Jon Shattuck, a seasoned leader whose career spanned hospital administration and decades of community service, has released a new book titled Choices to Live By. The book, announced this week, is a deeply personal guide to living well that speaks to readers of every age who are grappling with fundamental questions: Who am I? What do I stand for? And how do I live a life that is honest, purposeful, and full? Shattuck is clear that this is not a prescription for a perfect life; he describes it as not "a cookbook of requirements," but an invitation to explore the questions that shape character and guide choices across a lifetime.
Drawing on his own experiences—from laying asphalt driveways after college to rising to the top of his graduate school class, from 65 years of marriage to leading grief support groups in his later years—Shattuck writes with the authority of someone who has lived what he teaches. The book covers essential themes such as truth and authenticity, the nature of love, the power of forgiveness, the discipline of listening, and the challenge of humility. He addresses grief with tenderness, and confronts escape, victimhood, and the temptation to run from hard truths with unflinching honesty.
Central to the book is a guiding principle Shattuck calls TWTA—The Way Things Are—a framework for responding to life as it actually is rather than as we wish it to be. Whether advising young people on job interviews, reflecting on unexpected career shifts, or sharing his personal faith journey, Shattuck emphasizes that clarity about reality, combined with intentional choices rooted in strong values, is the foundation of a life well lived. "Your life is or has been a culmination of the choices and decisions you have made," Shattuck says. "At any point, you decide how to react, how to respond, and how to move forward. My hope is that this book helps readers make those decisions with more intention, more honesty, and more joy."
The book is filled with vivid stories that anchor its wisdom in lived experience, such as the woman with multiple sclerosis who decided to make every day her best, and the retired schoolteacher whose four-word question redirected Shattuck's career toward hospital administration. These narratives make the lessons compelling and believable. The closing chapter offers a meditation on faith that is honest about its personal nature without being prescriptive, encouraging readers to seek a foundation in something larger than self-interest.
Choices to Live By is available now and is positioned as a useful companion for parents, educators, counselors, mentors, and anyone navigating a significant life transition. For more information, visit https://jonshattuck.com/. In a time of widespread uncertainty, Shattuck's message serves as a reminder that intentional choices can lead to a more meaningful life.
