No Excuses by Dave Letele
Book Review: No Excuses by Dave Letele
Some days just don’t go to plan! A quick trip over the hill in Thames to get my windscreen fixed turned into a full day without wheels. The call to let me know some panelbeating was also required, came while I was standing on the street corner outside a bookshop.
I quickly realised it as a blessing in disguise, a nudge to slow down for the day. The book shop beckoned! It quickly dawned on me I had been so busy running around lately it had been a long time since I relaxed and read a good book cover to cover.
One title immediately caught my eye - ‘No Excuses’ by Dave Letele. I’d seen snippets of Dave’s mahi turning around obesity and poverty in South Auckland and was intrigued to read his story and learn more. With a little time up my sleeve I sat back on the bookshop couch and opened the cover.
Thirty minutes later I had devoured a substantial part of the book. Some people have a knack of drawing you into their story, and Dave is certainly one of them. His writing style is relatable, personal and page turning. Dave sets the scene returning to New Zealand, broke, overweight, homeless and dealing with the heavy emotions that come with it like shame and guilt.
How he turns his own situation around through training and diet, then to become a leader and serve others is nothing short of remarkable and inspiring.
“Geez, I’ve read a lot of this book already, I’d better go up and pay for this” I thought! The transaction completed and not wanting to move far I asked “Do you mind if I carry on reading it on the couch” to the friendly person at the counter? “No problems, that’s what it’s there for!”
By the time I strolled a few steps next door for lunch I’d read half the book already. I can’t remember being so engrossed in a book in a long time.
One of the things I love about this book is how Dave hands over a chapter each to his mother and father, to tell their version of events, past and present. You’re immediately drawn into another layer, another lens to see how trauma is passed down through generations. All three leaders, Dave and his mother and father are now doing inspiring work to break this cycle.
In recounting each of their childhood memories, the reader is drawn into a world, that may be foreign and will certainly be hard hitting. It is a story that I think every Kiwi should read to understand some of our countries biggest issues, how they came about, and regardless of our own backgrounds, what we all need to do to help turn them around. This is how our country, and the world, heals.
Many of the personal struggles - depression, shame, anger and guilt are ubiquitous emotions that nearly every New Zealander will relate to. I certainly could, and the odd tear was wiped away. ‘No Excuses’ is Dave’s story of rising out of his own negative cycle, through hard work, discipline and leading from the heart to help others, and in doing so, transform himself.
I’m not going to give too much more away, other than to say that I was finished reading this book in 24 hours, and that makes it the most readable and captivating book I have read in a long time.
Never underestimate the ripple effects of your actions, good and bad. It is very obvious Dave’s work is sending huge ripples of goodness out through his community, and this book is elevating the message to a wider audience again. I would highly recommend every Kiwi read it.
You can grab a copy of Dave’s book here:
https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/no-excuses-907782?affid=2050&oid=92
As a side note, my windscreen fixed, a new owner of this aging truck beckoned. The TradeMe deal was done. Sprucing it up at a car valet in Auckland, en route to delivery, I noticed a quiet guy in the corner of the waiting room, with a recognisable tattoo down his arm, BBM t shirt and distinctive glasses. Good old New Zealand, that’s Dave Letele! I just had to go and shake his hand and say “Well done bro, I just read your book - you are a bloody inspiration!” Seeing the big smile and humble nature that beamed back, made my year.
Nga mihi Dave!
