tough choices
A 12-year-old boy runs away from his home in San Francisco in search of his father in the Amazon jungle. How does he survive?
Later, how does he recover from a near fatal aeroplane crash? How does he lead a full life when severely disabled?
How does his son handle an increasingly difficult father? As a second world war looms, how does he show his father what he is really made of? Is it really necessary to become a wartime submarine commander, and subsequently a spy, to do this?
The book Tough Choices tells the story of several generations of a family. It focuses on how people face hard times, stay strong, and try to make peace with their past. The characters deal with big challenges, their own mistakes, family pressures, and events from history that shape their lives.
about me
Sir Tim Melville-Ross
Sir Tim started his career working in the oil industry, a fast-changing and exciting field. During this time, he lived in Libya when Colonel Gaddafi was leading a revolution. This gave him a chance to learn about world politics and how the energy business works. These early experiences helped toughen him and taught him how to handle difficult situations.
His career developed as he joined Nationwide Building Society, where he was appointed CEO at 39 years of age. Throughout his career, he was never distracted from his goal of serving others. His passion for humanity is abundantly clear. His leadership of the company ensured that it stood out by comparison with the competition. He showed that making money is possible while supporting employees, customers and the wider community.
After his important work at Nationwide, Sir Tim became the leader of the Institute of Directors (IoD). In this job, he spoke up for businesses and worked with both Conservative and Labour governments. During his time at the IoD, he went to great lengths to encourage business and government to work more closely together.
Sir Tim has had a very successful career because he is good at working in many different areas. He has been Chairman of many important groups in both business and public service. These include:
- A Housebuilding Company: Helping to address the chronic shortage of good housing in the UK.
- Investors in People: Supporting better ways to encourage workers and organisations to work together and help them grow.
- An Insurance Company: Ensuring the business was run smoothly and successfully.
- The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE): Leading the group that funded and regulated universities in ways that ensured their independence.
- An NHS Hospital Trust: Supporting the Trust in providing good healthcare, which ultimately led to the Trust being recognized as Outstanding.
- Salad Finance: Sir Tim and the company focus on helping people move towards financial sustainability, in the process finding new ways to make a difference.
Sir Tim’s interest has throughout been in helping people do their best – good for them, for the organisations they work for, and for the people they serve.
Sir Tim was given a knighthood for his remarkable work in higher education and elsewhere. This honour recognises how much he has helped people through education and leadership, making a big difference to many lives.
Our Testimonials
A Trusted Resources
about the book
tough choices
Tough Choices is a powerful story about family, strength, and adventure. It follows the lives of father and son over many years, showing how they face difficult times and grow stronger. The book takes readers on dramatic journeys across different countries, full of both sad and joyful moments. It tells a moving story about how people can overcome even the hardest problems life throws at them.
At the centre of Tough Choices are the amazing stories of Tod Peterson and his son, Scott Peterson. A series of obstacles confronted Tod when he left his San Francisco home in his childhood with the aim of finding his father in a dangerous jungle. He eventually overcomes all the challenges ahead; he showed his courage and spirit, and completed the toughest journey imaginable. Tod’s story doesn’t stop there. He later survives a terrible plane crash and learns how to live a full life, even after becoming severely disabled. His life is one of great strength and perseverance.
As the stories unfold, the emphasis shifts to Scott Peterson, Tod’s son. Scott has a difficult and complex relationship with his father, which affects both of their lives profoundly. As World War II approaches, Scott faces tough challenges. He becomes a submarine commander during the war and later works as a spy. Throughout these experiences, Scott feels a strong need to prove himself to his father, trying to live up to his expectations. The book explores Scott’s struggles during the war, his personal battles, and the guilt he feels after the war ends. It also shows how he deals with the pain of loss and his own mistakes.
The whole story takes place over many years and is full of adventure, family struggles, and personal development. The book is written against the background of war and peace, also covering big historical events like the San Francisco earthquake, the Manhattan Project and the start of the nuclear age. These all have a profound effect on the two men, and indeed all of humanity. In the end, the story is about finding redemption and purpose, even when life is hostile and uncertain.
Structure and Style:
The story is told through the challenges both men confront, and ultimately through Scott’s sadness and his conversations with his son Mike. These moments help show both the past and the present. This way of telling the story helps readers understand the family’s history step by step.
Key Questions Explored:
- What does it mean to live up to familial expectations, and at what cost?
- How do individuals reconcile with past mistakes and find redemption?
- Can intergenerational trauma be healed through understanding and empathy?
Potential Appeal:
This book will likely resonate with readers who enjoy:
- Family sagas with deep emotional and historical underpinnings.
- Stories of adventure, survival, and personal transformation.
- Complex father-son dynamics and themes of reconciliation.
Contact Us
