advance praise
for “Remember, You're the greatest”
“An unofficial primer on
fatherhood.
A profound roadmap.”
“One of those rare writers whose voice you simply want to listen to.”
“A magical foray into the wonder of boyhood that leaves you tear-stained and cheering.”
“Masterful storytelling, humor and honesty that lets parents know they are not alone on their journey.”
“Stuffed with yearning and wit, heartbreak and triumph.”
“Dear reader, just one request: take off your sandals, for this is holy ground.”
What readers are saying about "Remember, You're the greatest"
"One of those rare writers whose voice you simply want to listen to. Every incident, each detail, is graced and elevated with a kind of loving, attentive prose."
This is a fundamentally serious book — how can a human being not question the goodness of God when put face to face, every day, with a suffering child? But despite the seriousness of the topic, Johnny Bollow endows the work with an undercurrent of humor, a deep affection for his son, and a reverence for his wife’s extraordinary wisdom, patience, and grace that shines through everything, and these elements combine to suffuse the whole with a kind of mysterious joy.
The prose is consistently careful, well-wrought, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny, à la Dave Berry or P.J. O’Rourke. One day, the author comes home to find that his boys have “magic marker drawn all over their faces and limbs as if the Cat in the Hat had dropped by and taught them Maori body art.” But there is also a profound probing into the question of the connection between our physical brains and our personalities, in the manner of Oliver Sachs’ explorations in "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat." Further, there is a spiritual dimension to the writing, the attempt at posing and answering hard questions, after the manner of Annie Dillard or Anne Lamott.
Bollow is one of those rare writers whose voice you simply want to listen to. Every incident, each detail, is graced and elevated with a kind of loving, attentive prose. The back of his father’s neck is “farmer-tanned like cherry wood.” When it slowly dawns on Bollow and his wife, Lori, that she is expecting their first child, they stare at each other, “as silent as a cell dividing.” And as things become increasingly difficult, we learn of Lori that she is “as patient as a season.”
So, you want to hear his stories, his anecdotes, his exquisite metaphors — you don’t much care what he is writing about, because you feel that his writing about it will make it worth your while to pay attention; and that, quite possibly, if you pay attention well enough, you might learn something about how better to live your life in this mad, confusing, painful, yet wonderful world.
The prose is consistently careful, well-wrought, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny, à la Dave Berry or P.J. O’Rourke. One day, the author comes home to find that his boys have “magic marker drawn all over their faces and limbs as if the Cat in the Hat had dropped by and taught them Maori body art.” But there is also a profound probing into the question of the connection between our physical brains and our personalities, in the manner of Oliver Sachs’ explorations in "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat." Further, there is a spiritual dimension to the writing, the attempt at posing and answering hard questions, after the manner of Annie Dillard or Anne Lamott.
Bollow is one of those rare writers whose voice you simply want to listen to. Every incident, each detail, is graced and elevated with a kind of loving, attentive prose. The back of his father’s neck is “farmer-tanned like cherry wood.” When it slowly dawns on Bollow and his wife, Lori, that she is expecting their first child, they stare at each other, “as silent as a cell dividing.” And as things become increasingly difficult, we learn of Lori that she is “as patient as a season.”
So, you want to hear his stories, his anecdotes, his exquisite metaphors — you don’t much care what he is writing about, because you feel that his writing about it will make it worth your while to pay attention; and that, quite possibly, if you pay attention well enough, you might learn something about how better to live your life in this mad, confusing, painful, yet wonderful world.
Lee R. Cerling, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Business Communication, Marshall School of Business, USC
"A magical foray into the wonder of boyhood that leaves you tear-stained and cheering for Sammy the Brave."
“Remember, You’re the Greatest” is a heartwarming journey that leaves you tear-stained and cheering for 'Sammy the Brave' and his dad, who leans in to the heartache and awe of parenting a child with special needs. Bollow writes with honesty and laugh out loud humor, drawing you into the rawness of loss and wonder of the miraculous. He explores what it is like to run smack into shattered expectations, yet rather than grow bitter, he prayerfully opens his heart to the possibility that he could parent differently. Learning to move in the slow, unforced rhythms of grace, he embraces his firstborn son in a way that fashions an unbreakable bond between them.
Readers will delight in the tale of three generations of the Bollow family, enjoying a magical foray into the wonder of boyhood, the entrance into parenthood, and then a catapult into a world full of unexpected pain and heartrending diagnosis. Through it all, Bollow writes with stark vibrance, each chapter echoing with sounds and sensations, color and texture. The reader is fully immersed and imprinted with wild hope and a burning desire to love everyone dear to them with a deeper, truer love.
Readers will delight in the tale of three generations of the Bollow family, enjoying a magical foray into the wonder of boyhood, the entrance into parenthood, and then a catapult into a world full of unexpected pain and heartrending diagnosis. Through it all, Bollow writes with stark vibrance, each chapter echoing with sounds and sensations, color and texture. The reader is fully immersed and imprinted with wild hope and a burning desire to love everyone dear to them with a deeper, truer love.
