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Irishman Dies from Stubbornness: Unbelievable Truths Behind the Life That Launched the Viral Obituary of Christopher Clifford Connors
"Told with a daughter's heart and a poet's ear, I loved every page, spending time with Chris again, smiling as I imagined the twinkle in his eyes, knowing he'd want Bradley Cooper to play him in the film adaptation." —Lisa Genova, New York bestselling author of Still Alice
“Irishman dies from stubbornness, whiskey.� So began Christopher Clifford Connors’s obituary of a life that included hunting bears in Russia, inventing limo surfing, surviving a shipwreck, and training with Navy SEALs—for starters. At the end of 2016, Connors’s story captivated the world when the exploits of his sixty-seven years went viral. Irishman Dies from Stubbornness tells the story of a complex man from the multiple perspectives of people who knew him, especially his daughter Caitlin, whose complicated connection to him drew her close again during his last years. Loss comes to us all. What will we do with our time here, and how should we honor those who pass? Irishman Dies from Stubbornness testifies to the power of the moments that live on in the hearts of those who love us long after we are gone.
“Irishman dies from stubbornness, whiskey.� So began Christopher Clifford Connors’s obituary of a life that included hunting bears in Russia, inventing limo surfing, surviving a shipwreck, and training with Navy SEALs—for starters. At the end of 2016, Connors’s story captivated the world when the exploits of his sixty-seven years went viral. Irishman Dies from Stubbornness tells the story of a complex man from the multiple perspectives of people who knew him, especially his daughter Caitlin, whose complicated connection to him drew her close again during his last years. Loss comes to us all. What will we do with our time here, and how should we honor those who pass? Irishman Dies from Stubbornness testifies to the power of the moments that live on in the hearts of those who love us long after we are gone.
252 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2023
4 people are currently reading
2,644 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Connors
1Ìýbook21ÌýfollowersCaitlin Connors spent her formative years enduring the drudgery of East Coast winters. After earning degrees from both Villanova University and Johns Hopkins University, Caitlin relocated to the sunny Florida coast, where she now works in tech sales. Caitlin is a true creative who fuels her passion through writing, art curation, and interior design. Her favorite things include down comforters, oysters, small batch whiskey, and giving forehead kisses to her son and Shiba Inu. She is also a rescue scuba diver who makes a mean chicken parmigiana. This is Connors’s first book.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 23, 2023
“Irishman Dies from Stubbornness. Unbelievable Truths Behind the Life That Launched the Viral Obituary of Christopher Clifford Connors� by Caitlin Connors tells the story of a man who lived extraordinarily, as summed up by multiple persons who knew him, primarily his daughter Caitlin.
Chris Connors was an adventurer who only corresponded to his conventions. He resisted authority and endeavored to pave his course until his demise at the age of sixty-seven. People knew that hanging around him would end in a night in jail or a killer screwdriver hangover, but many would still travel from far and wide to visit him. He was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life and a firm understanding of what was important—the simplicity of living a life with those you love.
Tales were echoed of the period he tracked down black bears in Russia and jumped out of a chopper onto the cold tundra like an “Irish popsicle for the bears,� as he would usually enunciate. It was also famously claimed that he invented limo surfing in the �80s while working on Wall Street. The stories seemed endless and naturally brought smiles to his friends and family. Unlike many other obituaries posted in the local newspaper, Chris’s story had gone viral, a clear indication of a life that was more intriguing than any film and one that overwhelmingly resonated with the souls of people, globally.
Caitlin Connors is remarkably candid as she pays tribute to a father who she grew up disagreeing with on almost everything. Readers will love her honesty, love, and dedication that saw her fulfill her father’s dying wish of writing his obituary, despite the stringent atmosphere that had existed between them for years. Her commentary on their relationship is simple but clever and has been disseminated with astonishing elegance and esteem.
“Irishman Dies from Stubbornness� by Caitlin Connors proficiently demonstrates how the finality of death can feel almost unbelievable, particularly when it strikes a parent. The author ably demonstrates that there’s a right way to grieve such loss and that denying your feelings may seem like a route toward faster healing when it’s not. This is a great read for people who may be struggling with unresolved hurt or past trauma, as well as those who may want to hold dear their family connections by making an effort to intensify those bonds.
Featuring a personality who was dying of cancer and Lou Gehrig’s disease, but whose mental wellness was a hotbed of life, “Irishman Dies from Stubbornness� checks all the boxes of a meticulous five-star memoir.
Chris Connors was an adventurer who only corresponded to his conventions. He resisted authority and endeavored to pave his course until his demise at the age of sixty-seven. People knew that hanging around him would end in a night in jail or a killer screwdriver hangover, but many would still travel from far and wide to visit him. He was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life and a firm understanding of what was important—the simplicity of living a life with those you love.
Tales were echoed of the period he tracked down black bears in Russia and jumped out of a chopper onto the cold tundra like an “Irish popsicle for the bears,� as he would usually enunciate. It was also famously claimed that he invented limo surfing in the �80s while working on Wall Street. The stories seemed endless and naturally brought smiles to his friends and family. Unlike many other obituaries posted in the local newspaper, Chris’s story had gone viral, a clear indication of a life that was more intriguing than any film and one that overwhelmingly resonated with the souls of people, globally.
