Jon Shattuck, a former hospital administrator and lifelong community servant, has released a new book titled Choices to Live By, a personal guide to living a purposeful life. The book, announced this week, draws on Shattuck's extensive experiences—from his days laying asphalt driveways to his 65 years of marriage and his work leading grief support groups—to offer readers a grounded perspective on the choices that define a life.
Shattuck is clear that the book is not a formula for perfection. He describes it as an invitation to explore the questions that shape character, rather than a "cookbook of requirements." Through chapters on truth, love, forgiveness, listening, and humility, he addresses the essential terrain of human existence with directness and warmth. A central theme is a principle he calls TWTA—The Way Things Are—which encourages responding to life as it actually is, rather than as one might wish it to be.
The book is filled with vivid stories that anchor its wisdom in real-life moments. Shattuck recounts encounters with a woman battling multiple sclerosis who chose to make every day her best, a retired schoolteacher whose four-word question redirected his career toward hospital administration, and a reflective walk through the woods after a devastating job loss. These narratives, combined with Shattuck's unflinching honesty about grief, victimhood, and the temptation to escape hard truths, make the book both compelling and believable.
In a statement, Shattuck said, "Your life is or has been a culmination of the choices and decisions you have made. 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 also includes a meditation on faith, in which Shattuck shares his Christian journey without prescribing a particular path, instead encouraging readers to seek a foundation larger than self-interest. This approach reflects the book's overall tone of integrity and love.
Choices to Live By is available now and is positioned as a resource for parents, educators, counselors, mentors, and anyone navigating a significant life transition. In a world often dominated by quick fixes and external validation, Shattuck's message—that clarity about reality, combined with intentional choices rooted in strong values, leads to a life well lived—offers a timely and enduring alternative. The book's release is a reminder that amidst the noise, the most important questions remain: Who am I? What do I stand for? And how do I live a life that is honest, purposeful, and full?
For more information, visit https://jonshattuck.com/.
