Famous Stutterers

Moses, Aristotle, Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain, King George VI, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, distinguished historian Peter Brown, TV journalist John Stossel, Senator's wife Annie Glenn, ABC correspondent Byron Pitts, novelist John Updike. For all of these accomplished persons, stuttering was an enormous difficulty. None had a sure-fire remedy. Most had to blunder and stumble through. The persistence and courage they displayed tells us that there might be ways we too can survive and achieve--despite our own difficulties.Gerald McDermott's Famous Stutterers is a noble read. It not only tells the stories of twelve lives across religious, political, literary, and public media spheres who have changed the world, it also inspires us to a life of courage and determination no matter what obstacles we face. Soon in these pages we begin to see how even the impediment of stuttering can become the impetus for greatness.--Mark Graham, Senior Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church (NALC), Roanoke, VirginiaGerald McDermott's book featuring twelve individuals who live (or lived) with stuttering is scholarly, interesting, and very well researched. The twelve include historical and current men and women with some surprises that they lived with stuttering. The author provides insight not only into the character of these individuals but also into the role stuttering played in shaping their lives, careers, and personal development. A page-turner for this reader.--Judith Kuster, Professor Emeritus, Minnesota State University, MankatoThis book is an interesting compilation of past and current famous people who stutter. Filled with historical facts, it shows the depth of difficulties people with this speech disorder may experience, and surprising positive growth and accomplishments in these individuals as a result of dealing with this life-long struggle. One can be greatly shaped by stuttering or use it to shape oneself for great things. --Janet Thompson, Speech PathologistGerald R. McDermott is Anglican Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School. He is the author or editor of seventeen books. He is also a stutterer.