David Roche, originally uploaded by 88ZERO.

I recently did some photos for the newspaper of author (and speaker) David Roche whose book, The Church of 80% Sincerity, just hit the shelves. We talked so much when I got there that we ran out of shooting time and I came back later that day to finish up. He gave me a signed copy of his book and I read it in one night. David was born with a severe facial disfigurement due to a benign tumor on the left side of his face. As a child he was subjected to numerous surgeries and heavy radiation treatment. What fascinated me about David’s book was how many times it made me realize my own preconceived notions about what his life would be like, and how wrong they were. Like that he had a very happy childhood, or that he sometimes got annoyed when people said how much he inspired them. He doesn’t see himself as a hero or an inspiration, it’s just a part of his everyday life; he says his face is a gift “because my shadow side – my difficulty and challenge – is on the outside, where I have been forced to deal with it.” There are many singular moments in the book of both extreme beauty or horror that must be read to be fully understood, but what is captivating about this book is how it draws the reader out to reflect on their relationship to David’s words, to examine their own fears and hopes. In structure the book is a kind of hybrid between memoir and philosophical reflections, small revelations, and loaded with humor and pathos. It is life-affirming and shocking, and everyone who is reading this should go out and get it and read it tonight. Find out more about David at davidroche.com.