Caitlin Connors is remarkably candid as she pays tribute to a father who she grew up disagreeing with on almost everything. Readers will love her honesty, love, and dedication that saw her fulfill her father’s dying wish of writing his obituary, despite the stringent atmosphere that had existed between them for years. Her commentary on their relationship is simple but clever and has been disseminated with astonishing elegance and esteem.
“Irishman Dies from Stubbornness� by Caitlin Connors proficiently demonstrates how the finality of death can feel almost unbelievable, particularly when it strikes a parent. The author ably demonstrates that there’s a right way to grieve such loss and that denying your feelings may seem like a route toward faster healing when it’s not. This is a great read for people who may be struggling with unresolved hurt or past trauma, as well as those who may want to hold dear their family connections by making an effort to intensify those bonds.
Featuring a personality who was dying of cancer and Lou Gehrig’s disease, but whose mental wellness was a hotbed of life, “Irishman Dies from Stubbornness� checks all the boxes of a meticulous five-star memoir.
March 28, 2024
This review is going to be brutally honest. I was not a fan. While the author’s note perfectly encapsulates how the loss of a loved one sneaks up on a person in everyday life, the rest of the book falls flat.
I am sure that those who knew Chris probably loved him, but I did not. He reads as a sexist macho man. A man who constantly degrades women with his buddies and thinks that that is okay. A man to whom the rules never apply. Overall, he read as a sexist jerk, and I was not a fan.
Not only was his sexism blatant in every chapter, but it was pretty obvious that he was a rotten father to Caitlin. The book seemed like an attempt for Caitlin to piece together their broken relationship and to look for her dad’s approval one final time. While Caitlin knew her father’s likes and dislikes and catered to his desires, he knew nothing about her. Not even her middle name. Considering he only saw her 4 days a month when she was growing up, this is probably to be expected.
Overall, while friends and family might admire Chris, I, as a stranger, do not. I think this is something that should have been kept within the family, a way to remember Chris, but not shared with the world at large.
I am sure that those who knew Chris probably loved him, but I did not. He reads as a sexist macho man. A man who constantly degrades women with his buddies and thinks that that is okay. A man to whom the rules never apply. Overall, he read as a sexist jerk, and I was not a fan.
Not only was his sexism blatant in every chapter, but it was pretty obvious that he was a rotten father to Caitlin. The book seemed like an attempt for Caitlin to piece together their broken relationship and to look for her dad’s approval one final time. While Caitlin knew her father’s likes and dislikes and catered to his desires, he knew nothing about her. Not even her middle name. Considering he only saw her 4 days a month when she was growing up, this is probably to be expected.
Overall, while friends and family might admire Chris, I, as a stranger, do not. I think this is something that should have been kept within the family, a way to remember Chris, but not shared with the world at large.
July 15, 2023
The book begins with a captivating and humorous obituary that instantly grabs the reader's attention. Through the obituary's witty and light-hearted tone, Connors sets the stage for the remarkable life story that follows. Weaving together personal anecdotes, memories from family and friends, and historical context to create a vivid tapestry of her father's life. The balance between humor and poignancy is a testament of Connors� skill as a writer.
“Irishman Dies From Stubbornness� is a larger than life story that will leave readers wanting a “Vodka OJ� while reflecting on the fragility of life, the power of human spirit, and the importance of embracing every moment. It is a poignant reminder that our stories are worth sharing, even after we are gone.
“Irishman Dies From Stubbornness� is a larger than life story that will leave readers wanting a “Vodka OJ� while reflecting on the fragility of life, the power of human spirit, and the importance of embracing every moment. It is a poignant reminder that our stories are worth sharing, even after we are gone.
August 8, 2023
I never had the honor of meeting Chris Connors, but by the end of this book, I felt a part of him inside my soul. The stories about his life lit a new found appreciation and zest for life inside of me. I laughed, I cried, and I found myself telling others the insane stories about him, unprompted. The way Caitlin tells the story of her father intertwined with her own perspective makes for a book you feel connected to and can’t put down. Thank you for this gem!
August 2, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book as it was numerous stories wrapped into one. First and foremost are the almost unbelievable tales of the man himself, Chris Connors. The stories are told through the memories of friends and family and the author, Chris’s daughter.
There’s also the story of the author and her relationship with her dad, past and present and how she coped with her dad’s passing (and creating his viral obituary).
It’s a book for anyone who has lost someone they love, had a rocky relationship with a family member or simply wants to read about a truly incredible life story.
There’s also the story of the author and her relationship with her dad, past and present and how she coped with her dad’s passing (and creating his viral obituary).
It’s a book for anyone who has lost someone they love, had a rocky relationship with a family member or simply wants to read about a truly incredible life story.
August 27, 2023
An eye opening read about the complexities of relationships between father and daughter, and life itself. A raw account of one's man's life making his way from Quincy Mass. to Wall Street.
Caitlin weaves her own account of living with her father and the effects it had in her own life. Through others' voices who knew Chris, the reader gets an intimate look at his life.
Caitlin weaves her own account of living with her father and the effects it had in her own life. Through others' voices who knew Chris, the reader gets an intimate look at his life.
December 24, 2023
This book is a testament to the saying, “you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.� It’s a beautifully written tribute to a father whose life was cut short by ALS from his daughter. The stories shared by those who had the good fortune to know and share adventures with Chris are mind-blowing and, often, hilarious!
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