David G. Roche, a popular motivational speaker and entertainer, shares a collection of essays exploring beauty in unconventional places with humour and compassion in his memoir, Standing at the Back Door of Happiness: And How I Unlocked It (Harbour $22.95). Born with a facial vascular malformation, Roche considers it an "incredible gift" that redirects him to find beauty and self-worth within. This perspective extends to appreciating the beauty in others, transcending flaws and fostering a world of beautiful people. Roche's good-natured reflections touch on disability, activism, religion, and family, weaving a personal narrative of his journey toward happiness, culminating in receiving the Order of Canada. From his "seriously Catholic" upbringing to a devoted stint with the Democratic Workers Party, Roche underwent a transformative realization about knowing his own soul, leading him to embrace acceptance and love, marking a significant turning point in his life.

Bibliography:
"The Church of 80% Sincerity" Penguin Group US (Perigee imprint), 2008

BOOKS:

Standing at the Back Door of Happiness: And How I Unlocked It (Harbour, 2024) $22.95 9781990776762