Letters to Garrett: Stories of Change, Power, and Possibility Paperback - 2002

First line

Last month I was invited to give a guest lecture for an undergraduate class of juniors and seniors.

From the jacket flap

"I have a son who recently graduated from high school. In high school he had life all figured out. He was a big man on campus. Suddenly he was leaving the world in which he so successfully operated.... He was caught in a vicious cycle in which his world just kept getting darker." --Robert E. Quinn (from the Preface)

"I used to like roller coasters. I've ridden some of the biggest. But none of them provided a ride like the one I've been on in the past three years. I have been to the greatest heights and the worst of depths. In the past year, as I approached those depths, I felt lost. I had no constant in my life, save the unconditional love and prayers of those closest to me. For all I know, these people saved my life. "--Garrett T. Quinn (from the Preface)

When Robert Quinn's son Garrett went away to college, he was frustrated and wondered how he could shake off his feelings of depression and anxiety. It was a transition that was difficult for both father and son. Bob finally realized that Garrett didn't need to be fixed; he needed his father's love and support. Bob invited Garrett to exchange letters, and together they embarked on an extraordinary journey.

Their letters explore myriad topics-- how to find purpose, live with increased meaning and power, and how we can clarify our core values. But the most important lesson learned is that human progress begins when individuals choose to transform themselves.

"This book is for people like my son, those who are facing a first great transition. It is for those trying to help a loved one through a transition. It is for people like me, adults in the real world who want to contribute but find that life is not such an easy puzzle." --Robert E. Quinn (from the Preface)