A Collection of Thoughts

About the Book

John Wooden's novel, A COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS, takes us through many facets of being "Black" in America. The author does a compelling job of teaching us "life lessons," that he has learned from his father to his days surviving in corporate America. The unique format of three "life experience" chapters and four short stories describes the thoughts of a person who has lived life and is able to transform those lessons into a gripping novel of life, love and brotherhood.

A COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS represents a man's ability to put meaning to his life from the many lessons he learned as a child growing up in the ghetto in Memphis to the lessons he learned during adulthood. The series of short stories take us on a ride from misguided youth to lessons learned from a reflective grandmother to misplaced friendship and loyalties. These short stories are destined to be favorites of many for years to come.

The chapters on "life experiences" tell a story of a Black man looking for true definition in a world that too often focuses on the color of a person's skin vice the character of his/her makeup. The book opens with a chapter about self, the lessons learned from a father, who often drank too much to deal with the ways of the world. We are then taken on a journey through the perils of the N-word, the derogatory word that has wrongly described and judged a people. The author lets us taste the upside and historical perspective of being Black. Finally, the author brings us home to his definition of life and the moral of his lessons learned. This is a novel that will make others think about their definition and place in life.

John Wooden can be contacted at jwooden_61@hotmail.com.

About the Author

John Wooden is a Major in the US Air Force. The youngest of ten children, he grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and became the first of his siblings to attend college directly from high school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University and a Master's degree in Human Resources from Webster University. During his military career, John has held positions as a Missile Launch Commander, Instructor and Evaluator; Aircraft and Munitions Maintenance Officer; and several staff positions. He has been fortunate enough to travel the world and considers the world his stage for his many thoughts on life.