- Follow Socials
This book started ten years ago as a letter to my grandchildren who were then in their late teens and twenties. I abandoned the project because I did not want my grandchildren to think I was trying to manage their lives. Years later I completed the script in book form to be open to anyone. I would then not be talking just to them, I would be talking to you and to them if they so decided to read it.
Starting in high school and continuing until my mid-twenties I struggled with several questions. What do I want to do with my life? What of value do I have to offer? What do I need to earn to support my wife and child? Do I want to focus on making money or in helping people.
We make choices every day. Most are inconsequential but some have life long impact. Is this the person who will be the right life partner for me? The basic thesis of this book is to encourage the reader to think ahead to determine what is important. There is an old saying, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." And it is difficult to make good choices and decisions if you don't know who you are or what is important to you.
My best to you. May you enjoy a full, productive and satisfying life…learning all the way, every day!
What I appreciated most is that Jon doesn’t tell you how to live your life. Instead, he asks you to think about what matters to you and why you’re making the choices you make. Some of the ideas are simple, but they stayed with me long after I finished reading. I found myself thinking about my priorities, my relationships, and where I want my life to go.
Jon writes from experience, and that makes a real difference. His thoughts on marriage, forgiveness, listening, and getting through difficult seasons felt especially genuine to me. This isn't a book that promises to solve your problems. It gives you things to think about, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.
The chapters about finding your purpose and figuring out what you really value resonated with me. I liked that the book acknowledges how easy it is to drift through life without actually deciding what you want. There were several passages that made me stop, put the book down, and reflect on my own direction.
Choices to Live By is the debut book by author Jon Shattuck, an honest, faith-grounded guide to the choices that define a meaningful life. Available now in print and ebook.
