Dreams Don't Die

The Story of a Man on a Mission to Inspire a Generation of Dreamers

De: Izek Shomof

Narrado por: Michael Beck

Immigrant. Dropout. Entrepreneur. Restauranter. Real estate developer. Movie producer. Philanthropist.

These are only a few titles Izek Shomof, the so-called King of Spring Street, has carried throughout his fascinating life. Each of these monikers tells a part of Izek’s unbelievable tale, but the whole story has never been told—until now.

Dreams Don’t Die is not your typical, run-of-the-mill immigrant story. It is the memoir of a man who had every opportunity to take unethical and often-illegal shortcuts but who instead chose the lesser-trod path of honesty and integrity. It’s the story of a young man who poured his blood, sweat, and tears into the city he loved, transforming not only buildings but lives in the process—starting with his own.

From serving drinks in backroom Israeli casinos to buying an entire city block of downtown Los Angeles, Izek’s life has been anything but traditional. Between flipping burger joints, building tract homes, and renovating historic California high-rises, Izek has come face-to-face with some particularly problematic elements of his family tree—including organized crime, Mob enforcers, hit men, drug cartels, bank robbers, and history-making embezzlement schemes. The sordid adventures of Izek’s family have even become the subject of not one but two film productions—a major Hollywood motion picture starring James Caan and a blockbuster Israeli documentary series. Izek’s life proves that even in the face of dream-killing obstacles, with hard work, steadfastness, and tenacity, dreams don’t have to die.

©2023 Izek Shomof (P)2023 Forefront Books

Insightful

I like how he describes his projects all over Los Angeles. I used to work near South Spring Street in the 1980s so I’m aware of those historic buildings he was describing. I also like to learn about the hurdles he had to go through, whether it was dealing with government red tape, or lawsuit against a dishonest business partner who cheated, or life events that didn’t pan out exactly as expected… I like how he tried to turn things around whenever a negotiation that wasn’t going anywhere productive. I like how he looked beyond political or philosophical differences. Lots of life lessons in this book.

An Inspiring Read for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

An inspiring read that offers so much more than just a success story. As a reader, I found Izek’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a major real estate developer incredibly motivating. The book is filled with practical advice and personal anecdotes that really resonate.

One of the biggest benefits I gained from reading this book is the insight into overcoming obstacles. Izek’s perseverance in the face of numerous challenges is a powerful reminder that being fair and just, determined and hard working can truly make dreams come true. His experiences provide valuable lessons in resilience and the importance of never giving up.

Additionally, the book offers a wealth of practical tips for anyone looking to succeed in real estate or any other industry. Izek’s actions can easily be transformed into strategies for navigating complexities, offering insights that are applicable to many fields.

Beyond his business success, Izek’s commitment to helping others and his philanthropic activities are truly inspiring, showcasing the impact of giving back to the community.

Overall, “Dreams Don’t Die” is a motivational and enlightening read that will leave you inspired to pursue your own dreams with renewed vigor.

Very inspirational

Every chapter had me glued to what’s happening next. I’m inspired to carry out the homeless crisis reformation with Izek, I’ll definitely be reaching out to him and Rick Caruso to enlighten them on my plans and ideas to combat with the homeless crisis in Los Angeles as a whole. This book has fired me up to introduce LA to my Nonprofit FOAM. We’re for the Forgotten and Lost within Los Angeles.