Wisdom Nuggets Published!
The second edition is available now.
When my first child started high school, I distinctly remember thinking, “I only have four years left to teach Sean everything a father should teach his son.” I was wrong. I didn’t realize how much of his time would be spent out of the house once he got his driver’s license. After I’d missed the boat, of course, I couldn’t stop thinking about conversations we should have had, and wisdom I wish I’d shared.
That’s the first paragraph of the origin story of Wisdom Nuggets. Find the rest of the story here: Wisdom Nuggets
I published that first edition as a gift for my son’s college graduation in 2018. At the time, I planned a second edition for my daughter’s graduation in 2020. Well, Laura graduated, but I didn’t have a second edition ready to go. I thought about it over the years since. I drafted a few nuggets, and developed an outline. Then in November 2024, Laura started dating a young man who seemed like he might be the one, a good match, a soul mate. So, in January 2025, thinking to myself “it’s now or never”, I began publishing wisdom nuggets to Substack, one a week. A series of little deadlines seemed like the thing to get me moving and keep me on task. I started with the nuggets from the first edition, and then continued filling in my outline. By October 2025 Laura and Andrew were engaged, and I had my ultimate deadline. Their wedding was set for May 3rd, 2026.
Well, I’m just back from their wedding, which was delightful in so many ways. At the rehearsal dinner, I gave short remarks to the wedding party, a tweaked version of My Wedding Advice. Then, I gave Laura a copy of the freshly published second edition as a wedding gift.
At the reception, after giving my only daughter away, I danced with her. It was only for a minute, but what a minute! And the groom’s mother captured the picture that will forever be my memory of Laura’s wedding.
Of course, I haven’t lost my daughter, I’ve gained a son-in-law. I am, without a doubt, a lucky man.
If you’ve been following along, and enjoying my nuggets, and you would like to have a copy of the book, you’re in luck. They’re available in the Lulu.com bookstore, here.
Update 5/21/2026: Copies of the book are also available on Amazon, here.
If I’ve gotten all the details right, they’ll shortly be available on Amazon. Speaking of Amazon, when I published the first edition in 2018, I searched Amazon for “Wisdom Nuggets” and found nothing similar to my little book. Now, there are a couple pages of results on Amazon with Wisdom Nuggets in the title, including:
Wisdom Nuggets For Success in Life and Love
Wisdom Nuggets for Marriage
Little Nuggets of Wisdom
Nuggets of Wisdom II: Learning and Sharing in Shorthand
Transforming Your Life from Good to Great: Daily Nuggets of Wisdom
Nuggets of Wisdom for Life’s Journey
Daily Nuggets of Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs
Coaching Nuggets of Wisdom to Inspire
Wisdom Nuggets from Heaven: A Medium’s collection of inspiring ways to grow through grief
Lifestyle Wisdom Nuggets
1001 Wisdom Nuggets
And perhaps the most intriguing:
Golden Nuggets of Hobo Wisdom: A Tale of Drunken Debauchery, Urban Survival, and Love.
It looks like the market crowded up while I dithered. So, your middling wise nuggeteer’s prospects of big success with his little book aren’t looking great. Nevertheless, you’ve been with me through the journey for the last year and a half, and for that you have my heartfelt thanks.
Somewhat to my surprise, I find that I’m not out of topics for nuggets yet. I seem to be adding new ideas for nuggets to my list about as fast as I’m clearing them. So, the Substack will continue. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and would doubly love it if you would forward the good ones to friends and family so that they might join our little community.
Blessings to all of you.
Onward ->