Author
Undeterred
Bruce Carlin
How one determined Vietnamese orphan
carved out a place for himself in America
Undeterred is dedicated to people who arrived from somewhere else.
It is dedicated to those who braved a journey from another country to better their lives, looking for a more prosperous tomorrow for themselves and their families.
Immigrants make this country great. The diversity of backgrounds, values, and talents blend together to make the United States a robust society. We’re not of one place of origin. We’re not of one belief. We’re not of one religion. We’re not of one set of genes.
We are a melting pot of beautiful differences and yet, we are the same.
Long is one of those immigrants, and this book is dedicated to him and all like him who have built this country into what it is today.
I never planned to write a book.
Until I met Long and started hearing his story.
He worked for me for ten years as my Chief Financial Officer. He did a great job, but it was purely a business relationship. Cursory inquiries about how he and his family are doing and the like, the occasional lunch, and business meetings. After I sold my company and we were retained to manage what was now a subsidiary, we got to know each other better.
He came to the United States at about age five, an orphan, just he and his brother, who was slightly older. I heard about how he got here, how he grew up, what he went through as a parent-less immigrant in a new country with a new language.
Out of the blue one day, I said “I want to write a book about you!” It just popped out – I was so fascinated by his life that I knew it would be interesting to others.
In his own shy way, he agreed.
I am proud to have written Undeterred. It’s a great story. I hope you enjoy it.
UNDETERRED is a moving ride through the life of one determined boy who, despite the bigotry and hate he faces, carves out a place for himself in America.
It’s a twenty-foot drop-off Flower Bridge…
With tanks approaching and bombs exploding mere yards away, five-year-old Long has only moments to decide whether to risk the jump to join his brother in the water below. The boys must leave everything they know in order to survive and unknowingly have embarked on an intense journey, one that will lead to a new life in America.
But even having come so far, the boys will face new perils in the United States and find that the only thing they can depend on is each other. Encountering the indifference and neglect inside a string of foster homes, Long determines that the only way to regain his independence is to earn his own money.
On a quest to have $5,000 by the time he turns 16, Long begins collecting bottles and cans by dumpster-diving and takes a job doing janitorial work. But that is only the first of many financial and personal goals Long will set for himself and far exceed.
Join Long from his early life as an orphan, narrowly escaping the horrors of the Vietnam war with his older brother, to his current life as a family man with an investment portfolio methodically accumulated, now worth over $50 million.
Upcoming Events
More Events Announcing soon
Past Events
Meet the Author & Book signing
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Barnes & Noble
Huntington Beach, CA
Join author Bruce Carlin from 2-4 pm at the Huntington Beach, California Barnes & Noble. He will be signing copies of his new book Undeterred: How one determined Vietnamese orphan carved out a place for himself in America
Meet the Author & Book signing
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Barnes & Noble
Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA
Join author Bruce Carlin from 12-2 pm at the Newport Beach California Barnes & Noble. He will be signing copies of his new book Undeterred: How one determined Vietnamese orphan carved out a place for himself in America
Praise for the book
Kirkus Review
A young Vietnamese boy flees war-torn Vietnam for the United States and struggles to achieve independence in this novelistic debut biography.
The author chronicles Long’s triumph over adversity with clarity… Long’s life is cinematically eventful; the obstacles he had to overcome as a child were daunting, and the account of his later success is extraordinary; indeed, it’s impossible to read this biography and not be inspired by his perseverance…
San Francisco Book Review–5 stars
Undeterred is a story I promise you won’t forget. Author Bruce Carlin relays the remarkable tale of a man named Long, a Vietnamese orphan, who overcame incredible odds to be where he is today. Long’s story is the epitome of the American Dream; coming from quite literally nothing to a fifty-million-dollar fortune, Long’s story is extraordinary. A novel you don’t want to miss out on, I would recommend this book to all readers, especially those who enjoy success stories…
BookLife Reviews
The inspiring story of a Vietnamese orphan who became an American multi-millionaire…This heart-warming story will resonate with anyone fascinated by immigrant stories or seeking motivation to fight all odds and achieve their goals.
5 – Stars, Readers’ Favorite
Undeterred by Bruce Carlin is a biographical survival story of a boy who runs away from a precarious situation to survive and thrive. Carlin makes the atmosphere of a conflict-ridden Vietnam authentic and pulse-quickening…The story demonstrates that it is possible for anyone, anywhere, to be able to turn their life around through perseverance and unshakeable faith.— Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha
5 – Stars – Readers’ Favorite
Undeterred is the prime example of following one’s heart with sheer willpower and determination to achieve the dreams of a lifetime, something many successful immigrants have done in America – the land of opportunities. — Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
5 Stars – Readers’ Favorite
Undeterred is an excellent title for this book. Anyone who reads it is sure to be inspired by how a young boy arrived in the United States penniless and with only his older brother to accompany him. Bruce Carlin is a fine writer who tells Long’s story with compassion and enthusiasm. I highly recommend this exceptional book. — Reviewed by Joe Wisinski
About the Author
Bruce Carlin
Bruce Carlin is an accomplished executive in the healthcare and retail industries. He started his own company in 1998, focused on delivering healthcare as a consumer service rather than the cold and disjointed product it has been historically. Long worked alongside him, an unassuming but diligent professional who applied wise financial analysis to Carlin’s company. After ten years together, Carlin began piecing together snippets of his colleague’s fascinating life story as an orphan immigrant who overcame extraordinary obstacles. Then, with Long’s approval, Carlin decided to write this American success story and share it with others. The book’s lesson to all is if you want something, you must remain Undeterred.
