Seldom do books manage to bridge the gap between memoir and paragon, between intimate candidness and entrepreneurial grit. All of a Sudden: The Life of an Entrepreneur by Richard Du does exactly that. As an editor, it is a rare and gratifying experience to come across a manuscript that not only tells a story but also renovates you in the process of reading it. This book is one such encounter.
Richard Du’s journey is not a typical rags-to-riches tale. It is, instead, a soul-stirring, inspiring saga of tenacity, faith, love, and hustle—a symphony of survival and aspiration that strikes an echoing chord and resonates deeply in our increasingly complex world. Born in war-torn Saigon, raised in poverty and hardship, and later dismissed as “uneducated,” Du’s narrative is told with the heartbreaking and heartwarming cinematic timing that breaks your heart and then mends it. From fleeing a village littered with landmines to building a multimillion-dollar real estate empire in New York City, this immigrant story is redefined—not just about the American Dream, but about what it costs to pursue it honorably, with integrity.
But more than the milestones and dollar signs, what sets this book apart is Du’s voice—unfiltered, humble, and active with reflection. He writes as a man who has walked through fire with bare feet, who’s lost and found himself countless times, who’s known hunger, shame, success, and love, who’s felt stupid and obtuse, and whose heart remains grounded in his faith as a Jehovah’s Witness and in his devotion to his family. His love story with his wife Judy is hemmed in the pages with such fragility and honesty throughout like a red thread—tender, real, and utterly enchanting.
What Entrepreneurs will find in these pages is not just a roadmap for business but a worth every page manual for their souls. Du lays bare the behind-the-scenes truths: the cultural slits he piloted, the toll of impostor syndrome, the testing tread between faith and fear, and the metamorphic power of relationships—especially the right partnerships. His formula, “Grit + Grace = Growth,” is not just a slogan—it is wisdom that has been lived through decades of perseverance.
And then there are those quiet, incandescent, impossible-to-script moments when the story feels less like a book and more like a conversation between your soul and something higher. Like when Du describes his first meeting with the butterfly marked with the number 88, a surreal signpost of destiny. Or when he gives away everything familiar to follow love across the country, shy of the outcome but sure of the calling. These aren’t just anecdotes; they’re cues. That faith sometimes wears the face of risk. That love doesn’t always come with certainty but always arrives with clarity. That legacy isn’t about what you leave behind but what you quietly build in the now. Let your success speak for you, not your failure.
This book doesn’t read like it was written. It reads like it was lived. And in living it with Richard, you may discover your courage somewhere down the line, perhaps on page 1 or 183 or 211 or 265 or 290 or any other one—the kind you forgot you had. The kind that whispers, “Keep going,” when the world grows silent. The kind that lands as a sign, that turns ordinary people into extraordinary architects of their destiny.
All of a Sudden is not just a memoir. It is a mirror. A mentor. A message.
It prompts one that while success often arrives without a salute, a single moment can change your life with a single leap of faith. And sometimes, the very things we’re most afraid of—starting over, being misunderstood, taking the long way—become the blessings and the most essential part of our legacy.
We proudly and passionately recommend this book as a must-read for anyone committed to becoming more than their circumstances. You won’t just read All of a Sudden—you’ll feel it. And you’ll walk away changed.
This book is a gift to the world.
— Editorial Endorsement from the Office of the Editor, SANTOS Holdings
Rachael D.
Based on a true story. This book is ready to purchase on Sunday, June 1st, 2025 at Amazon.com. We want to sell 10 million copies, with your blessings we can achieve our goal.
Available on Amazon (Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, etc.)