Review
Jo Kline Cebuhar defines an Ethical Will as that which you believe, what you know, and what you hope for. Her book, So Grows the Tree: Creating an Ethical Will, outlines for the reader a number of possible plans for creating a personal Ethical Will. Cebuhar also helps the reader understand why it is important to create their own Ethical Will, how to make your story come alive, and a time frame for creating an Ethical Will. Her suggestions include ideas for using quotations, thumbnail essays, and embellished journals. She talks about three dimensional Ethical Wills using photo albums, scrapbooks, and genealogies. She incorporates the use of the computer, with digi-scrapbooks, power point presentations, video, audio, and music in your preparation. The provision for Notes to Self spaced throughout the book proved personally helpful in getting me started on organizing my own Ethical Will by making an inventory of photos, memos, documents, and writings that define my own life lessons learned, values, and beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed the quotes from well known biographers, national leaders, contemporary personalities. These concepts add credence to Cebuhar's writing. is an important work.
Every life coach, financial planner, and legal advisor should provide a copy for each of their clients.
--Richard Blake, Midwest Book Review
From the Author
When I went from being fascinated by the subject of Ethical Wills to knowing that I wanted to share that passion with others, I first asked myself what would be of most interest to my readers.
For me, stories are the core of any good book, fiction or nonfiction. SO GROWS THE TREE - Creating an Ethical Will is full of the examples of 3,500 years of Ethical Will authors. From Jacob in the Book of Genesis to Christopher Reeve, there are heartwarming stories and a variety of quotations and essays that make the message of "what I stand for" come alive.
I wanted my readers to quickly grasp the definition of Ethical Wills and I wanted to prepare them to create their own. SO GROWS THE TREE is loaded with ideas for expression, from simple handwritten letters to elaborate Powerpoint slideshows. You will learn how to use your own talents, hobby or interests to express an Ethical Will that is all about YOU.
Please consider giving your loved ones the greatest gift of all: the message of your beliefs, your wisdom and your hopes for the future.
From the Back Cover
"The most important legacy is a lifetime's wealth of personal values and life lessons. Practical guidance and can-do approach make SO GROWS THE TREE a must-read book for those who want to pass along what truly matters."
Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., author of
A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement, and Success
"Having a will allows you to pass along your valuables. Leaving a legacy allows you to pass along your values. We must do both, correctly, to impact future generations."
Jim Stovall, author of The Ultimate Gift and The Ultimate Life
"Jo Kline Cebuhar captures and helps us realize an ideal that we all long for: leaving a meaningful legacy for our loved ones. SO GROWS THE TREE is a hard-working, yet amazingly inspirational book--a 'must-have' for anyone with a story to tell."
Carol Field Dahlstrom, publisher of Creating Together Journal
About the Author
A graduate of Iowa State and Drake Law School, Jo first learned about Ethical Wills as chair of Iowa's largest hospice and included a short chapter about Ethical Wills in her 2006 book, Last things first, just in case... The practical guide to Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care. Since then, Jo has expanded her speaking and writing to encompass patient empowerment through health literacy and informed medical decision making.
Jo is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on health literacy, medical decision making and Ethical Wills.
