Perseverance by Tim Hague [Family Reads]

Why we chose Tim Hague’s Perseverance

We had two other options for Family Reads this month, but one of them we didn’t like much and the other one I couldn’t get a copy of quick enough. So when Dad spotted a copy of this on the washing machine at home (Mom’s coworker had lent it to her), we decided to give it a go.

After starting a family and flourishing in his career, Tim Hague was struck by misfortune. The irritating tremor in his foot turned out to be early onset Parkinson’s disease. He was only 46 years old. But what seemed to be an end became a new beginning. Just three years later, Hague won the inaugural The Amazing Race Canada (with his son, Tim Jr., as his teammate). His remarkable life story shows that perseverance is not just a matter of willpower: it is a skill that can be learned and honed. 

And perseverance is the theme of his life. From the day he was born, Hague has gone from one struggle to another. Yet, remarkably, he doesn’t have a trace of self-pity. In fact, he feels blessed. From his tough start in life as an unwanted mixed-race baby born in Texas in 1964, to his eventual move to the unforgiving climate of Winnipeg, Canada, to start a family under difficult circumstances, and his continuing battle with Parkinson’s–Hague’s life is a roadmap of perseverance. 

Our Discussion

We both give this book ★★★. My parents enjoyed watching the first season of The Amazing Race Canada. Dad was impressed by the show; it was better than he expected the first Canadian version of the race to be. When he read about the race in the book, he found he was able to vividly recall having watched those parts in the show, even though it aired five years ago. Dad remembered paying particular attention to the two Tims because we’re all from Winnipeg. I was curious about how much I would enjoy the book, as I had never seen the show. I enjoyed, however, reading a behind the camera look at what went down. I knew that the Tims won, but I didn’t know how they won, so some of the incidents were fun and surprising for me to read about. (Suffice to say that a good combination of luck and skill was involved!)

The first few chapters of the books are more autobiographical, giving an overview of Hague’s life before the race. The bulk of the book focuses on his experience on The Amazing Race, the life lessons he drew on to win the race, and other lessons he learnt during the race. Perseverance is subtitled “The Seven Skills You Need to Survive, Thrive, and Accomplish More Than You Ever Imagine”. It’s marketed as a self-help book but it’s definitely more of a memoir. The ‘seven skills’ are integrated into the narrative as Hague describes his experience during the race – there are no headings, lists, or boxes. Don’t read this book looking for clearly defined tips or advice.

Final Thoughts

Dad and I enjoyed this book largely because of the local context. if you’re a fan of The Amazing Race or you’re interested in what it’s like to have Parkinson’s at a relatively young age, you might also enjoy it.