“The Book is fabulous. I’ve read it twice!! You’ve had an incredible life and I can truly appreciate it”. – Jeff Bruno, Owner and Operator of the Papa Joe’s restaurant, Akron, OH 9/30/2020
“Excellent! But I suspected it would be just from the sections you shared with me beforehand. As a history buff, I particularly enjoyed your reminiscences of war-time China and Japan and indeed America. I found it intriguing the way you leveraged your storied past—and its formative lessons—to succeed in an equally storied business career. I had no idea you had such a varied work experience. An American Samurai is a great book. I’m glad you finished it. And what little help I was able to offer you was an honor”. Neal Enrick, local writer and author of nine novels. June 27, 2020
“Nabeshima Norio’s life is an all-American story. William Melver, the Akron resident’s name since he was 12, writes about his life, his work and his precept “Doing the right thing for the right reason” in “An American Samurai: Born to Pursue Righteousness.” At age 79, Melver has an enterprising spirit and enviable resolve. His values are echoed in books like “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and Elbert Hubbard’s “A Message to Garcia.” Barbara McIntyre, Book Reviewer for the Akron Beacon Journal, Sunday, August 9, 2020
“I enjoyed reading An American Samurai and its fascinating tale of what has been and continues to be your extraordinary life trajectory. From your early childhood in post-war Japan to your current civic leadership and service in Akron, each step on your circuitous journeys across the globe appears to have brought with it another major learning opportunity to build on a diverse set of life experiences in an ever-changing range of contexts–both external and self-generated. Taken together, they comprise quite an adventure story, and more. Your book also reinforced for me a long-held assumption that multi-cultural experiences such as yours build a solid base for the development of resilience and a positive life outlook. What comes across most clearly is your boundless capacity to view each experience, whatever its outcome, as an opportunity to explore new life directions, and to learn from them. You are a true global entrepreneur, motivated to move forward in a variety of often unexpected directions as opportunities present themselves, and always energized by new challenges and rich learning along the way”. Dr. Diana Natalicio, President Emerita – The University of Texas at El Paso. September 15, 2020
“Bill Melver has written a unique volume drawing upon his Japanese-American heritage, and blending it with lessons from his illustrious career of several decades with a global corporation. Organized around pithy narratives, Melver weaves an engaging tapestry of life lessons with a deft ethos that characterizes a Samurai life.” Arvind Singhal, Ph.D Marston Endowed Professor, Dept of Communication, The University of Texas at El Paso. October 16, 2020
