I've just read Regine's book and am reflecting on a powerful story, told with dignity and courage. It's part one than I'm focused on, because it's about her. Regine is an amazing person to have done so much with her life in the face of high levels of abuse, ill treatment and adversity at almost every turn. It's honest and confronting, but Regine skillfully keeps the narrative positive throughout her story. Regine's writing style is quite direct: she avoids nothing; she hides nothing. Her story is compelling, it engages with the reader in a way that frequently draws them to reflect on their own journey through life. Regine succeeds because she confronts her setbacks head-on and steadfastly refuses to let herself succumb to them. She has her dignity stolen on numerous occasions, but she never loses hope and always remains resilient. Learning from her often painful experiences, Regine has overcome her demons, defeated adversity (she epitomizes the motto of the Royal Australian Air Force: 'Per Ardua Ad Astra') and she has created a bright and happy future for herself through her integrity and strength of character. Alexander den Heijer might have had a person like Regine in mind when he wrote 'Never chase happiness, love, passion or success. These things will find you when you start chasing opportunities to make a difference in peoples' lives.' Regine's career is full of outstanding examples of doing just that. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in humanity; it is a succinct and concise story authored by a kind and gentle person on how to live a decent life.

- G.R. REEVES

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Regine Andersen’s book contains two parts. In the first part Regine recounts events from her childhood and adulthood that forged the woman she has become. From having to flee a dictatorial regime to experiencing abuse as well as other tragic events, the child and young woman found strength to stay positive and overcome dreadful challenges. Regine is an inspiration for all women (and men) who suffer in silence and struggle to defeat adversity. The second part of the book is a self-help guide that step-by-step highlight strategies to find the power to regain control of our lives. The instructions are easy to follow, give exercises to practice and self-assessment to record progress. I enjoy reading Regine’s book and recommend to anyone, who is interested in wellbeing and self-development.
- ELISABETH E.

 

This is not just a memoir or a story about science, religious beliefs and politics, though political experiences and scientific knowledge obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in religious opinion when it is really about a woman's life. Spending half her childhood in a refugee camp in the fifties, a pregnant homeless orphan in a foreign country at fifteen, her baby stolen three months after giving birth, getting married under extraordinary circumstances and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood that she embraced loving and caring for eight juvenile delinquent boys in Canada and later, she shared her home while being a mum for not only three of her own but also nineteen school-aged children with various physical and mental challenges while overcoming the terrifying events and violent abuse she experienced earlier in life. Thrown into some of the most amazing and terrifying positions she sums everything up as lifelong learning experiences and as a result, she has created useful strategies that enabled not only her but also hundreds of asylum seekers she helped strengthen resilience and emotional wellness when faced with extreme challenges that confront most of us at times. I have met her and think she is someone who really cares about nature and people and wants to create better changes for us and the world we live in today. She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She graduated with a degree in education from Curtin University in Western Australia she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that the same girl - Regine, the child refugee from a working-class family in the north-west of Germany. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading her book.

- KALANI

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Regine details her life experiences in a way which is striking and inspiring. The author's writing style is unique and engaging, and there is much to learn from the way she overcomes adversity and continues to keep a positive outlook on life.

- HARRY RUST

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I was absolutely in awe of Regines in this book as she tells the challenges that are thrown up in one lifetime. The strength to overcome these at the time and remain as positive as she is today is such a credit to her. A very interesting story and a great read.

- MARISE PETCHELL