In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin wrote a book titled “Poor Richard’s Almanac” that was credited with being the only book that was in every American home. Of course, today we have many thousands of times more homes than there were back then, and I feel my book “Your Future Begins Today,” deserves to be in most of them.

After you read what I have to share in this column, I believe you will agree with me that there is no other book like it in the world. I did not set out to write a book like this but just wanted to share some of the things that 50 years in the “People” business has taught me. It was only after Jim Baker, county judge of Faulkner County, Arkansas, had written the Preface and told me “This book will change the culture,” that I began to realize what I had.

            Please understand that when I make statements like the ones I have just made, it is certainly not meant to brag. If I have done anything truly worthwhile, it is because God’s hand is on me, and He is the one who blesses me. My motivation from the very beginning of my mission is because I am deeply concerned about the state of our nation and the kind of nation we will leave for my children and grandchildren to grow up in. Anything I do or have done is to the Glory of God and praying for a better nation for them. First, my book needs to be in homes all over our nation, and in time taught in our nation’s schools.

            In the original manuscript of my book, I had a chapter titled “Begin With a Clean Slate” that had considerable spiritual content. I have had my publisher remove it so as not to be objectionable for some schools, certainly not Christian schools but some teachers and administrators in public schools will object. What follows are just some of the topics and concepts that can be taught using this book. For the most part these are topics that used to be taught in the home, but today we sadly have millions of Americans who are illiterate and are not prepared to teach their children. I love people and want the best for everyone.

            Here are the topics, beginning with pre-school age. We must teach children to respect themselves and others. We must teach them manners, to say “yes sir,” “no sir,” “please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome”. When you talk about a bright future, if you teach preschool children vocabulary and reading skills, they will be excited about staying in school and graduating. Our General Assembly put out a report recently that said there were 300,000 Arkansas adults who do not have a high school diploma, so you know there is a need.

Here are other topics that can be taught by using my book: Teach the law of cause and effect, learn how to set and reach goals, learn who the boss is in our economy, learn to be on guard against dishonest people, teach how to form success habits, learn how to work both hard and smart, learn the secret of compound interest, teach all children to love America, and encourage all children in upper grades to read self-improvement books, and so much more.

—(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. Since its inception in the Log Cabin Democrat in 1995, Jim’s column has been self-syndicated in over 375 newspapers in 35 states. For a personalized copy of “Your Future Begins Today” send $20, which includes postage and handling, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)