Sterling (Paperback)

Sterling has spent his life continually seeking an answer to the question, "I know who you are but who am I?" He finds the answer, over time and in many different places, by paying attention to people, remembering what he's observed, carefully selecting behaviors like performance, actions, deeds, activities, manners and conduct to emulate. He often chooses not to accept things on blind faith, without comprehension or understanding. "Help me understand" was, and continues to be, his watchword. He tries to avoid the inevitable conflict between adult realism and youthful idealism. He often fails. "With your looks and personality and your oft-proven ability to manipulate people, your future is in sales," he was told. "You don't need to waste your time trying to get into a college-you can make a really good living selling cars, or just about selling anything for that matter." Now, after his official send off from the university where embarrassing words like "a true leader of education," "inspiring professor," and "Professor Emeritus" were bestowed- words that should have humbled him to tears, but didn't, he looks back over a career of circuitous hiccups and turns, wins and losses, tears and laughter. Sterling is blessed with a well developed sense of humor-some might even say over-developed and his sense of the ridiculous saved his skin many times by deflecting threats and easing tense situations. It's also helped him get past difficult moments, permitting him time for calm logical thinking to find the best, albeit not always the greatest solution, to problems. In the end, his life and this book are amusing and for the most part, a whole lot of fun.