Burro Genius

By: Victor Villaseñor

Narrated by: Robert Fass

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Victor Villaseñor stood at the podium and looked at the group of teachers amassed before him, he became enraged. He had never spoken in public before. His mind was flooded with childhood memories filled with humiliation, misunderstanding, and abuse at the hands of his teachers. With his heart pounding, he began to speak of these incidents. To his disbelief, the teachers before him responded to his embittered recollection with a standing ovation. Many could not contain their own tears.  

So begins a touching memoir of an extremely angry adolescent. Highly gifted and imaginative, Villaseñor coped with an untreated learning disability (he was finally diagnosed with extreme dyslexia at the age of 44) and the frustration he felt growing up Latino in an English-only American school system that had neither the cultural understanding nor the resources to deal with Hispanic students.  

Often beaten by his teachers because he could not speak English, Villaseñor was made to feel ashamed about his heritage, and even questioned the core values prioritized by his tight-knit family. Villaseñor's dyslexia, and growing frustration over not fitting in, fueled his dream to one day become a writer. He is now considered one of the premier writers of our time.

©2004 Victor Villaseñor (P)2019 Tantor

Captivating and real!

A fan for many decades now, I can't imagine living a life without Victor's stories.

Loved it!

Mr. Villaseñor is a great author, love this book. My favorite book is Rain of Gold. Wish it was on here.

Master Story Teller

This burro's genius is subtle but palpable. Though he doesn't comment directly on racial injustice against Mexicans - as a young boy struggling with his identity, he seems ambivalent about it - he does bring it to life for the reader to experience for herself. As a third generation Mexican-American, this memoir rang nostalgic, introducing me to the great grandparents I never got to meet and to the struggle of having to decide whether you are more Mexican or American that I never had to experience. It is also a clear window into race relations that persist today, all told in a eminently believable story that flows effortlessly.

Great read for a younger fella.

Reading this again, from the first a very kong time ago, I realized who it's for. Younger gen.

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