The Choice Ch 4

Study Notes

The Story of a Book

The author, after moving to a lighthouse with his family, decides to write a book about success. He had previously accumulated a collection of books about success, including first editions of famous works by Henry Ward Beecher, Samuel Smiles and Dale Carnegie.
The author’s mother encouraged him to become a writer from a young age, and instilled in him a passion for literature.
He had planned to pursue a career in journalism, but after his mother's sudden death, he went into sales.
The author believes that everyone writes, and writing is an accessible creative art form. He estimates that hundreds of thousands of people are writing books at any given time, but only a small percentage are commercially successful.
He draws inspiration from past American authors who wrote about success, such as Cotton Mather, Benjamin Franklin and Horatio Alger.
The author contrasts the wisdom of these older success principles with the modern trend of "quick-fix" solutions being marketed.
He writes his book, titled "A Better Way to Live," with the purpose of reviving the old and proven success principles.
Writing the book is a solitary and challenging process, but the author perseveres.
He finds balance in his life by pursuing his family life, gardening and coaching his son's Little League team.
The author and his family enjoy exploring the beauty of New Hampshire.
His wife, Louise, plays a supportive role in his writing, editing the manuscript and sending it to a publishing house.
Louise also acknowledges his journey by connecting his writing journey with the old typewriter he uses.

Description

Explore the journey of an author inspired by success literature. From personal loss to writing aspirations, this quiz delves into the principles of success drawn from historical American authors. Test your knowledge about the intersection of literature and the quest for success.