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Questions and Answers
What did Todd and Glenn learn to manage in their daily routine?
What type of books were reserved on the lower shelves of the lighthouse?
Which book was NOT mentioned in the collection of first editions?
What skill did the author acquire during high school that helped with writing?
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What effect did the environment of the lighthouse have on the author's writing?
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What was the initial career path the narrator intended to pursue?
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What major event impacted the narrator's plans after high school?
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What did the narrator's mother have him reading at a young age?
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According to the narrator, what does the writing profession lack that other creative arts do not?
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What did the narrator intend to achieve through the book he was writing?
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How did the narrator describe his writing process?
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What did the narrator do for a living before reevaluating his life?
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What was the median annual income for many published authors according to the narrator?
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What philosophical shift does the narrator observe in societal views on success?
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What motivated the narrator to revisit his writing dreams?
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Study Notes
The Author's Life
- The author moved to a lighthouse with his family and began working on a book about success.
- The author was inspired by his mother's dream for him to become a writer.
- His mother encouraged him to read classic authors like Kipling and Emerson, and he began writing short stories at a young age.
- He was accepted to the University of Missouri's journalism school but had to abandon his plans after his mother's unexpected passing.
- After working in sales for years, he decided to pursue writing again, inspired by spending time with his sons.
The Book
- The author's book, "A Better Way to Live," is about the principles of success.
- He utilizes books on success by authors like Cotton Mather, Benjamin Franklin, Elbert Hubbard, and Russell Conwell.
- He believes these principles have been forgotten in recent times.
- The book took nearly twenty months to complete, with the author working diligently on each chapter.
- The author compared writing a book to preparing a speech, noting the lack of immediate feedback and applause.
Family Life
- The author enjoyed time with his family, including gardening and participating in activities like coaching Little League and exploring New Hampshire.
- The author highlighted the importance of family time and shared memories.
- The author emphasizes that having goals without a plan is ineffective. He set a goal to finish the book in ten months but ended up finishing it in twenty months.
Publishing
- The author and his wife, Louise, carefully selected a leading New York publishing house, based on their previous successes in motivational and self-help books.
- The author's wife typed the final manuscript and prepared it for submission.
- They were inspired to submit the manuscript because they believed Joshua Croydon, the former lighthouse owner, would be proud.
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Description
Explore the inspiring life of the author who turned personal loss into motivation for writing. This quiz delves into the themes of his book, 'A Better Way to Live,' where he revives forgotten principles of success influenced by classic authors. Test your knowledge on his experiences and insights on achieving success.
