I’ve always been an avid reader. Growing up, I’d often read two or three books per week. By the time I got to high school, I had discovered Stephen King, and until my mid-twenties, he was my favorite author. I read each of his books as it was released, and then for some reason that I can’t explain, I just lost interest and stopped reading them.
For the last decade or so, I’ve continued to read but with no particular interest in a specific author – until now. I am happy to say that I finally have a favorite author again. And as you may have guessed from some of my previous posts, his name is Andy Andrews.
Andy was a bestselling author long before I discovered him, but I’ll never forget the moment he came into my life. I was browsing the bestseller aisle in Books-A-Million and The Noticer caught my eye. After reading the cover, I decided to purchase it. The book was was an upcoming selection in one of Books-A-Million’s book clubs, and there was a 20% off coupon right there for the taking. But there was one problem. The coupon wasn’t effective until the following month! I could hear Dave Ramsey’s scolding voice in my head, so I decided to postpone my purchase.
Imagine my surprise when my friend John, another loyal Dave Ramsey fan and follower, stopped by my office a couple of days later. “Tish, Dave Ramsey recommended a book on his show the other day, and I want to read it!” I asked the name and was shocked to hear him say The Noticer. I went that night and bought the book – without the coupon. After all, I now knew that Dave would approve!
In his early twenties, Andy Andrews was homeless and living under a pier in Alabama. It was there that he met a mysterious old man named Jones. Jones taught Andy some valuable life lessons, the most notable being that sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective. And a little perspective is exactly what Andy got. His eyes were opened to opportunities that had been there all along, but that he had somehow failed to notice. Jones gave Andy that push he needed to become not only a bestselling author, but also one of the country’s leading corporate speakers.
The Noticer is a blend of autobiography, fiction, and inspiration. It tells the story of Jones and his positive influence on the lives of Andy and others living in Orange Beach, Alabama. It is entertaining, but more importantly, it is life changing. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
After reading The Noticer, I decided to pick up some of Andy’s other books. The Lost Choice is the story of a young boy who finds a piece of an ancient artifact in his back yard. His parents are intrigued and embark upon a journey to trace the relic’s history. As it turns out, the item has been in the possession of some extraordinary people, including Joan of Arc, George Washington Carver, and Oskar Schindler. This story motivates and inspires the reader to harness the power within himself to become extraordinary in his own way.
Just last month, Andy released a new book – Return to Sawyerton Springs. It is a collection of funny and heartwarming stories from the small town where Andy grew up. Like Andy’s other books, this one is an enjoyable read woven with inspiration and life lessons.
I am now reading The Traveler’s Gift. It’s the story of a man who has lost hope and is given a chance to find it again by traveling through time and meeting some of the greatest individuals the world has known. I’m only a few chapters in, but so far, David Ponder has met Harry Truman and King Solomon. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Once I finish The Traveler’s Gift, I’ll move on to Island of Saints, the story of Nazi artifacts that are unearthed in Andy’s yard and the subsequent search for their meaning. On a deeper level, it is a story of forgiveness. I’m sure it will be just as touching and just as meaningful as Andy’s other writings have been.
I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally have an answer to the question I am asked so frequently – who is my favorite author? And when I answer, it is with incredible enthusiasm. After all, I know that each person I convince to read one of Andy Andrew’s books will be touched by the positive messages in it, and will be inspired to greatness.
