My Life on Fast Forward

A memoir that reads like an adventure story

JACOB J. FRIESEN

THE BOOK

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MY LIFE ON FAST FORWARD

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A memoir that reads like an adventure story…
Scooping salmon from the river with a pitchfork as a child in British Columbia, crossing the Canadian Rockies 80 times as a railroad porter, being tear-gassed alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in 1960s Mississippi, piloting charter jets for Saudi princes, rock stars, and former President Reagan. Jake Friesen’s life defies classification…except to say that it is a perfect expression of his personality. There are no pauses in the action, just fast forward!

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READERS' COMMENTS

“

Jake Friesen captures the excitement of a poor country boy with a big dream which became his calling. It’s an honest account of a life with many challenges. For his family it is a living legacy, written with homespun exquisite grace, unsophisticated humor, and practical ordinary truths. It’s a treasure, enjoyable, and an inspirational read! Jake has amazing recall of his life. His warm and personable writing is captivating.

PASTOR PETER B. WIEBE

GLENDALE, ARIZONA

“

The stories are well-told, engaging and fascinating. Even more important, however, are the family heritage and personal values they reflect.

“

It’s unusual to begin reading an autobiography with an exciting series of stories by a pilot with an amazing global itinerary ferrying celebrities, which then segues into an equally readable glimpse into all the passages of a long and fruitful life. Readers will feel that they have learned to know a new friend.

BILL ZUERCHER

LONG-TIME ACQUAINTANCE AND FRIEND

“

From his engine failure in a Cessna 150 to cruising at 45,000 feet in Gulfstreams, carrying celebrities, Jake’s aviation experiences are unique, and well-written. Each flight is an interesting story in itself.

“

Jake Friesen’s remarkable story is an example of living life to the fullest. Who would have known that summer jobs could ignite and foster such an adventurous spirit and serve as a launching pad of greater things to come? The MCC assignment undertaken by Jake and his wife, Jane, demonstrates faith in action. These powerful stories are a history lesson in the realities of racial injustice during the contentious 1960s. His tales of being a corporate pilot certainly are an extension of his venturesome nature…perhaps handed down from his parents and maternal grandparents, who emigrated from Russia to Canada in 1925. It is priceless that he has such detailed stories of their experiences to share, a testament to courage and perseverance. I like how Jake shares triumphs and also regrets. Readers will find the stories of this extraordinary life engaging, educational and entertaining as well. At times I laughed out loud.

RICH GERIG, PRINCIPAL

ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC

BRENDA GLANZER LILLISTON

CERTIFIED GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY INSTRUCTOR

WINSTON YOST

B-777 CONTINENTAL AIRLINES RETIRED CAPTAIN

“

I am thrilled to finally see Jake’s life in print. This is a story of an adventurous and coveted life in aviation bracketed by sacrificial service. A profile of a generous man of humble spirit seldom found in those with such a long list of accomplishments. It has been an inspiration and an honor for me to share in a small part of his amazing journey.

MARLIN HERSHBERGER

DELTA AIR LINES RETIRED

In The Press

BIO

Jacob J. Friesen was born in Canada, the son of Russian immigrants, and grew up on Vancouver Island. He earned degrees at Canadian Mennonite University, Bethel College, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. After serving four years with Mennonite Central Committee, he attended National Aviation Academy and spent his career as a pilot flying corporate jets worldwide.