LifeBook Memoirs, the world’s leading memoir service, was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)—the definitive source of news and insight on business, finance, economics, and the global forces that shape our lives.
Written by economics reporter Rachel Louise Ensign, the article explores the growing trend of retirees turning to memoir services like LifeBook Memoirs to preserve their life stories for future generations. In doing so, they are cementing legacies their families can cherish and carry forward.
The article begins by spotlighting LifeBook Memoirs client Rudi Pauly and her book, From Menzingen to Lake Chelan. Pauly is the granddaughter of German immigrants who built a life in Nebraska under incredibly humble conditions at the close of the nineteenth century. The couple faced many hardships, including the tragic loss of five of their fourteen children—two of them to lightning strikes.
Pauly’s own life took a very different path from that of her grandparents. She and her late husband built a comfortable life as majority owners of a large Washington state company that packed millions of boxes of apples and cherries every year.
Pauly wrote her memoir so her family could understand the hard work and sacrifices of those who came before. Without it, Pauly says, her sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren might never fully grasp the hard work, grit, and sacrifice that had led to their present prosperity. She had worried that the legacy of her forebears might slip away over time and be lost, so she set out to weave it into the tapestry of her family’s history.
The article goes on to explain that Pauly received thirty copies of her memoir to share with her loved ones. She gave them as gifts during a family ski vacation over Valentine’s Day—a heartfelt gesture that showed how much she cherishes those closest to her.
The family was grateful to read about their matriarch’s life and surprised by some of the hardships she faced growing up. One of her granddaughters was especially struck by a story about the family having to auction off belongings just to make ends meet. “It reminded me of how humble her roots are,” she said.
The WSJ piece also highlights LifeBook Memoirs client Angel Alvarez, who encouraged his mother, Esperanza, to write her memoir. She was initially hesitant, worried that her life had not been exceptional enough to warrant a personal autobiography.
With a little coaxing from her family, Esperanza accepted her son’s gift of a LifeBook project, and she soon unlocked a treasure trove of stories about relatives who had long since passed. Her family is deeply grateful she did. In capturing those memories, she preserved not just her own legacy but those of the generations who’d gone before.
Alvarez later sat down with LifeBook Memoirs founder Roy Moëd to share his reflections on the experience and the positive impact it has had on his family. He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to preserve his mother’s unique life story.
In another touching tribute to his mother, who has since sadly passed, Alvarez created a documentary-style video celebrating her life. It gave him another way to preserve her legacy and ensure her memory lives on.
Alongside LifeBook Memoirs’ clients, the WSJ article also shares stories of people who turned to self-publishing companies to preserve their precious life stories for future generations, giving readers a glimpse into the process and its rewards.
Some of the authors shared stories they had never told before, to the delight (and amusement) of their children and grandchildren. One recalled meeting his wife at a keg party—a detail his grandson had never heard before. Stories like these add color and dimension to the author’s life and make it easier for families to connect across age and generational divides.
Another author opened up about his struggle to overcome substance abuse—a deeply personal chapter that will surely become a source of strength and inspiration for his family. Knowing that one of their own faced down such a challenge may give them courage and comfort whenever they encounter struggles of their own.
In all, the WSJ piece delves into the reasons why so many people are choosing to preserve their legacy through memoir writing and the powerful role these books play in passing down lessons and experiences to future generations.
You can read the full article here. Please note that if you’re not a WSJ subscriber, you’ll need to set up a free account first.
About The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal has covered the creation of new industries such as autos, aerospace, oil, and entertainment; two world wars and numerous other conflicts; profound advances in science and technology; revolutionary social movements; and the rise of consumer economies in the U.S. and abroad. This history of reporting has earned it a reputation as one of the most trusted and influential voices in global journalism.
About LifeBook Memoirs
Founded in 2012, LifeBook Memoirs has helped people of all ages in more than forty countries to preserve their unique memories and experiences in beautifully crafted artisanal-quality books. To date, the company has enabled more than 20,000 people to read and treasure the life stories of the people they love.
Written by the LifeBook Memoirs editorial team
