THE WIZARD'S REIGN: An Inquiry into Acceptable Norms is a compelling self portrait. Plagued by a mental disease, the author tries to make sense of his world by traveling down the path of heresy which challenges all of the acceptable underlying forms of logic. The setting of the narrative takes place on a motorcycle trip with he and his wife traveling from the west central mountains of Idaho to the town of Snohomish, Washington, culminating along the banks of the Snohomish River. THE WIZARD'S REIGN is an intellectual book modeled after the successful literary work: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance written by Robert Pirsig. This book begins where Robert Pirsig left off. The author is not satisfied with the underlying form of reasoning and rationality containing a genetic defect. His mission in life is to identify that genetic defect, isolate its cause, and seek resolution for that flaw. The author's profession was the world of the blue collar worker, the Trades, more specifically, Refrigeration, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. In the narrative, the author brings attention to this great working class of Americans known as Tradesmen. It was through his experience in the Trades that he first began to understand the dynamics of a technician. A subtle theme of the narrative is that of the technician. The technician is responsible for bridging the gap of understanding between the world of the abstract, and the world of the concrete. As an intellectual, the author possesses an extremely high IQ, is a hard core analytical thinker, and is plagued by the scourge of mental illness. His chronic depression first surfaces when he is eighteen years old, and follows him throughout his entire adult life. In the author's struggle to navigate the landscape of his reality, he creatively developed a time line for the genesis of four separate characters to be born from within his own personality, in which, all played an essential role. Each character gave him a different kind of strength, willingness, tenacity, direction, resolve and hope that was necessary for him to cope with his illness. Finally, the author addresses his struggle with addiction, the subtle uniqueness of that addiction, how he was held captive by the power of his addiction for thirty eight years, and the events which led to the power of his addiction being broken. This story is truly one of personal triumph. THE WIZARD'S REIGN is a work of art crafted out of the true to life experiences of one man's quest. It is a philosophical, technical book; filled with mystery, intrigue, provocative concepts, mystical encounters, adversity, triumph, betrayal, personal loss, overcoming and closure, written in an elegant, poetic form. Above all else, this is wonderful love story. The narrative captures this love story and frames it in a way not expressed before. DeAnna, the love of his life, the wife of his youth, is an integral part of his struggle, and the very source of his inspiration to survive and overcome his adversity. Everyone has a story that is worth telling. THE WIZARD'S REIGN: An Inquiry into Acceptable Norms is my story.
About the Author: Lee grew up on the outskirts of Snohomish, Washington along the banks of the Snohomish River. He was a constituent of the Snohomish High School graduating class of 1971. Lee was a Tradesman by profession, more specifically a Refrigeration HVAC Specialist. He loved being a member of the blue collar culture of America, sharing that experience with other professionals of this fastidious brotherhood known as community, along with its colorful history and rich heritage. Even though depression was sometimes a crippling distraction in his own personal life, he never allowed this de-habilitating disorder to define him. Through the experiences of his life, he has found a great empathy for those suffering, and hopes that by bringing attention to this disease, that we can all gain a greater sensitivity of this sometimes elusive, often secretive disorder that afflicts millions of Americans. Retired in 2011, Lee now lives with his lovely wife of forty-one years in the west central mountains of Idaho spending his days gardening, watching wildlife, crafting specialty Home Brewed Beers, riding his custom V-Twinn motorcycle and pursuing his passion of discovery and writing.