpe Diem You Will Ever Read!

This book is an autobiographical tale that's almost too unbelievable to be true! Think about a child falling into a coal mine and surviving, playing linebacker in high school football at just 135 pounds, getting stung by a stingray trying to save two Marines from drowning, winning his first one-mile relay race as a fill-in anchor, being electrocuted and then having a stroke two months later at the age of 34, getting run over by a bulldozer and survived, playing basketball actively until age 69, parring the very first hole he ever played on a golf course, living most of his life with a broken leg, and winning 12 medals in the Senior Olympics at the age of 58-virtually impossible that so much could happen to one man, but that's what Marion Urichich claims is his life's story. Now in his 80s, Urichich has refused to slow down from his adventurous life and seeks to help people understand how to live life to the fullest and remain happy and healthy through all the aches and pains of life. An avid natural cures and homeopathic health advocate, he has written what is arguably the most extraordinary story of carpe diem you will ever read!

This is a very inspiring autobiography

One In One Hundred Million is a very entertaining autobiography with some very good photos. Marion Urichich is very honest about how attention deficit disorder has affected his entire life. He has a poor short term memory, but that has not stopped him from leading a fun productive life. I enjoyed reading about his life long love of sports like baseball and football. What is impressive about Marion is his ability to take pride in whatever task or job he had to do, whether it be selling coal, running a gas station, serving as a chaplain's assistant, or serving his country as a Marine. Marion Urichich is the kind of person who gives a maximum effort in everything. He is also a compassionate man who assists anyone in need. I enjoyed reading about how he helped a fellow Marine during a march. I also like the story about when he helped a woman having a seizure. I love the photo of the classic Cadillac in the book. I also love the photo of Marion in his Marine uniform with his father and his brother. The pride he feels with being a Marine is reflected in the photo. This book will inspire any one not to give up on anything in life.

Wow! Talk About a Story! This is Good...Real Good.

Marion Urichich is a man who HAD to tell this story. Why? Because it is a story that deserved, very much so, to be written down. The antics, the accidents, the lawsuits, the jobs, the relationships and the heroic actions of this amazing man will keep you reading for days. It was with great clarity and excitement that Mr. Urichich brings to life his biography, using pictures to backup his hard to believe claims. I had a difficult time taking a break from reading "One in a Hundred Million" because I kept wondering what could possibly happen to "this guy" next. Near death experiences, roadblocks and challenges at every turn, and then there exist those everyday events that we've all experienced peppered throughout the story. It is a novel about the human experience and how it shapes our character. Is this the best book you'll ever read? Probably not. Is this a biography that will keep you reading and then contemplating your own life story and how many valleys you've come out of? Definitely. A man's life story is the sum of his decisions and his ability to accept the consequences of those decisions. Urichich shows some regret for not spending more time with his immediate family, but he accepts the difficult times in his life as building blocks that led him to be a well-rounded man, capable of offering good advice to others. "One in a Hundred Million - The Life and Times of Marion Urichich" is a page-turning fun time. I highly recommend this book to all teenage and adult readers. See ya next review. Dan Blankenship Author of THE RUNNING GIRL www.danblankenship.com