Why It’s Fun to Read Loida Nicolas Lewis’ ‘Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?’
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Yet that “bad” word hints at two of the major themes -- faith and family -- of her fascinating, page-turning book, Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?
The third theme, finances, is hinted at by the title itself, a riff on the posthumous book of her late husband, Reginald Lewis: Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?
For those unfamiliar with Reginald F. Lewis, he was the first African American Chair and CEO of a fortune 500 company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc.
Loida Nicolas Lewis with her husband Reginald, and daughters Leslie (left) and Christina (Source: The FilAm.net)
His wife, Loida, born to entrepreneurial parents in the town of Sorsogon in the Philippines and a lawyer like her husband, takes over the company shortly after her beloved Reginald’s untimely death from a glioblastoma at 50.
Her faith sees her through her mourning and prayer helps her not only to care for their two daughters, get her husband’s unfinished book completed and published, but also gives her the courage to run the company.
To riff on Louis Gerstner’s Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? Madam/Chair Mrs. Lewis could have easily titled her book, “Who Says Women Can’t Make Elephants Dance?. But she goes further than Gerstner: she not only saves the company from insolvency, but also shows how she successfully dismantled it.
“Her life’s story will inspire you beyond measure. ”
Starting with the Prologue’s opening quote from Romans 8:28 – “All things work together unto good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” – you suspect that you are in for more than just another book about the world of business, entrepreneurship, and high finance. And Loida does not disappoint.
Her and her late husband’s material success and privilege, their fits and starts in business ventures, along with all the people and challenges, and the prejudice and racism they meet being a biracial couple is, quite simply, captivating.
But it is her deep care and concern for their daughters and larger extended family – her own in the Philippines and that of her husband’s in the States – along with her ever-deepening spirituality that shines forth chapter after chapter.
Most importantly, Loida doesn’t just say but shows how to grow beyond the all-too-common superstitious ways of thinking to which all of us can easily fall prey. In its stead she discovers the rich, profound ways of discernment, Zen meditation, and forgiveness. Her forgiveness of her husband’s unfaithfulness, for instance, can be applied to anyone who finds themselves in this predicament.
Without a doubt her desire to follow God’s will guides her journey. She does not simply seek, but also acts. The Jesuits have a motto, “contemplatives in action.” Loida lives exactly that way through her prayer, her advocacy for just causes, and her philanthropy.
As you accompany Loida through a life of rainy and sunny days, during days of sadness and joy, but always with faithful and steadfast love and service at the ready, her life’s story will inspire you beyond measure. You will absolutely love this book. I do!
(Pre-order the book today at Amazon.com. Search Loida Lewis and her book “Why Should Guys Have All Thé Fun?” will appear.)
Fr. Joe Costantino, S.J. is Superior, Jesuits of St. Peter’s University & High School.
