My book is a memoir beginning when I was very, young. I decided to write it because nobody knows much of the story which I think is worth telling. I had many reading assignments in my English classes in high school. Most every book was an influence in my future writing. Some of what I read was Go Ask Alice, The Outsiders, That Was Then This is Now, and Brave New World. I even had a writing class in junior high school. I was the only guy in that class. The Golden Praying Mantis is the story of major influences in my life. As time went by, I started having major problems. After a few years, things got more difficult for me. Eventually, I had professional assistance to learn how to manage my life. This guidance influenced the rest of my life. Thankfully, guidance was only necessary for three years. I learned how to appropriately rely mostly on my family and peers instead of professional guidance. I found my own way. My stages of recovery were through dream-state memories of operating rooms and psychiatric wards. Everyone seemed as though they had no clue if I'd recover. I did recover.I decided to give back. I worked helping run a few nonprofit agencies helping mentally handicapped consumers. I did this for eight years in Madison, Wisconsin. After that I went on to work for physically handicapped persons living in their homes. I did this also for eight years.