Ray Mirra is the subject of a new Ray Mirra Biography. His achievements and contributions to the development of communications are well documented, but what exactly is the “Ray Mirra persona?” His life was marked by extremes, even when times were better. From his early days as a young boy growing up in penniless circumstances in Northeast Philadelphia, he never knew a world without struggle. He was an orphan and an alcoholic, and a convert to Catholicism in his teens. Throughout all of his endeavors, there were no signs of an egotistical man prepared to accept the blame for his own misfortunes.

Ray Mirra never believed he would one day achieve the success that he did. But he did. And what’s more important – the success he achieved was not as impressive as the man himself. Unfortunately, this same biographer also includes many of the negative things about Ray Mirra that almost any reader would likely find embarrassing.

Hidden Stories:

I was very involved with researching this book from the ground up. The research was rigorous and thorough. I spent nearly two years tracking down every published piece of Ray’s life and writing extensively about each one. I learned a great deal about Ray as a person, but I also gained a great deal from my research. In fact, I believe this book could be considered the first true Ray Mirra biographer, because I based much of my conclusions on the data I found.

For example, I discovered that Ray never liked to speak about his childhood. As a matter of fact, it was often off-limits to him. I also learned that Ray never took credit for anything he had done or achieved. Ray wanted everybody to see his story, but he felt he could not give people the full picture without compromising his privacy. Finally, I discovered that Ray had never owned a home in his life and lived in subsidized housing for the rest of his life. This is a man who never believed he had a destiny.

Relationship With Friends & Family:

Even after all these revelations, I still had a lot left to learn about Ray. I interviewed numerous people who knew Ray well, including his former lovers and colleagues. I discovered Ray had a complicated relationship with his family. His mother always seemed to take credit for Ray’s accomplishments, even when Ray had no real accomplishments.

Additionally, the biographer did an excellent job of interviewing some of Ray’s childhood friends and relatives. These interviews revealed Ray’s personality and his attitudes towards various things. For example, one interviewee recalled Ray being extremely jealous of other kids playing outside while his friends were playing video games. Ray always had an interest in cars, and he would often brag to others that he was the fastest car racer in his class.

While this may seem like a small thing, Ray’s childhood friends and relatives have provided valuable insights into Ray’s character and attitude. The biographer has also spent a considerable amount of time learning about Ray’s family. Unfortunately, the writer does not spend enough time understanding the problems inherent in the Mirra family as well. The biographer is quick to note Ray’s maternal grandmother was very abusive, and that his stepmother once threatened to leave with Ray and her sister unless they took her to psychiatrists.

Overall Summary:

Overall, this was a great book. It is a short read, but it is well-written and entertaining. The biographer did a great job of condensing Ray Mirra Jr many works into a relatively short volume. However, that shortness is wasted on a biographer who does not do a good job of filling the book with relevant and interesting information. This biography is a positive addition to anyone’s library.