Foreword
My getting to know Ian Dunbar was
through chance. A friend of mine passed
on the details of one of Ian’s online videos and I was both excited and elated
at the content contained within. Ian’s
words were refreshing; a voice of clarity and sense in a world of corruption
and confusion. I was compelled to
contact him and a friendship instantly blossomed. I am fortunate that I got to know the man
himself.
I
had the great privilege of editing the book you are about to read. The wisdom and clarity that came across in
the aforementioned video are present in this book, but on an infinitely larger
scale. It is unfortunate that more
people are unable to live a life of such opportunity and gain such wonderful
insights as Ian. It is instantly
apparent that each experience Ian went through accumulated into the rich,
complex tapestry of his educated mind.
Fortunately, he chose to share those experiences with the public.
The
book is as tragic as it is uplifting and informative. For those of you who, like me, live their
life trying to accumulate as much information as possible to try and decipher
the complicated world around us, the book is invaluable. The collection of events broadened my
understanding, knowledge, vision and wisdom all at once. Not only each chapter but seemingly each page
contains such a wealth of educating material that one cannot help but finish it
cleverer than when they started it. It
is fascinating to realise that one man has had personal, first-hand experience
of so many cultures, people, events and places.
It is equally fascinating to realise how unforgiving and single-minded
any person or organisation can be to reach their end-goal, regardless of how
immoral or destructive it may be.
Ian
makes good sense of the world around us, showing an ability to solve overblown
problems with simple and seemingly obvious solutions. We are able to read for ourselves the
problems we have created with our obsession with political correctness and
simultaneous fear of litigation, repercussions and, ultimately, fear of
responsibility. We are all quick to
complain but slow to act; we let the world pass us by and the issues grow and
grow until we feel powerless to alter them.
It is this combination of apathy and fear of responsibility that has furthered
our progression into a recession and also furthered our regression as a society
and human beings. In the last few years
we have seen our society crumble, from delinquents to failing health and
educational systems. Instead of looking
at the now and what small change can be implemented to ‘plug the hole’, we need
to step back and look at the root cause.
Then, and only then, can the appropriate changes be applied.
Ian’s
book is more than a biography and it is more than a non-fiction book. It is not merely one man penning his life
story, it is an honest, open account of life itself. With life comes happiness, sorrow, great
opportunity, great success, failure and regret.
This book contains them all, each recounted with meticulous detail so
the reader feels as though they are Ian’s shadow – silently accompanying him
through the wonderful journey of his life.
Perhaps not stranger than fiction, but certainly equally, if not more,
compelling and exciting than fiction could ever hope to be.
More Than A Puff
of Smoke is
not only a must-read, it is a guide.
Whether it prompts imitation or the opposite path, everyone will take
some modicum of guidance and advice away with them. This book is an accompaniment to us, as
essential as the clothes we wear. Quite
simply, this book opens eyes as well as doors, and with it we can gain a
greater knowledge and understanding of our surroundings – things that affect
each and every one of us. If we all heed
its lessons and advice perhaps we can make the world a better place.