Susan Reedy, MA
autism specialist, Marriage & family therapist
“Masterful storytelling, humor and honesty that lets parents know they are not alone on their journey.”
As a pastor and parent, my observation is that parents of kids with special needs often feel isolated, and feel forgotten by God. And as your child grows, the chronic grief and exhaustion don't usually wane. Johnny Bollow's book is a breath of fresh air to lonely parents. He is not afraid to ask the difficult questions and be vulnerable about suffering. The way he weaves in stories of his own father and childhood with his experience as Sam's father, points to God's deep love and abiding presence through it all.
I think all parents, but especially those who have children with special needs, will relate to his masterful storytelling, humor and honesty, and ultimately know that they are not alone on their journey. My prayer is that parents, through Johnny Bollow's testimony, will be able to whole-heartedly believe that their child is the greatest.
I think all parents, but especially those who have children with special needs, will relate to his masterful storytelling, humor and honesty, and ultimately know that they are not alone on their journey. My prayer is that parents, through Johnny Bollow's testimony, will be able to whole-heartedly believe that their child is the greatest.
Rev. Julie Ono
Family Care Pastor, Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles
"Take off your sandals, for this is holy ground."
"It is only through the imperfect and the broken that the miraculous is made possible."
So writes Johnny Bollow in his beautifully rendered story about three generations of fatherhood. You will laugh. You will cry. You will shake your head in amazement. But most of all, you will walk into the rest of your life inspired to face whatever your particular challenges with grace, integrity and bravery.
As you read these pages, dear reader, just a simple request. Take off your sandals, for you stand on holy ground.
So writes Johnny Bollow in his beautifully rendered story about three generations of fatherhood. You will laugh. You will cry. You will shake your head in amazement. But most of all, you will walk into the rest of your life inspired to face whatever your particular challenges with grace, integrity and bravery.
As you read these pages, dear reader, just a simple request. Take off your sandals, for you stand on holy ground.
Timothy J. Patterson, MFT
Marriage & family therapist
"Gave the inner thoughts in the recesses of my soul permission to come out."
As a mom of a child with special needs, this book gave the inner thoughts in the recesses of my soul permission to come out and be real, acknowledged, grieved, and pursued by Love. Sam’s story inspires me to continue to look for the unexpected ways in which my sweet boy is trying to tell me what his world is like. More stories like this need to be told not just for a parent like me, but for the communities around us. Beautifully written.
Laura Gossman
mother to a son with autism
"Beautiful... complex... a must read for anyone who loves someone with special needs"
The vulnerability that Johnny Bollow is willing to step wholeheartedly into in his new book will be a resource for families of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them. He paints a beautiful and complex picture that captures the importance of celebrating neurodiversity. But, courageously, he speaks not only of the light but of the grittier, darker places that have touched the lives of he and his family. This is a must read for anyone who loves someone with special needs.
Jackie Stemen, MS, ACSW
Developmental Play Therapist and Parent Coach for children with autism, Real Connections Institute
"A poetic and beautiful literary weaving of the voices of the heavenly father and an earthly father."
This book reminds us that we can make a difference. When we love another human deeply; when we show up in suffering; when we allow imperfection to be beautiful; it is as if we are singing over them, again and again, “You are the greatest, remember my dear one, you are the greatest.”
Yes, it is one man's heartbreaking and soul-touching journey as the father of a special needs child. It portrays the gritty realities of special needs, the toll it takes on the family, and the sorrow of lost dreams. His pain unfolds before us without apology, raw and harsh. He searches for answers or relief, but finds neither.
But then comes the voices of his earthly father and his heavenly Father in a beautiful and poetic literary weaving. Each voice holds wisdom and insight, which guide the author as he navigates the unknown territory of parenthood and the frightening landscape of his son’s debilitating medical affliction.
Ultimately, the beauty of “Remember, You’re the Greatest” lies in the author’s vulnerability about his experience. We are invited into intimate moments. We see him gain courage from the tender strength of his wife, the innocence of his children, the support of his community, and most poignantly, the quiet, steady, loving voice of his father — and his God.
Yes, it is one man's heartbreaking and soul-touching journey as the father of a special needs child. It portrays the gritty realities of special needs, the toll it takes on the family, and the sorrow of lost dreams. His pain unfolds before us without apology, raw and harsh. He searches for answers or relief, but finds neither.
But then comes the voices of his earthly father and his heavenly Father in a beautiful and poetic literary weaving. Each voice holds wisdom and insight, which guide the author as he navigates the unknown territory of parenthood and the frightening landscape of his son’s debilitating medical affliction.
Ultimately, the beauty of “Remember, You’re the Greatest” lies in the author’s vulnerability about his experience. We are invited into intimate moments. We see him gain courage from the tender strength of his wife, the innocence of his children, the support of his community, and most poignantly, the quiet, steady, loving voice of his father — and his God.
Juli Chandler Chaffee
MSW, LCSW
"Reveals the holiness and the humility of parenting, wrapped in lamentation and hope."
