To Live Deliberately: Ten Secrets to a Successful and Fulfilling Life [Paperback]

Matthew Shaw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2006

To Live Deliberately is a personal growth book. It is the narrative account of a likable young man who, over the course of a summer, becomes slowly and painfully aware that his life is heading nowhere. As he begins to observe those around him, he realizes that, like most people, he has "ended up" in his present situation without really knowing how he got there. He makes a few perfunctory efforts to analyze his life and take control, but it soon becomes apparent that he has no idea what to do.

In the midst of his internal struggle, the young man finds a mentor who imparts ten "truths" to him, which help him break from his mediocrity. These "truths" are unique, like nothing currently in print. They are ground-breaking philosophical principles with real-world applications which any reader can follow. The novel ends on an extremely optimistic note, with the protagonist profoundly changed and embarked upon a new and exciting course in his life.

To Live Deliberately deals with some very important issues: conformity, individualism, and self-determination. It is written in a fresh, contemporary, often humorous, and sometimes sardonic style, designed to enthrall, galvanize, and change the reader. Anyone who applies the ten truths can fundamentally change his or her life.

Today, people want to make sense of their place in modern society and culture. They want truth they can apply, and this book will give it to them. It delves into some very meaningful issues without being preachy. It is fun and easy to read without being overladen with theory. Overall, it is what modern thinking individuals are starving for.

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About the Author

Over the last fifteen years, I have lived and studied in the U.S, Canada, and France. I have worked as a laborer, a financial consultant, and most recently, for the last nine years, an English and History instructor. My wife of fifteen years is also an English and History instructor. Our child is almost two.

My wife and I live mainly in Prince George, a city of 75,000 in the center of British Columbia. During the summer, we spend a lot of time at our lakeside cottage, and in winter, we live in Southern California.

I have spent much of my life analyzing how society has created myths that steal our freedom and undermine our individuality. I am not interested in haranguing against the evils of society. Instead, I want to explore optimistic, practical lifestyle alternatives designed to help people achieve a measure of peace and freedom. I believe very strongly in the principles outlined in my book. I know from experience that they work, and I want to disseminate them to the best of my ability.

'Matthew Shaw'

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Sample Excerpt from Chapter 14

The young man, John, engages in his first dialogue with his mentor, Richard, and asks him how he has achieved such a degree of success. Richard replies:

"I can tell you precisely how we've achieved it. I haven't known you for very long, but I'm going to be frank. I liked you from the first moment I saw you over at Mr. McLaughlin's. You're an intelligent and introspective person, and I think you have enormous potential, but potential is often not enough.

"I'm going to share something very important with you. There are ten basic secrets, truths if you will, which have guided me through my life and helped me achieve more happiness and fulfillment than most people can hope for. I've spent the last twenty years refining these truths and putting them into practice, and the result is the life I have now. I'm certain that if you follow these truths, you'll find as much happiness and fulfillment as I've found. That said, everyone has to find his own path. What has worked for me, may work differently for you. So, I'd be glad to share these truths with you, but it's up to you to make them work in your own way."

Truths? I began to shiver a little. It was warm outside, but I began to shiver. I nodded.

Richard continued, "I guess the first question is, what do you want?"

"That's a good question. I've been thinking about it for awhile now."

"What have you come up with?"

Although I had posed that question to myself many times lately, I had never come up with an answer. However, after having observed how Richard and Cynthia lived, I was beginning to have a clearer idea. "A life something like yours."

"Okay. I understand. I'm flattered that you would regard my life as a sort of model, as it were." He took a sip of coffee and continued. "You should know that everything I have did not come easily or overnight. Cynthia and I have worked relentlessly toward creating the exact reality you now see.

"The first truth I'm going to share with you is this: A person must have a strong internal vision for the future."

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (July 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155212553X
• ISBN-13: 978-1552125533
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,757,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)