Making A Difference: Reflecting on the Past, Thinking of the Future

There are many things in this world from past to present that have driven people to want to try to make a difference. Author James L. Hecht shares his life’s journey and experiences in his autobiography, Making a Difference: Reflecting on the Past, Thinking of the Future. Through a series of stories from his life, Hecht explains how different events during each of these time periods led him and then he and his wife Amy to use their knowledge, connections, and more to try to make their mark on the world and to help others make a difference. Personal stories of learning, love, and heartache fill Making a Difference with sparks that could ignite a movement in an inspired reader.

Making a Difference: Reflecting on the Past, Thinking of the Future is an inspiring book that will touch readers through stories that are based on factual events in Hecht’s life. While idealistic at times, the book does not come across as trying to fix all of the world’s problems, nor do its ideas come across as a quick fix. What it does do is explain the actions taken by Hecht on his own and ultimately with his wife Amy. Spanning across several decades, Making a Difference touches on obvious topics such as civil and equal rights that were prevalent at the time. However, Hecht also uses heartbreaking stories from his own life that not only sparked a discussion and movement for safety but also helped him get through the grief of losing a son. At times it was both confusing and redundant when the author returned back to the beginning of his personal story in several chapters before getting to the topic at hand. However, it was very well written and worth reading. It gives readers something to think about in a time when these questions are very prevalent. A strong 4.5 stars.