Th Buck Stops Here

The 1st 3 chapters of this book were the most powerful for me and the lesson from President Truman really hit home. It is both frustrating and freeing at the very same time. When I 1st read this book, I felt like my job was against me, my sister was against me and I was never going to be the same runner I was. This 1st lesson of "The Buck Stops Here" had me in absolute tears.

It was frustrating because I didn't want to take any responsibilty for the hard times I was going through. I wanted to hate my boss and loathe my sister. I wanted to feel sorry for myself because I thought that was the easiest way.

But once the tears ebbed and I started to absorb this truth, I started to become free. My job wasn't abusing me. Sure there are jobs with better benefits and different leadership styles, but it wasn't abusive. I had the choice to stay or leave. I was making the choice to stay and I was making the choice to fight my supervisors decisions every single step. And through that choice, I (not him) was making my job miserable. My sister and I have always been different. But I was chosing to ignore and make scathing comments just as much as she was. I had to let that go and once I did, my relationship with her healed almost immediately. I had made the choice to gain so much weight and quit running. Through that choice, I obtained several injuries that made it harder to get back into shape. I fell into the excuses and stopped caring for myself. This didn't just happen to me, it came out of a series of choices.

Well, The Buck Stops Here. I chose to stay at my job and because of this choice, I get the best benefit I could possibly get... a check that allows me to pay the mortgage, put food on the table and take my oldest son to see Mythbusters on Tour in Spokane. I chose to work on my relationship with my sister and treat her with kindness and because of that, I get to have a relationship with her. I chose to start following a diet and do exercise and through that I am able to get back to running again.

This principle when put together with Anne Franks' princple (to come later in the book) completely changed my life for the better and I have seen amazing changes that have led to many successes.

The Buck Stops Here.

Read chapters 4 and 5 and comment below on the following questions:

1) King Solomon says, “We, as humans, are always in a process of change. Therefore, we

might as well guide the direction in which we change.” How will the decision to “seek wisdom”

help you guide the direction in which you change?


2) What point is King Solomon making when he directs David to understand that “serving is

a way we can place value on one another”? He says, “A wise man is a server.” Why?


3) The book opens with a quotation by Joshua Chamberlain, an obscure figure in American

history. How does this quote set the stage for the book?

4) Why do you think Andrews chose to begin with a quote by Chamberlain instead of one by

the other historical characters in the book?

Let the READIN' Begin!

Hello to all the Book Clubbers. I'm so excited about having you all read this book. I really feel like you will find as you read through it, your mind set and life will be changed. Mine was. So let's get going!!! It's never too late to join so if you have friends who want to join us, I still have a few books left.

This week, I want you all to read chapters 1, 2 and 3 and comment on the following questions. This is an introduction to David Ponder and the absolute desperation he feels in his life. Just when he is about to give up on everything, he finds he's face to face with none other than Harry S. Truman.

1) In what ways is David an "everyman" who is experiencing a journey applicable to all humans.

2) What is David’s attitude toward the past? Toward the future?

3) President Harry Truman tells David, “You have chosen the pathway to your present destination.

The responsibility for your situation is yours.” Do you believe that an individual’s

present state is solely determined by personal choice and responsibility? Why or why not?

4) Tuman says, “Our thinking creates a pathway to success or failure.” Can you remember a

particular instance when your thinking created success? Can you remember a particular

instance when your thinking led to failure? Have you seen evidence of this truism in the

lives of others? 

5) Why does Andrews consider challenges a gift?