“Johnny Bollow’s narrative reveals the holiness and the humility of parenting, wrapped in lamentation and hope. His words speak of the common core of loving our children — all of them. He shares the profound mystery, the loss, and the renewal. As I finished reading, these words came to mind: 'We were them… they will be us… in frailty and strength… standing in Grace.'”
James N. Sells, Ph.D.
The Rosemarie Scotti Hughes Endowed Chair of Christian Thought in Mental Health Practices, Regent University
"Stuffed with yearning and wit, heartbreak and triumph."
This book could be an unofficial primer on fatherhood. The kind of fatherhood where dads don't always get it right, but work their way through with grit, faith, humor, and grace. For these are stories that unfold a profound roadmap for facing some of the darkest trials of fatherhood with humility and hope, and coming out the other side, not unscathed, but stronger than you were before.
But more than that, “Remember, You're The Greatest” is a much needed change in perspective for dads like me with special needs kids who find themselves in the deep end, paddling just to stay afloat. It’s a breath of fresh air and a sliver of hope in a place where everything seems twisted wrong. In short, Johnny gets it: stuffed with yearning and wit, heartbreak and triumph, this book can bring tears to your eyes and then, in the next moment, seamlessly transition to a hilarious story that will have you laughing out loud.
Narrated with an earnestness reminiscent of 'A Christmas Story,' this book is simply storytelling at its peak. If you are a fan of Anne Lamott, Garrison Keillor, Ken Gire, John Irving, or Mike Yaconelli, this is for you: an inspiring true story that’s funny, touching, a pure delight to read, and perfect for any father who is deeply in love with his kids.
But more than that, “Remember, You're The Greatest” is a much needed change in perspective for dads like me with special needs kids who find themselves in the deep end, paddling just to stay afloat. It’s a breath of fresh air and a sliver of hope in a place where everything seems twisted wrong. In short, Johnny gets it: stuffed with yearning and wit, heartbreak and triumph, this book can bring tears to your eyes and then, in the next moment, seamlessly transition to a hilarious story that will have you laughing out loud.
Narrated with an earnestness reminiscent of 'A Christmas Story,' this book is simply storytelling at its peak. If you are a fan of Anne Lamott, Garrison Keillor, Ken Gire, John Irving, or Mike Yaconelli, this is for you: an inspiring true story that’s funny, touching, a pure delight to read, and perfect for any father who is deeply in love with his kids.
Marc Elmer
Father of a son with autism
"A richly detailed yet honestly unvarnished account. A great book. Go read it."
As a physical therapist, I have been fortunate and privileged to work with hundreds of special needs children. But as a former mentor of mine wisely shared during my early years as a clinician, “In pediatrics, we treat the family just as much as we do the child.” And Johnny’s richly detailed yet honestly unvarnished account of his journey as both a son and a father gives one an unobstructed view of what “family” is truly like in the home of a child who is special.
Equal parts heart wrenching and laughter inducing, at its core it speaks to the message of God’s perfect love — filtered up through an imperfect son, to the greatest earthly father he could ever have. A great book. Go read it.
Equal parts heart wrenching and laughter inducing, at its core it speaks to the message of God’s perfect love — filtered up through an imperfect son, to the greatest earthly father he could ever have. A great book. Go read it.
Jaime Clevenger, PT, MPT
physical therapist for special needs children
"An amazing must-read about the power of God and resilience of the human spirit."
A beautifully written memoir about faith and fatherhood. Remember, You’re the Greatest is an amazing must-read about the power of God and the resilience of the human spirit. Throughout the book Johnny masterfully reflects on his relationship with his own father while navigating his way raising a son with special needs. His honest and intimate journey will inspire all and draw hearts closer to God.
Janell McClain
parent of a special needs child
"I cried tears of hope"
Every line of Johnny’s book is poetic and profound, from the first to the last. Johnny’s honesty, frustrations, joys, spiritual insights, and above all, his love for his son Sam come through.
If you’re a parent like myself of a special needs child, read this book. But be advised, have tissues on hand. I cried, a lot. Tears of pain, joy, revelation and love, but mostly tears of hope.
If you’re a parent like myself of a special needs child, read this book. But be advised, have tissues on hand. I cried, a lot. Tears of pain, joy, revelation and love, but mostly tears of hope.
Steve Trapero
Father to a son with autism
"A sacred narrative."
Johnny Bollow offers a sacred narrative exploring the emotional and practical challenges of raising a special needs son, while masterfully weaving together the parallel story of his own father. While it opens a vivid window into the wonder and pain every special needs parent endures, “Remember, You’re the Greatest” is far more than just an important read for those families. It will be meaningful for anyone interested in the timeless relationship of father and son.
Dr. Lee Hildebrand
Psychologist and speaker
"I don't know when I've been so deeply moved. A must read."
Most parenting books are about the wins, but very few address what happens when you’re not winning. I don’t know when I’ve been so deeply moved. This book is as deep as it gets, and the honesty, pain, and joy in Johnny’s story makes it a must read for every mom and dad.
Pastor Mark Pickerill
co-lead pastor, christian assembly los angeles