I’m Not Here to Inspire You

I’m Not Here to Inspire You:

Essays on disability from a regular guy living with cerebral palsy

In this collection of essays, Rob J. Quinn offers insights on his own experiences as a man living with cerebral palsy and challenges the perceptions of people with disabilities offered by the able-bodied world. Many of the pieces are meant to give teens and young adults living with physical disabilities a new perspective on some of the issues they are dealing with in their daily lives.

Quinn tackles topics such as going to school, physical therapy, dealing with the isolation that people with disabilities can experience, and pushing the limits of the physical abilities people possess despite a disability. I’m Not Here to Inspire You is intended as a positive, yet honest look at aspects of living with a physical disability.

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(Paperback and Kindle)

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(Nook)

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Multiple e-book formats available through SmashWords

Video introduction

Where to Find

I’m Not Here to Inspire You

Amazon
(Paperback and Kindle)

Barnes and Noble
(Nook)

Kobo.com

Multiple e-book formats available through SmashWords

What people are saying about

I’m Not Here to Inspire You

“If you’re disabled, it’s the sort of book to buy, read, and pass along to the important people in your life. One caution: ask for [its] return; it’s the sort of book worth keeping as a reference.”

— Gary Presley, National Book Critics Circle member.

“At times you say things I do not want to hear but need to. Other times you say things I wish I could say but I need to keep my job.”

— Special Education teacher

“I read your book last night, all in one sitting. I could not put it down. And I am passing it on to my daughter and others now. Congrats on a great collection of essays. I hope lots and lots of people all over the country/world get to read it!”

— Lisa

Posted on Facebook.

“I just finished your book. It is awesome. . . . Thanks for a great read. [My brother, Pat] is my hero not because he’s in a wheelchair, but because he had/has the [guts] to follow his dream and challenge his limitations, which . . . are severe. Your book hit home in that Pat has faced the same issues as the ‘cute crippled kid.’”

— Dan

Posted on Facebook (part of quote above is in the comments of the post)

“So many wonderful words of wisdom that anyone can take away from reading it! My daughter is reading it now, and my son will be next. I think that your essays show the value of pushing yourself to the limit, even when you may not want to, the need to observe the small lessons in life now because later they may become bigger ones, but most of all to be the best person you can be, not letting your circumstances define who you are, but overcoming them. These are all lessons we have been trying to teach our children. Your words, eloquently written, will have an impact on them.”

— Machelle, via private message on Facebook. (Used with her permission.)

“[The book is] tough, aggressive, defiant, even belligerent. It is not the usual, predictable stuff at all; the title alone tells you that.”

— Maxwell King, former editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Video for The Ellen DeGeneres Show

I had some fun trying to get on Ellen DeGeneres’ show. Lots of tweets and Facebook posts (by me) with the hashtag #getRobJQonEllen. Didn’t quite make it on the show, but I had some fun!

The #INHTIY Book Tour

A friend of mine (and the editor of the book) came up with the idea of having a social media book tour. Readers were invited to post or e-mail a picture of themselves with book in a favorite or famous place. There were some great responses!

Not the best selfie of myself and John Ziff, my friend and the editor of the book, but we kicked things off at a local Slack’s.

Tom Gibson posted this picture of us at a local Tommy’s Pizza. Tom wrote, “Not often you see me post on Facebook but it is a must that I share this. I am lucky to have a great friend [who] recently wrote a book."

Joe Milewski (and his wife, Lucille) was the first to join our tour! We had already reached our second state! Joe shared a couple great shots at the University of Delaware on Facebook, saying, I'm Not Here to Inspire You "is a must read."

Another shot of Joe at the University of Delaware.

Love that the #INHTIY Book Tour made it to Steelers Country in Pittsburgh! Thanks to Bernadette for this picture in front of a wall of Steelers memorabilia.

“The #INHTIY Book Tour” made it to Denver, Colorado! Many thanks to Machelle and her family! Machelle offered some kind words in a private message, but I think that I can share that she was giving the book to her kids to read.

Photos from the M.S. Ride