By Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, Mim Eichler Rivas
University of California Press, $27.50, 317 pages

Dr. Quinones-Hinojosa sums it all up simply, “my less-than-conventional journey, the story of a little boy from Mexico who had been encouraged to be the architect of his own destiny”. What he shares in Becoming Dr. Q is how he came to be who he is today: an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who leads the search to cure brain cancer while at the same time holding onto his heritage as the son of a hard-working and poor gas station owner and grandson of a natural healer. Dr. Q details his life from his youth without opportunity in Mexico to his time working as a young adult in the fields and cleaning out tank cars at the rail yards in the United States, to learning English and then his education to be a neurosurgeon. Dr. Q’s story is one of dogged determination, of creating opportunity where none would be found and creating a life for one’s family. This is a book for anyone who has a dream, is dealing with a hardship, or looking for motivation.  Dr. Q’s story will help get readers through the hard times. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a true tale of hope and inspiration.

Catherine McMullen

[amazon asin=0520271181&text=Buy On Amazon&template=carousel]