Living a Good Story: Lessons From The Giving Tree & Train Dreams

By Byrd Baggett

Most people spend their lives chasing success. Few stop to consider whether they are living a story worth remembering.

In Living a Good Story, leadership author and speaker Byrd Baggett invites readers on a thoughtful journey through two unforgettable works-The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and Train Dreams, the acclaimed novella by Denis Johnson that was later adapted into a feature film. Through personal stories, timeless wisdom, and faith-informed reflection, Baggett explores what it means to build a life marked by purpose, character, generosity, perseverance, and hope.

Rather than measuring life by accomplishments alone, Living a Good Story challenges readers to ask deeper questions:

-What legacy am I leaving?

-How am I treating the people entrusted to my care?

-What truly matters when the final chapter of my life is written?

Whether you are a leader, parent, grandparent, teacher, student, or simply someone seeking greater meaning, this book offers practical encouragement to live with integrity, love generously, preserve the dignity of others, and leave people better than you found them.

Because in the end, the greatest success is not what you achieve-

It's the story you leave behind.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0999325833
• ISBN13: 9780999325834
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Byrd
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"