Life is a Choice is a book for people who want to achieve success. The book is written in a conversational manner to help point out powerful insights for the reader. This book educates the reader about success, encourages through examples, and entertains by capturing the imagination. The concepts detailed in the book are practical and applicable to life. Dr. David Washington explains the concepts in the book using his personal life journey and lives of others. In addition, he also utilizes social science research to illustrate his points. This book is a must read for anyone that wants to reach success in life. Advice for succeeding in life, packaged in an easily digestible format. It seems the most compelling stories of personal success are told by those who rise above major challenges in their lives and succeed against all odds. In this respect, Washington’s book follows a proven formula; the author overcame childhood demons that suggested that he wouldn’t amount to anything after he learned early on to have faith in God and himself. Washington went on to earn a PhD and become an award-winning college professor. It is this background that drives Washington’s philosophy of life, and he expertly lays it out in a little book that is both highly inspirational and inclusive of specific “lessons” from a man whose passion is teaching. Washington covers familiar ground, addressing such topics as fear, procrastination, passion, attitude, hard work and planning. But he goes beyond the typical “here’s how to succeed” manual by offering memorable, meaningful adages, including “Use Your Past, Not Abuse Your Past,” “If You Stay Ready, You Don’t Have to Get Ready” and “Trouble is Easy to Get Into, But Hard to Get Out Of” (the last one was taught to him by his mother). The author organizes the book into short, focused, simply written chapters, each of which is followed by a relevant lesson. Chapter 11, for example, concerns “You and Your Associations.” Here Washington makes the perceptive point, “If you spend your time with people who are not going anywhere, how long will it be before you assume their perspectives and thoughts as your own?...When you associate with people who are positive and trying to achieve something in life, your stock goes up.” He follows this with “Developing Relationships,” a lesson that includes six specific tips to help develop and manage relationships. Washington hits all the high points and, in so doing, packs a remarkable amount of solid guidance, seasoned with personal experience, into less than 160 pages. A well-written, inspirational, uplifting book with spiritual overtones that should spur readers to achieve better things in life. "Dr. Washington's new book is a great addition to a career library. Filled with excellent, good-sense advice and personal anecdotes, it feels more like a conversation with a mentor or a trusted friend than a self-help book. While short and very easy to read, it is packed full of uplifting messages and motivating counsel. It is equally suitable for someone just starting out in the workplace as it is for anyone changing career paths or setting and accomplishing new personal goals." -Amy S. Brennan Collection Services Librarian/Circulation Manager Ford Library- Fuqua School of Business Duke University "Dr. Washington describes a degree of success that is very traditional and missing amongst some of the youth and adults of today; a positive level of success to be used in all walks of life and careers." -The Carolinian