A surprising new message for Og Mandino’s millions of readers—the priceless legacy of the commandments of success. Through the deeply inspirational story of one extraordinary man who lived in the time of Christ—you, too, can learn to shed failure, overcome frustration and heartbreak to achieve a rich, satisfying life of peace and well-being. Now, with Og Mandino’s help and guidance, you can play the game of life fearlessly—and win. Accept his precious gift of wisdom and know the true rewards of limitless personal success Through the deeply inspirational story of one extraordinary man who lived in the time of Christ --you, too, can learn to shed failure, overcome frustration and heartbreak to achieve a rich, satisfying life of peace and guidance, you can play the game of life fearlessly -- and win. Accept his precious gift of wisdom and know the true rewards of limitless personal success Through the deeply inspirational story of one extraordinary man who lived in the time of Christ --you, too, can learn to shed failure, overcome frustration and heartbreak to achieve a rich, satisfying life of peace and guidance, you can play the game of life fearlessly -- and win. Accept his precious gift of wisdom and know the true rewards of limitless personal success Through the deeply inspirational story of one extraordinary man who lived in the time of Christ --you, too, can learn to shed failure, overcome frustration and heartbreak to achieve a rich, satisfying life of peace and guidance, you can play the game of life fearlessly -- and win. Accept his precious gift of wisdom and know the true rewards of limitless personal success Og Mandino  is one of the most widely read inspirational and self-help authors in the world. Former president of Success Unlimited magazine, Mandino was the first recipient of the Napoleon Hill Gold Medal Award for literary achievement. Og Mandino was a member of the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame and was honored with a Master of Influence Award by the National Speakers Association. Og Mandino died in 1996, but his books continue to inspire countless thousands all over the world. CHAPTER 1     I must warn thee in advance.   The words you are about to read may put an end to your life.   It has been written that a useless life is far worse than an early death. If the years of your heartbeat, since you emerged from your mother’s womb, have been poisoned by failure and frustration, heartbreak and discontent, defeat and self-pity, then I say unto you that you should terminate that miserable existence, immediately, and commence the rebuilding of a new life, a new being—one filled with love and pride and achievement and peace of mind.   Not only do I say that you should; I say that you can!   Not only do I say that you can; I say that you will—providing you accept and make use of the priceless legacy I am about to share with you.   My name is Joseph.   Would that I were an accomplished teller of tales, in full command of my proud language, instead of having spent a lifetime as a keeper of ledgers and accounts. Still, despite my many shortcomings, I must record what I know of Zacchaeus Ben Joshua for the benefit of untold generations to come so that they may be guided properly in their search for a better life. His story and, most important, his gift to mankind, must not vanish beneath the desert’s unsympathetic sands along with the dried bones of those of us who knew and loved and learned so much from this special creature of God.   He was orphaned before the age of five.   Other children mocked his misshapen body—a huge head and wide shoulders set upon a round torso from which two spindly legs extended but refused to grow.   He had no schooling. Those precious years of youth had been spent in back-breaking labor, from sunrise to sunset, tilling the soil and picking the fruit on Herod’s vast farms.   And yet, despite all his handicaps, he became the wealthiest man in all of Jericho, eventually acquiring title to more than half of all the irrigated farmland within a half-day’s march of the city.   His home, surrounded by tall palms and date trees, exceeded in size and grandeur what had once been the winter palace of Herod and later, the despised king’s weakling son.   An eminent scholar from Greece, having met him at the height of his career, returned to Athens and announced to his colleagues that he had finally met a man who had conquered the world and was not even aware of his accomplishments.   In his declining years he accepted a position that would have brought scorn and hate upon the head of any other, as it had to those who were his predecessors, but the love and respect of so many of the people, whose lives he had touched and changed for the better, never abated.   Near his end, he was involved in what I am certain was a miracle, although I had never, before, believed in miracles. No one who witnessed that mysterious event has ever