The Precious Present Hardcover - 1984

Once there was a boy. . . who listened to an old man.

And, thus, began to learn about The Precious Present.

"It is a present because it is a gift," the contented man explained.

And it is called The Precious Present, because it is the best present of all.

When the boy asked why, the old man explained.

"It is the best present a person can receive because anyone who receives such a gift is happy forever."

"Wow!" the little boy exclaimed. "I hope someone gives me The Precious Present. Maybe I'll get it for Christmas."

The boy ran off to play.

And the old man smiled.

He liked to watch the little boy play.

He saw the smile on the youngster's face and heard him laughing as he swung from a nearby tree.

The boy was happy.

And it was a joy to see.

The old man also liked to watch the boy work.

He even rose early on Saturday mornings to watch the little laborer across the street mow the lawn.

The boy actually whistled while he worked.

The little child was happy no matter what he was doing.

It was, indeed, a joy to behold.

When he thought about what the old man had said, the boy thought he understood.

He knew about presents. . .

Like the bicycle he got for his birthday and the gifts he found under the tree on Christmas morning.

But as the boy thought more about it, he knew.

The joy of toys never lasts forever.

The boy began to feel uneasy.

"What then," he wondered,"is The Precious Present?

"What could be so good. . . so much better than any other present. . . that it is called The Precious Present?

"What could possibly make me happy forever?"

He found it difficult to even imagine the answer.

And so he returned to ask the old man.

"Is The Precious Present a magical ring? One that I might put on my finger and make all my wishes come true?"

"No," he was told.

The Precious Present Has Nothing To Do With Wishing.

"The Precious Present puts life in its simplest form.  We should all follow its message and live life in the wonderful state The Precious Present awards each of us.  I read it to all of my teams before we take the floor for the first day of practice."
--Rick Pitino, author of Success is a Choice

Spencer Johnson, M.D., is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including The One Minute Manager, all in the entertaining style of a parable that contains useful information readers can use in their own lives. There are more than thirteen million copies of his books in print in over twenty-five languages.

Dr. Johnson's education includes a psychology degree from the University of Southern California, an M.D. from the Royal College of Surgeons and medical clerkships at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic.