THE SHAPE OF MY EYES
LOS ANGELES, CA / July 16, 2024 – Advisor, Speaker and Spiritual leader Dave Gibbons delivers a touching, humorous account of a cultural reckoning with his Korean heritage and hidden family secrets in his latest book, ‘The Shape of My Eyes – A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself.’ In addition to his work in entertainment, sports, government, finance, and nonprofits, Gibbons has served as a Senior Advisor for over 15 years to rapper Jeezy, world-renowned artist Marina Abromović, Netflix’ Chairman of Film Dan Lin, and many others around the globe.
In the current culture of shame, condemn, cancel, The Shape of My Eyes – A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself offers a refreshing alternative that leads with: love.
From a surprising diagnosis of PTSD, shocking revelations about his family and childhood, battling systemic racism at a Christian university in the 1980’s, and a Supreme Court ruling, Gibbons’ memoir shows over and over again he’s not willing to shy away from difficult obstacles, even in the midst of suffering and opposition. Dave Gibbons brings to light the particular challenges of Asian-Americans in the US while also recognizing the unique challenges of African-Americans. His time at university and facing a ban of mixed-race dating simply because of the shape of his eyes is just one example of what others intended for harm in Gibbons’ life, he used as fuel to help others.
TALK WITH DAVE GIBBONS ABOUT
- His experience growing up in the US as an Seoul, Korea-born Asian-American, his experience dealing with extreme, racist university policies and how he encourages Americans to respond to these issues today.
- Dave conducted one of the final interviews of Kobe Bryant in January of 2020 before he tragically passed away. Notably, the interview was more focused on life, being the best person you can be, and the importance of being a great father, rather than basketball.
- What it takes to forgive, even when it doesn’t make sense – or even when it isn’t deserved based on his own experience and advice he has given to industry leaders like Jeezy, Marina Abromovic, and Dan Lin.
- In the current culture of shame, condemnation, cancellation, ‘The Shape of My Eyes – A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself’ offers a refreshing alternative that leads with love and understanding.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
- “A riveting account of a cross cultural journey of faith, hope, forgiveness and love, this resonated deeply to me as an artist. Dave Gibbons has woven an honest and essential spiritual memoir from “dangerous place of shame and marginalization“ to God’s abiding grace, and home, in unexpected places.”
` Makoto Fujimura, Artist and Author of “Art+Faith: A Theology of Making
- “Dave’s book is a moving, deeply personal memoir from a “leader of leaders.” Even though his story is so unique, the themes of forgiveness, faithfulness and God’s love will resonate with everyone. As a filmmaker, I couldn’t even come up with the stories of the life he has experienced!”
Dan Lin, Chairman of Film for NETFLIX
- “Dave Gibbons has not just written the gripping story of his life… he has also written a field guide on how to navigate this complicated world of faith, justice, and identity in a way only Dave Gibbons could. I will be telling everyone I know to read this book!”
Carlos Whittaker, Author of How to Human
SYNOPSIS
A surprising diagnosis of PTSD led Dave Gibbons to look to his past for clues to explain the unexpected result.
Born to an American soldier and a Korean mother in the wake of the Korean War, Dave has spent his life struggling to integrate his Korean roots and his very American upbringing. The family joins a conservative church that embraces a strict, rule-based faith. They try to navigate this Christian world as one of the few mixed-raced families in their community. Dave Gibbons was born in Seoul, Korea yet culturally raised in America. He works in both for profit and not for profit organizations. Dave is an Advisor, Speaker and Spiritual leader. Dave founded an influential church known for diversity, innovation and social impact. At the same time, he launched or worked as a board member with social impact organizations such as World Vision and Fuller Seminary. He loves working with the world’s leading creators and innovators in entertainment, sports, government, finance, and nonprofits. Dave lives in California and Seoul, Korea, with his wife, Becca. He has four adult children and two grand-dogs. When tragedy strikes, tearing the family apart, Dave is forced to face long- buried secrets that he can no longer ignore.
As he explores his family’s difficult past, he confronts his own pain and the persistent feelings of not quite fitting in either in America or his mother’s home country. And when a DNA test ultimately reveals a truth that shatters everything he understood about his history, he begins the journey to reconcile his American upbringing with his deep Korean roots, and he is forced to confront the traumas he unknowingly carried.
The Shape of My Eyes beautifully weaves historic reference points of the oppression and discrimination against Asian Americans with Dave’s own personal story. Dave’s wrestling with belonging in his family, in America, and in the church creates a raw, thought-provoking memoir about race, religion and finding home.
In a time of polarization and violence, Dave’s story offers hope and a model of how to navigate times of such deep division politically and spiritually.
PRESS ASSETS
For interviews, contact: Ashli Bock – 830-739-9145 – ashli@130a.com
For press materials, visit: 130a.com
About Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons was born in Seoul, Korea, yet was culturally raised in America. He works in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Dave is an advisor, speaker, and spiritual leader. He founded one of the fastest-growing, diverse churches in America. At the same time, he launched or worked as a board member with social-impact organizations such as World Vision and Fuller Seminary. He loves working with creators and innovators in entertainment, sports, government, finance, and nonprofits. Dave lives in California and Asia with his wife, Becca. He has four adult children and two granddogs. Home is Orange County, California, Seoul, Bangkok, and Sao Paulo.
About Hachette Book Group
Hachette Book Group is a leading book publisher based in New York and a division of Hachette Livre, the third-largest publisher in the world.
