Shep McKenney has spent his life seeking what we all seek - happiness. In A Life’s Work he candidly shares his experiences of “having it all” in his professional and personal life yet feeling profoundly unfulfilled. Having all he knew to want, what was missing? This intimate memoir examines that question and its surprising answer. By exploring the traditional paths of religion, philosophy, and science through the lens of his life experiences he came to understand that the underlying barrier to our contentment is the disconnect between what our brains were designed to cope with in the primitive world and what we want in the modern world. With thought provoking stories and intensely personal vignettes, he reveals lessons and practices we can all use to keep our brains from sabotaging our happiness. As an octogenarian, McKenney writes with wisdom gleaned over a lifetime, and his writing style effectively blends humor with poignancy. Many of the book's life lessons include references to religion, philosophy, and science, reflecting an intellectual curiosity that informs the author's sharp commentary and storytelling dexterity. A witty, insightful reflection on living a happy life. ~ Kirkus Review ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this inspiring and open memoir, McKenney reveals a life of accomplishments, all achieved despite feeling at odds with his own "anxious, foot-dragging, drama-queen brain." Even as he hit milestone moments and achieved success that he felt should set him at ease, McKenney describes being "calm, collected and complete on the outside, and desperately trying to figure out what the hell was wrong on the inside." Now he wants to rip away that cool facade. Urging readers to see our brains for what they are, he shares anecdotes from the 1940s to present day, charting ever-evolving changes in social climates, business, technology, and the ways it can mold and cultivate a mindset of success. In raw, honest fashion, A Life's Work explores the highs and lows of life, success, and happiness. Struggling with questions about faith and insecurities while growing up in rural Virginia in the 1950s, McKenney reflects on his youth within the church, in college studying philosophy and law, and checking off the "social norms" such as getting a lucrative career, marriage and children. Through all of these growing pains, McKenney found his ideology constantly evolving, from religious and spiritual beliefs to his ideals of success and happiness. McKenney digs into familial relationships, both of his childhood and of his own making, with four children produced between two marriages. He describes his happiness as a miracle, one that took serious effort: "my life's work," he writes, has been "to constantly overrule my mindless brain, uncovering the still, small voice within me that always knows what's good and right." Throughout, he offers demonstrations of how to push back against an unhelpful mind. He covers pivoting and adjusting after career setbacks and changes, a failed marriage, and heartbreaking losses of close friends through self-inflicted tragedy, demonstrating what it took to learn and grow from those impactful experiences and relationships to define his own happiness. The result is a personal, revealing look at one man's path toward control, understanding, and mindset of peace. ~ Booklife Shep McKenney was born in 1941 and raised in rural Southeastern Virginia. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from William and Mary College. In four separate careers, he practiced law in Norfolk Virginia, cofounded Guest Quarters, an all-suite hotel chain, bought and managed The Hinckley Company, a Maine boatbuilding company, and cofounded Seakeeper, a maker of boat motion control products, retiring from active management in 2018. He and his wife Pat live on their farm in Southern Maryland and have four children and seven grandchildren.