Success Against the Odds: What Interesting People Did by June Raleigh is a well-written book that relates the stories of notable people who were faced with danger, yet they thought outside the box and took actions that we marvel at today. This book is divided into two parts. The first part explores historical information and stories of people like Joseph ben Matthias, Judith of Bethulia, Mordecai’s cousin, and Gamaliel, as well as the remarkable things they did. The second part involves discussions on general life principles related to the word of God, which include self-respect, love for your neighbors, free will, and more. While using the Bible as a guide, the author creates a connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

This book is quite inspiring and has left a significant intellectual impact on me. I am impressed by the depth of historical facts and information the author conveyed in her writing, much of which I researched and verified for authenticity. While reading, I got a peek into the genealogy of some individuals not fully recorded in the Bible, which I found fascinating. The writing was detailed, well-organized, straightforward, and easy to comprehend. The stories were well paced, making them engaging for readers like me. This book features themes of survival, courage, and more. Of all the insights this book offers, the discussion of Jesus and the role He played in the lives of people stood out the most to me. I recommend Success Against the Odds by June Raleigh to anyone passionate about biblical history.

There have been many influential people who not only left their mark on history with their courageous deeds but also changed the world forever. Success Against the Odds: What Interesting People Did by June Raleigh is a collection of true stories about individuals whose acts had a profound impact on those around them. Flavius Josephus was a historian and a general who, braving the brutality and subjugation of native ethnicities by the ruthless Roman Imperial regime, found ingenious ways to help his people. Judith of Bethulia, considered a saint by many, risked her own life to save her people from the invading Assyrians. Mordecai's niece, Esther, who became queen of the Persian King Artaxerxes, convinced him not to follow through on Haman's nefarious plan to kill all the Jews in his lands.

Success Against the Odds is a truly inspirational book. What I liked most about these stories is that author June Raleigh never shies away from showing these heroes as people with flaws and vulnerabilities. Each of these historical personalities faced adversity and threats to their lives and had to rely on their ingenuity, faith, and resilient spirit to overcome the obstacles that came their way. Raleigh draws upon Judeo-Christian tradition to tell true stories that changed the course of human history. The second half of the book explores Jesus Christ's impact on people's lives. There are some valuable moral lessons in these chapters that readers of all faiths will find helpful and motivational. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these tales. It's an illuminating short story collection that I wholeheartedly recommend to history enthusiasts.