"In the Long Run," by Jim Axelrod
Jeff Glor talks to Jim Axelrod about "In the Long Run."
Jeff Glor: What inspired you to write the book?
Jim Axelrod: 25 years into adulthood, I found a large gap between the life I intended to live and the life I was living. I wanted to figure out how to close that gap, because it seemed to me that where the potential for great unhappiness resided.
I also figured I wasn't the only person 20-25 years down a path who wanted to make a similar course correction.
JG: What surprised you the most during the writing process?
JA: How solitary it is. Producing TV news stories is a team effort. I've always thrived on the collaborative nature of the process. Writing a book is an entirely different process. I was surprised how lonely I found myself while I was trying to find the right word or phrase to describe a thought or feeling. But ultimately it was like lifting weights, making my writing for my day job much stronger.
JG: What would you be doing if you weren't a writer?
JA: Thank goodness I'm not relying on writing books to fill my fridge. I've got the best day job in the world for that. I'm a CBS News correspondent and hope to remain one for many years.
JG: What else are you reading right now?
JA: I just finished Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken." Loved it. It's a terrific, gripping story of human strength and resilience which robbed me of a good night's sleep for a solid week.
JG: What's next for you?
JA: After spending the last two and a half years writing a book of intensely deep meaning to me, I think I need a nap. That's about as far as I can see when thinking about "what's next."
For more on "In the Long Run," visit the Macmillan website.