What would my mother say? How would she want me to handle this situation? How can I make this tough decision and stay true to myself?
What would my mother say?
Sam Haskell still asks himself these questions every day.
When Haskell was young, his devoted mother, Mary, instilled in her son the values of character, faith, and honor by setting an example and asking him to promise to live his life according to her lessons. He did, and those promises have served Haskell consistently from his Mississippi boyhood to his long career at the venerable William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills.
Years later, in Hollywood, Haskell would rely on his motherβs teachingsβhonesty, self-reliance, and belief in Godβas he swiftly rose from the William Morris mailroom to eventually become the companyβs Worldwide Head of Television. His capacity for friendship and his insistence on living his version of the Golden Rule (being βthoughtfully politicalβ) allowed him to handle various client crises and the tense negotiations that nearly scuttled the last years of Everybody Loves Raymond and the entire existence of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Haskell has achieved success through self-respect, and from his story we learn how we, too, can maintain our dignity when faced with lifeβs challenges. This stirring memoir is a testament to mothers everywhere who instill in their sons the lasting values they need to become good men and devoted fathers.
From the Hardcover edition.
Media Buzz
Early Show - December 28, 2011 Early Show - April 29, 2009
© 2003-2026