"Those were the days of my life" is a book that relates stories to the reader, in a thoughtful, humorous and conversational way. The author colorfully communicates his life's adventures from a boy to a pilot, firefighter, father, entrepreneur and more. This book encompasses his life's tales, both good and bad. Some of his stories are not unlike those which you or your friends may have experienced. The author has written this book so as to offer you a different outlook on life. By reading this book, you may find alternative ways to deal with life's journey.

This is the story of a little girl born on the Lower East Side, in New York City, of immigrant parents from Austria and Germany. An artistically talented woman who overcame her losses at an early age and developed her talents with her tenacity and determination. How and why she became known as "Sally". The celebrities and political figures she met and interacted with during the course of her career; her travels abroad with the dazzling experiences and humorous incidents no one else could have experienced. A fascinating career in the fashion world of 7th Avenue in New York City at the height of its fame. The partnership which developed into a lasting friendship; creating the very successful manufacturing company of women' s one of a kind gowns "Amoureuse Couture"; started on her living room floor with just $2000, and its eventual demise as a result of the garment worker's union. Experience it all with the exciting, picturesque and emotional overtones that can only be told by Sara Beatrice Sober.

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays. "The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." —Publisher's Weekly “Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.