100 Hours to Write and Publish a Book – It’s PSP!

A Call to Action – and the Story Behind “My Faith Through 10 Moments”: Faith, Resilience, and (Let’s Be Honest) Plain Stubbornness

I have been blogging for years, but a published book never seriously got further than many pages of false starts. But two weeks ago, I woke up at 11pm (yes you read that correctly) with a book clearly imprinted on my mind. Two nights of writing, two days of proof-reading (using friends, family and AI to assist), graphics and by Friday afternoon I sent it to Amazon/Kindle Direct Publishing who published it on Sunday afternoon, one week ago.

Why, you may fairly ask?

I suffer from PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), a disease that has a very short window statistically and, enjoying a brief plateau, I decided that it was probably now or never. Plateaus happen to patients but they don’t last – it is a terminal disease with a typical life expectancy of 6-10 years and I am towards the back half of no. 5, so time really is not on my side statistically, although I plan to knock the life span out of the park (Please G-d). Sure enough, my lull ended on Friday morning with a fall and banging my head into a kitchen cupboard. Once I came around, it pushed me to fire it off. Truth is, I have no idea what tomorrow brings with PSP so I have decided to live in the moment as much as I can.

What is “My Faith Through 10 Moments” Actually About?

At its heart, this book is a journey through faith, resilience, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity. I trace ten pivotal moments from my life – starting with my decision to become religious as a young teenager, wearing a kippa as the only Jewish boy in a non-Jewish school, meeting the family that introduced me to the religious world, and making Aliyah to Israel. Each chapter is a window into a crossroads: moments when I chose principle over convenience, and when stubbornness became resilience. Along the way, I share the challenges of divorce, fertility struggles, career dilemmas, and ultimately, the diagnosis of PSP.

But it’s not just about illness or struggle. The book is also a celebration of the blessings that come from living with purpose – whether that’s sticking to business ethics in a cutthroat world, finding humor in the absurdities of travel and dietary restrictions, or learning to mellow and listen to my children as they forge their own paths. Throughout, I reflect on the role of faith – not as a passive comfort, but as an active partnership with Hashem, requiring us to seize opportunities and make the world better in our own imperfect ways. My hope is that these stories, and the selected blog posts included at the end, offer strength and perspective to anyone facing life’s battles, whatever form they take.

Faith, Stubbornness, and a Good Dose of Humor

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that living by your principles doesn’t make life dull; sometimes, it makes it hilariously unpredictable. Like the time I found myself in a five-star Paris hotel, ready to enjoy a kosher curry – only to discover there was no cutlery. Room service was baffled, eating with my fingers was out of the question, so I improvised with a shoehorn from the wardrobe. Not exactly what the halachic texts had in mind, but it got the job done.

Or the Shabbat spent in Swindon, stranded by torrential rain, where two strangers turned a trouser press into a burger grill and made a minyan in a hotel room. There’s also the Michelin-starred restaurant in London, where my colleagues savored an eight-course tasting menu while I unwrapped my kosher meal and watched a French sommelier recoil in horror after tasting my wine: “What is this s**t?” he declared, to the delight of everyone present.

These moments – absurd, hilarious, and sometimes deeply moving – are reminders that the world is full of kindness, creativity, and comedy, even in the face of serious challenges. If you’re willing to look for it, you’ll find that faith and humor can coexist, and that stubbornness can be a lifeline.

A Glimpse Inside: An Excerpt

“Faith is not passive, however. It’s a partnership. We must step up and make something of the opportunities given to us. As Micah (6:8) says:

‘He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice, and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.’

I’m far from being a genius or a hero but I believe it’s my duty to do justice, love goodness, and walk modestly with Hashem. It doesn’t matter what religion you follow; we are all equal before Him. But we cannot wait for Hashem to act. We must do our part to make the world better.”

Why Share This?

Because urgency changes everything. It strips away the dream of ‘perfection tomorrow’ and forces clarity. I didn’t write because I had time; I wrote because time was slipping away. And here’s the thing: you don’t need PSP to feel this urgency. Life is unpredictable for all of us. If you’ve been dreaming of writing a book, start soon. Don’t wait for the “right moment.” It may not exist.

My goal isn’t commercial success. It’s impact. If my story sparks hope or helps someone see their own journey through a lens of faith and positivity – even while battling their own monster – then every word was worth it.

Looking Ahead

I’m looking forward to a good week – hopefully more relaxing, if not quite as exciting. I hope people will buy the book, but this blog is not about the book; it is about the ever-present reality of PSP, which stalks you even when you forget it is there.

Ready for Your Moment?

Read “My Faith Through 10 Moments” on Amazon US and Kindle Link or Amazon UK Link.

Share your story or whatever you are putting off. Seize your moment. Don’t wait for the perfect time – make it now.