Book Review: “Why Not Today?” by Eric Dodge
Eric Dodge Music, 2015. Trade Paperback and Kindle. 120 pages.
If you’ve been reading this column for many years, you may have noticed that I rarely review self-published books. The reasons are simple. Most writers who self-publish don’t spend the money to get a good editor. And if they do spend the money, it seems they don’t listen to what the editor has to say. In the almost 20 years I’ve been writing reviews, I’ve only read two self-published titles that were worth my time. It got so bad that I made it a personal policy to flat-out refuse to read anything self-published. It wasn’t worth my time. (Ralph Rohr, a sometime contributor to the Independent, asked me to review a self-published book of his on the New Testament Book of Revelation, but time constraints at the time wouldn’t allow me to do so.) The stories I could tell.
Back in July, I noticed something from Eric Dodge, a country singer based in St. George. I really don’t know why I wanted to read his book, but I decided to ask him for a review copy, which I picked up while I was visiting the States in August. I’m glad I did.
The book is part memoir, part self-help book, and part motivational book, and Dodge gets it right.
“Why Not Today” is one of the two self-published books that have been worth the time to read. Why? First, Eric Dodge didn’t try to write the Great American Novel, or Great American Confessional, and get in over his head. He wanted to share his story, which he truly believes can help people change their lives. And secondly, he obviously spent the money for a good editor — and more importantly, he obviously listened. None of the typical mistakes of a self-published writer are found here.
So what is his story?
His story is one that goes from being a super-confident 4-year-old — daring enough to run in front of a car with a sheet tied around his neck in his Superman underwear, holding out his hand to stop an oncoming car — to deep suicidal depression, to becoming a country singer who’s shared the stage with performers such as Travis Tritt, Carrie Underwood, Chris LeDoux, and Collin Raye, to name a few, as well as becoming a motivational speaker and singer (he mixes his music in with his speeches) and a member of the National Speakers Association.
And he is a real country singer with a rich baritone voice. I’ve got to hunt down some of his albums. Check out “The Last Real Cowboy.”
With his simple, winning approach, he shares what it was like to go out and try and stop a car in his Superman undies and then lose a beloved grandfather. One of the most powerful sections was the section about bullying. I think we’ve all encountered bullying to a certain degree. But his story is horrific, and I don’t use that term lightly. In fact, one of the things he speaks about around the country is bullying.
And in the chapter on dating, I found myself saying “Amen, Brother!” often throughout. In my single days, people often asked about my marital status, and I would tell them my love life was so insane that if I were to tell them half of it their response would be, “That doesn’t happen in a badly written Mexican soap opera, let alone real life.”
The writing and voice are smooth, never trying to overwhelm but giving you a simple story with lessons from life buried in there. I will say I would have liked him to go into a little more detail about his depression. For those who struggle with it, they want to see just how dark it was for another person so they can connect better. But that’s a small quibble.
I felt refreshed as I read this book, and I realize that Dodge is someone I want to really get to know, not just through books and his music. I know, I’ll have to take a number.
I’m curious to see what he’ll do next. Dodge is definitely someone to watch.
