Stuff I Got from Dad

Stuff I Got from Dad is a nonfiction work that recounts real-life stories from the author’s experiences and relationship with his dad (earthly father) that provided a valuable life lesson. The life lessons began in the author’s early childhood, and though many of them were unintentional, the impact on the storyteller was profound. These lessons are then contrasted with deeper, more meaningful lessons that were discovered by the author from his experiences and relationship with God (Heavenly Father). To truly understand the author’s perspective, he presents this book in three major sections.

The first is “The Backstory,” the story of Thurman R. Payne (the author’s earthly father). Thurman’s story is told-from his upbringing in one of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states to his eventual move to Northern Ohio, where he would become one of the most powerful and influential union leaders of his time.

The second section is “My Story,” the story of the author, Keith Payne. The author uses personal stories, often humorous, to talk about his upbringing in this nontypical family.

The final section is “The Lessons.” Again using stories, the author recounts ten lessons he learned from real-life experiences with his earthly dad, and five deeper, more meaningful life lessons he has learned from his relationship with his Heavenly Father.

Stuff I Got from Dad is a relatable story told from an informal and personal approach. The purpose of the book is to tell the amazing redemption story of the author’s dad. Additionally, the author uses these real-life lessons to inspire and challenge the reader to apply the same lessons to their own life.